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• QHow can oxytocin help treat depression?

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  A Dr. Kent A. Holtorf, MD , Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism, answered

  The hormone oxytocin, given by injection or via nasal spray, can be very effective treatment for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Oxytocin is the trust hormone, being secreted by the pituitary gland in conjunction with close personal interactions and child birth to build that sense of closeness and bonding. It is generally without any side effects, but its benefits are generally unknown by most physicians. It can cure social phobias and be very effective for depression, anxiety and PTSD.
• QWhat role does oxytocin play in helping lose weight?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Seeking positive interactions with other people on a physical level and a psychological level can help you shed weight, and maintain a healthy weight. How? Evidence shows that increased amounts of oxytocin (a hormone that makes you feel good and calm) may be able to decrease blood pressure and lower the effects of stress. This raises levels of a substance called CCK, which helps you control appetite.
  
  Research shows that you increase oxytocin levels is through an increase in social interaction and touch. If nothing else, it's a darn good reason to schedule that weekly massage. And it may help reinforce why things such as meditation and hypnosis—suspected to increase oxytocin—can be helpful with weight loss. Also, while there's as much data on this as on binge eating in supermodels, the fear of touch and lack of oxytocin release may be one reason while the abused individual often has weight problems.

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• QWhat is oxytocin?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Oxytocin is a powerful chemical that makes you feel intimacy and community. Oxytocin - and really the entire symphony of brain chemicals influencing love - is one reason why 99 percent of humans live in pair bonds. That's not only marriage, but any intimate relationship with one strong partner, be it a spouse, a significant other, a parent, sibling, a close friend, or your cat (women desire this community feeling more than men). From a survival-of-the-species point of view, it's important that we live in communities - hence the evolution of these biochemical effects.
  When dopamine levels begin to drop after the early thrill of romantic love begins to wane, oxytocin can keep a couple close. And without it, there can be little biological incentive to stay in a relationship. When apparently unromantic researchers blocked oxytocin in prairie voles (animals that mate for life), those little buggers got right out of their holes, gathered up their music collections, and moved on out. No oxytocin, no intimacy, no lifelong love. Oxytocin, by the way, is also increased by talking. Maybe that's why communication is so important in relationships.
  Nevertheless, after around four years, the chemical tide that drives human to stick together starts to recede. The timing isn't a coincidence since the potentially created offspring will no longer be entirely dependent on the mother, leaving her better able to provide for herself and her children. Without chemical handcuffs, the fathers are more prone to leave, which is why the relationship needs to move from being purely romantic to a deeper level of beauty to create a fertile field for lifelong pair bonding.

• QWho should not receive Ablavar?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  You should not receive Ablavar (gadofosveset) if you are allergic to any of its ingredients, especially gadofosveset.
  
  If you are pregnant or wish to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of Ablavar treatment.
  
  Little is known about how Ablavar affects children, especially newborns. Talk to your child's doctor about the safety of Ablavar in children.
  
  Because Ablavar can cause changes in your heart rate, ask your doctor if it is safe to use if you have heart problems, especially QT prolongation.
  
  If you have pre-existing kidney problems, your doctor may tell you that you should not receive Ablavar. In this case, you may have to take a test other than a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to reduce the risk of serious complications, such as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). If taking Ablavar is unavoidable, your doctor may prescribe the lowest dose possible to reduce the risk.
  
  
• QWhat are the side effects of Ablavar?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Some side effects of Ablavar may be severe enough to require medical attention. Talk to your doctor if you experience side effects such as:

  • Allergic reactions such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat,
  • Elevated heartbeat or chest pain,
  • Headache or dizziness,
  • Flushing of the face,
  • Burning, tingling, or numbness of the skin,
  • Pounding in the ears, or
  • Blurred vision.

  Ablavar may cause side effects that do not require medical attention unless they worsen or persist for extended periods of time. These side effects may appear early in treatment, but may lessen as your body adjusts to the medicine. Milder side effects of Ablavar include

  • Nausea,
  • Change in taste,
  • A cold sensation,
  • Discoloration or inflammation of the skin, and
  • Tenderness or swelling at the injection site.

  Tell your doctor if you experience any side effects not included in this list. Your doctor may prescribe other medications to reduce or lessen your side effects.

• QWhat is Ablavar (gadofosveset trisodium)?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Ablavar (gadofosveset) is a solution that helps make blood vessels and major arteries clearly visible on a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) scan, thereby aiding in the diagnosis of heart and circulatory conditions.
  
  A doctor may inject you with Ablavar just before giving you an MRA scan. Ablavar is a contrast agent, which shows up on an MRA, and helps the computer to detect complications such as blocked arteries or other damages to the blood vessels.
  
  
• QWhat are the side effects of Visipaque?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Visipaque can cause a range of side effects. Call 911 for emergency medical help if you experience symptoms of a delayed allergic reaction, including swelling of the face or neck, hives or itchy rash or difficulty breathing.
  
  Other serious side effects that require immediate medical attention include: less than usual urine output; abrupt weakness or numbness on one side of the body; sudden headaches; confusion; seizures; fainting; vision, speech or balance impairment; swelling of the hands, ankles or feet; chest or spreading arm pain; sweating and nausea; trouble breathing and wheezing; or flu-like symptoms.
  
  Less serious side effects may sometimes occur, including: headaches; dizziness; nausea or vomiting; hot, cold or pain sensation at the injection site; unusual taste in the mouth; itchy or red skin; and insomnia. These side effects do not require a doctor's attention unless they become bothersome or more severe over time.
  
  
• QWhat are the side effects Omnipaque?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  The most common side effects of Omnipaque injection include: headaches, mild to moderate pain, backache, neck ache, stiffness, nausea and vomiting. These reactions usually occur one to 10 hours after injection and are usually mild to moderate. They may last for a few hours, and they usually disappear within 24 hours. Side effects of taking Omnipaque by mouth include: nausea, vomiting, moderate diarrhea and gas.

  Occasionally, headaches may be severe or last for days and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Temporary dizziness has occurred in some people. Rarer side effects include: a feeling of heaviness, low blood pressure, muscle tightness, sensation of heat, sweating, dizziness, loss of appetite, drowsiness, high blood pressure, sensitivity to light, ringing in the ears, nerve pain and trouble urinating. These side effects are usually mild and temporary.

  Children may have fewer side effects, but they could have fever, hives, stomach ache, hallucinations (seeing things that aren't there). These side effects are usually mild.

  When Omnipaque is used in cardiovascular tests, life-threatening and fatal reactions have occurred in rare cases. The injection is often associated with the sensation of warmth and pain, but these symptoms are less frequent and less severe with Omnipaque than with some other contrast agents. Other less common side effects include anxiety, fever, problems speaking and moving, convulsion, tingling, sleepiness, stiff neck, weakness on one side of your body, fainting, shivering, stroke, and involuntary eye movements.
  
  

• QHow will I be given a Visipaque injection?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Visipaque is administered as an injection by a medical professional before a radiologic imaging test. The injection is typically given just before the test begins, into the part of the body that's undergoing imaging. Make sure to drink extra fluids before and after the injection, since Visipaque can cause dehydration.