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| WHAT
IS PERIOSTAT? |
| PERIOSTAT
(doxycycline hyclate, 20 mg capsules) is a new medical breakthrough treatment
for adult periodontitis. Periostat is the FIRST & ONLY FDA-approved
prescription medication which modulates host response by reducing
the activity of tissue-destroying enzymes released in the gum tissue
without affecting bacteria. Periostat is NOT an antibiotic. When
Periostat is used along with scaling and planing (SRP) procedures during
routine dental cleanings at your dentist, Periostat slows the progression
of adult periodontitis. Periostat is NOT an antibiotic and has NO detectable
effect on bacteria. The therapeutic effect of Periostat is due to
its anticollegenase and anti-inflammatory properties and not to an antibacterial
effect. Although the active ingredient, doxycycline hyclate, is used
to treat bacterial infections, the dosage of doxycycline in Periostat is
much too low to kill bacteria. Antibiotic dosages of doxycycline
are only used short periods of 10-14 days versus Periostat which is proven
safe & effective for up to nine months. |
| WHAT
IS PERIODONTITIS ? |
| Periodontal
disease affects the gingiva (gums), periodontal ligament, alveolar bone
and tooth support structures. The two major forms of periodontal
disease are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is a reversible
condition involving gingival inflammation. In contrast, periodontitis
involves gingival inflammation along with loss of tooth attachment caused
by the destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Periodontitis
is due to many factors and its severity is determined by a complex interaction
between tissue-destroying enzymes and bacteria. Although pathogenic bacteria
in the gums are necessary for periodontitis, they alone are not sufficient
for the progression of the disease. The body's own immune response
of producing tissue-destroying enzymes plays a big factor in determining
the severity of periodontitis. The end result of the interaction
between the bacteria and tissue-destroying enzyme response is the destruction
of bone and soft tissue. |
| HOW
DOES PERIOSTAT WORK TO TREAT PERIODONTITIS? |
| Until
PERIOSTAT the treatment of periodontitis only addressed the bacterial component
of the disease by the scaling and root planing (SRP) procedure sometimes
supplemented by antimicrobial drugs. PERIOSTAT is a medical breakthrough
because it stops the tissue-destroying enzyme response from destroying
the bone and gums. Periostat works by blocking tissue-destroying enzymes
which are over-produced by the body's immune system in people with periodontitis.
Periostat 20 mg capsules are taken twice a day and it is absorbed from
the small intestine into the blood stream. Periostat travels to the
gum and bone tissues around the teeth where it prevents the gum enzymes
from breaking down the gum and bone tissue around the teeth. This
allows the body to repair and rebuild the damaged tissue. This process
works most effectively after the bacteria laden plaque and calculus, which
help trigger the release of these tissue-destroying enzymes, have been
removed from your teeth by your dental professional during routine dental
cleanings and scaling and root planing (SRP). Research has shown
that Periostat in conjunction with SRP significantly helps stop the progress
of periodontal disease than just scaling and root planing alone. |
| HOW
DO I KNOW IF PERIOSTAT THERAPY IS RIGHT FOR ME? |
| If
your dental health professional has diagnosed you with mild-to-moderate
or severe periodontitis Periostat may be right for you. If routine dental
cleanings alone is not improving your condition, the addition of Periostat
may help to halt the progression and improve the health of your gums and
teeth. Periostat must be taken in conjunction with routine dental visits
during which time scaling and root planing is performed to remove plaque,
calculus and bacteria. |
|
CAN PERIOSTAT BE
TAKEN WITH OTHER PRESCRIPTION OR OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS?
|
| Periostat
can be taken safely with most medications except blood thinners such as
Coumadin. Periostat may make birth control pills less effective.
There is a very small risk that you could become pregnant taking Periostat
and birth control pills and therefore should also use another type of birth
control while taking Periostat. Over-the-counter medications
such as aluminum containing antacids, calcium, magnesium and Pepto-Bismol
as well as products containing iron will decrease the absorption of Periostat.
Therefore if you take an of these products, you should take them at least
3 to 4 hours before or after you take Periostat. |
|
WHEN &
FOR HOW LONG DO I USE PERIOSTAT?
|
| Periostat
20mg capsule is taken twice a day, at least one hour before your morning
and evening meal on an empty stomach with at least 8 ounces of water.
Periostat must be taken with water and you must not eat for at least one
to two hours. Do not take Periostat with milk. There should be approximately
12 hours between doses. Do not lie down right after taking
Periostat as it may not get into your stomach and can cause irritation
to the lining of the food canal. Periostat has been shown to be safe and
effective for up to 9 months of continuous use. The amount of time
you take Periostat differs for each person depending on the severity of
the gum disease and the time needed for the body's healing process to take
place. |
|
HOW LONG BEFORE I
SEE RESULTS?
|
| Periostat
reduces the host response production of tissue-destroying enzymes. When
used in conjunction with routine professional dental cleanings, Periostat
allows the body to begin healing itself. Therefore, it takes time
for improvement in your damaged gums and bone tissue to become apparent.
You can start to notice some improvement with decreased gum bleeding in
about 3 months. |
|
WHILE TAKING PERIOSTAT
CAN I USE TANNING BEDS OR SUNBATHE?
|
| When
on Periostat, you can develop a photosensitive reaction if you spend time
in the sun or use tanning beds: the sun exposed skin will burn more
easily. This photosensitivity does not occur with everyone. Therefore,
when taking Periostat it is advisable to take proper precautions to protect
sun exposed skin using sunblock, hats etc. If while on Periostat,
you develop a photoreaction on your skin, stop taking Periostat, avoid
sun exposure (stop using tanning beds) and consult your own doctor regarding
a possible photosensitivity reaction. |
| WHAT
IF I MISS A PERIOSTAT DOSE? |
| If
you miss a Periostat dose, just resume taking the next scheduled dosage.
Do NOT double-up on doses to make up for a missed dose. There should
be about 12 hours between doses and each dose should be taken on an empty
stomach an hour before meals |
| WHAT
ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS of PERIOSTAT ? |
| In
medical studies, patients taking Periostat 20 mg capsules as directed
had no more side effects than those taking placebo. The most common
reports of side effect are nausea or upset stomach. If you experience
such make sure you take the Periostat with a full 8 oz glass of WATER! |
WHO
SHOULD NOT USE PERIOSTAT?
WHAT ARE THE CONTRAINDICATIONS
FOR PERIOSTAT?
|
-
Do NOT use
PERIOSTAT if you are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant. Periostat
MAY HARM unborn baby as it crosses the placenta and can result in abnormal
bone development.
-
Do NOT use
PERIOSTAT if you are breast feeding.
-
Do NOT take
PERIOSTAT if you are allergic or have hypersensitivity to any of the tetracyclines
or any other antibiotic.
-
Do NOT take
PERIOSTAT if you have kidney or liver problems.
-
Do NOT take
PERIOSTAT if you have a predisposition to oral candidiasis or thrush.
-
Periostat is
NOT to be used in children or anyone under the age of 18. Not approved
for pediatric use.
-
Do NOT take
PERIOSTAT if you are on anticoagulant therapy and taking blood thinning
medication such as Coumadin.
-
PERIOSTAT may
make birth control pills less effective, you should also use another type
of birth control while taking Periostat.
-
PERIOSTAT is
FDA-approved for the treatment adult periodontitis in conjunction with
routine scaling and root planing!
-
Periostat and
the general Anesthetic Penthrane (methoxy-fluorane) can result in kidney
failure and death (Penthrane is NO longer used in humans in the United
States).
|
| We
will not prescribe PERIOSTAT to anyone under the age of 18. Also PERIOSTAT
should NOT be used by pregnant women, women attempting to become pregnant
or women who are breast feeding. |
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