Latest news with #Dioralyte
New Statesman
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Statesman
Hangovers I have known
Photo by Robert Norbury/Millenium It is now Wednesday, which means I am on Day Three of the hangover from lunch in London on Sunday. On the whole, things are much better than they have been. The nausea is largely gone, as is most of the trembling. The first day, though, was horrendous – as bad as anything I can remember in a life that has had a few belters in its time. The worst one ever was in 2005 in Umbria, when my friend D— came up from Rome with a couple of bottles of grappa which, he assured me, was the good stuff, and not the liquid made from battery acid, fermented twigs and rats' carcasses that gets fobbed off on tourists. To this day, I still feel slightly queasy when I hear the word 'grappa'; even typing it in full makes the stomach lurch. I can certainly never drink it again. As in that case, the excessive drinking last Sunday was the result of meeting up with a friend I hadn't seen in years. It was my old flatmate and partner in crime Razors, with whom I shared the original Hovel in Marylebone. I do not use the term 'partner in crime' entirely facetiously, but I am not going to say any more because that's all the self-incrimination I'm going to be doing for now. Razors, which is not his real name, escaped the clutches of Blighty and moved to Los Angeles, where he has been making lots of money doing something related to films. Occasionally I have asked him to explain to me what it actually is, but my heart is never in it when listening to the answer, and my mind wanders over to the important bit, which is that he earns a lot more money than me – a fact that he, too, is happy to return to. A few years ago family business called him back to the land of his birth, and he offered to buy me lunch at Rules, the venerable and incredibly expensive restaurant in Covent Garden. That was a washout: the night before, I treated myself to a kebab from what had up until then been my favourite gyro place on the Western Road: honestly, they were so good you could actually eat them sober. However, on this occasion, there had been some kind of breakdown in their health and safety regime, and I spent the next day and a half in agony in the bathroom; I was in no fit state to go to the chemist's for some Dioralyte, let alone get on a train to London to eat roast pheasant and spotted dick. So this time I was careful. For a couple of days beforehand, I ate nothing but dry bread and tinned soups, sterilised all my glasses before drinking from them and even took care not to go out in the wet in case I slipped and broke something. Rules was off the menu, though: some bean-counter has decided that you can't sit down for more than two hours at lunch, and two hours is no time at all for a decent meal when you have a lot to catch up on. So in the end he decided on Hawksmoor on Air Street, which we heard does a good Sunday roast, and that was what Razors was craving, because apparently in Los Angeles the only thing they eat is sushi. Quick food review: the roast beef was divine, with a nice smokey flavour, the roasties were acceptable, the gravy wasn't as good as mine but then no one's gravy is, and the Yorkshire Puddings… well, let's just say they need to go back to the drawing board with them. But the barman who made our pre-dinner Martinis knew what he was doing, so much so that we had two each, and this may be said to be where our problems began. By the way, when I said above that we had a lot to catch up on, that's not really the correct phrase. We do not really give a monkey's about what the other person has been up to. We just want to have a laugh, and Razors has a somewhat robust sense of humour that does not always go down terribly well in well-heeled circles in LA. A mutual friend of ours who happens to be female asked me, after our last meeting, how his children were doing (he has two sets, from two marriages). I replied that the question had simply not arisen, on the grounds that a) I didn't care and b) he had not flown several thousand miles across desert, mountain and sea to talk about child-rearing. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe 'The thing is,' he explained, generalising terribly but with perhaps with a grain of truth, 'when women have a conversation, it's about information; when men have a conversation, it's about entertainment.' Well, it was jolly entertaining, and my eldest child, who, along with their siblings, got to see a lot of him on alternate weekends, joined us for a bit, and that was delightful. The evening then got a bit ragged: we went to several pubs in Soho, I think, having large and expensive Islay malts in each one; maybe these, along with the bottle of Malbec each that we had at lunch, and the brandies after it, contributed to my lack of well-being for the next three days. I finally got back to Brighton after midnight. Then I thought it would be a good idea to have a nightcap. It was not a good idea. Since then, I have signed the pledge: not a drop of liquor will pass my lips again. Well, maybe a little one. But not just now. [See also: Thought Experiment 11: The Harmless Torturer] Related
Scottish Sun
09-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Mum who nearly died after falling sick in Spain issues warning after anti-sickness pills left her ‘acting possessed'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MUM is urging Brits to be careful buying medicine on holiday - after she nearly died when an over-the-counter anti-sickness tablet left her acting "possessed". Keira Morrison had been unwell during her family holiday to Salou, Spain, and had been throwing up around 10 times a day. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Keira had been feeling unwell on her family holiday, throwing up around 10 times a day Credit: Kennedy News 4 Her partner Liam went to a nearby pharmacy to get her some anti-sickness tablets, but she suffered an adverse reaction Credit: Kennedy News When Dioralyte didn't improve the 29-year-old's symptoms, her partner Liam Bridgeman, 33, went to a nearby pharmacy and bought her some anti-sickness tablets for 1.90 euro. Metoclopramide is an anti-sickness medication that is only available on prescription in the UK, however it's available over the counter in Spain. After two days of taking the tablets, the former hairdresser's jaw suddenly "locked" as they sat in their hotel room - and she soon lost control of her body. A panicked Keira and Liam went to their hotel manager for help and once they showed him the tablets he offered to drive the couple to a nearby medical centre. Here the mum-of-two deteriorated quickly and began to act "possessed" - losing control of her arms and legs and her eyes rolling back in her head. She admits it was so bad she "thought it was the end". Staff put her on an IV drip while they ordered an ambulance to take her to hospital in Tarragona, where doctors manged to ease her symptoms with an injection. It has since emerged that the recommended dosage is one 10mg tablet three times a day - but Keira claims the pharmacist had told her to take two of the tablets at once. This meant she was taking twice the recommended dosage on each occasion. She is now raising awareness about the terrifying experience online and about the potential risks of adverse reactions to common medications, particularly if more easily available with prescriptions when on holiday. Beware 3 of the most dangerous medicines in the world - including one found in almost EVERY home Keira, from Liverpool, Merseyside, said: "Liam said it was like I was possessed. "I thought it was the end, I did. It was not a nice experience at all. "It was like I wasn't in my body, it was like someone had control over my body. That's how I felt and I did feel like I was going to die. "There were leaflets on the wall and when I was looking at the words, I couldn't see the words. They were going blurry. "I was pleading with them [the doctors] like, 'please help me.' "At the point before I had the injection my head was banging off the bed, my eyes were going to the back of my head and flickering. My legs and arms were flying everywhere. It felt like I was having a seizure. I just wanted the feeling to stop Keira Morrison "It felt like I was having a seizure. I just wanted the feeling to stop, I've never experienced a feeling like that in my life. I was screaming, 'please help me, please help me!' "If I didn't go to hospital when I did I probably would have thrown myself off the balcony because I wanted the feeling to stop that much. I was crying, screaming." Keira said one of the doctors in the hospital explained that she had a reaction to the tablets. After spending a night in hospital Keira left the following day because she was due to fly home and she said she thinks she experienced a side effect called tardive dyskinesia. According to Mind, this is a condition where your face, body or both make sudden, irregular and uncontrollable movements. This is a known potential side effect of the medication and a 2014 report by the European Medicines Agency's Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use and recommended restricting the dose to "help minimise the risk of potentially serious neurological adverse effects". 4 Keira with partner Liam Credit: Kennedy News 4 Keira says if she ever goes away again she'll make sure she's got her own anti-sickness medication from the UK Credit: Kennedy News Since returning to the UK, she has been to her doctor to have an allergy test and to have her heart checked as she had been experiencing palpitations. Keira said: "My doctor did say in the UK you've got to have a prescription to get that medication. "You can't get that over the counter here. You shouldn't be selling that over the counter. "It has scared us. We have another holiday booked and we are in talks of cancelling. We're in shock and we can't believe it happened. "I'll never ever buy anything over the counter again. "If I ever do go away now I'll make sure I've got my own anti-sickness medication from the UK and it was something I'd had before. "I can't describe the feeling, it was horrendous. I wouldn't wish it on my own enemy." Accord, the manufacturer of the tablets, have been contacted for comment.
The Irish Sun
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Mum who nearly died after falling sick in Spain issues warning after anti-sickness pills left her ‘acting possessed'
A MUM is urging Brits to be careful buying medicine on holiday - after she nearly died when an over-the-counter anti-sickness tablet left her acting "possessed". Keira Morrison had been unwell during her family holiday to Salou, Spain, and had been throwing up around 10 times a day. Advertisement 4 Keira had been feeling unwell on her family holiday, throwing up around 10 times a day Credit: Kennedy News 4 Her partner Liam went to a nearby pharmacy to get her some anti-sickness tablets, but she suffered an adverse reaction Credit: Kennedy News When Dioralyte didn't improve the 29-year-old's symptoms, her partner Liam Bridgeman, 33, went to a nearby pharmacy and bought her some anti-sickness tablets for 1.90 euro. Metoclopramide is an anti-sickness medication that is only available on prescription in the UK, however it's available over the counter in Spain. After two days of taking the tablets, the former hairdresser's jaw suddenly "locked" as they sat in their hotel room - and she soon lost control of her body. A panicked Keira and Liam went to their hotel manager for help and once they showed him the tablets he offered to drive the couple to a nearby medical centre. Advertisement Read more on side effects Here the mum-of-two deteriorated quickly and began to act "possessed" - losing control of her arms and legs and her eyes rolling back in her head. She admits it was so bad she "thought it was the end". Staff put her on an IV drip while they ordered an ambulance to take her to hospital in Tarragona, where doctors manged to ease her symptoms with an injection. It has since emerged that the recommended dosage is one 10mg tablet three times a day - but Keira claims the pharmacist had told her to take two of the tablets at once. Advertisement Most read in Health Tested This meant she was taking twice the recommended dosage on each occasion. She is now raising awareness about the terrifying experience online and about the potential risks of adverse reactions to Beware 3 of the most dangerous medicines in the world - including one found in almost EVERY home Keira, from Liverpool, Merseyside, said: "Liam said it was like I was possessed. "I thought it was the end, I did. It was not a nice experience at all. Advertisement "It was like I wasn't in my body, it was like someone had control over my body. That's how I felt and I did feel like I was going to die. "There were leaflets on the wall and when I was looking at the words, I couldn't see the words. They were going blurry. "I was pleading with them [the doctors] like, 'please help me.' "At the point before I had the injection my head was banging off the bed, my eyes were going to the back of my head and flickering. My legs and arms were flying everywhere. Advertisement It felt like I was having a seizure. I just wanted the feeling to stop Keira Morrison "It felt like I was having a seizure. I just wanted the feeling to stop, I've never experienced a feeling like that in my life. I was screaming, 'please help me, please help me!' "If I didn't go to hospital when I did I probably would have thrown myself off the balcony because I wanted the feeling to stop that much. I was crying, screaming." Keira said one of the doctors in the hospital explained that she had a reaction to the tablets. After spending a night in hospital Keira left the following day because she was due to fly home and she said she thinks she experienced a side effect called tardive dyskinesia. Advertisement According to Mind, this is a condition where your face, body or both make sudden, irregular and uncontrollable movements. This is a known potential side effect of the medication and a 2014 report by the European Medicines Agency's Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use and recommended restricting the dose to "help minimise the risk of potentially serious neurological adverse effects". 4 Keira with partner Liam Credit: Kennedy News 4 Keira says if she ever goes away again she'll make sure she's got her own anti-sickness medication from the UK Credit: Kennedy News Advertisement Since returning to the UK, she has been to her doctor to have an allergy test and to have her heart checked as she had been experiencing palpitations. Keira said: "My doctor did say in the UK you've got to have a prescription to get that medication. "You can't get that over the counter here. You shouldn't be selling that over the counter. "It has scared us. We have another holiday booked and we are in talks of cancelling. We're in shock and we can't believe it happened. Advertisement "I'll never ever buy anything over the counter again. "If I ever do go away now I'll make sure I've got my own anti-sickness medication from the UK and it was something I'd had before. "I can't describe the feeling, it was horrendous. I wouldn't wish it on my own enemy." Accord, the manufacturer of the tablets, have been contacted for comment. Advertisement Safety measures when buying medicines abroad IF medication needs to be acquired abroad, it's recommended to purchase from licensed pharmacies in large cities and to verify that the medication contains the same active ingredient as the one typically taken. Also: Whenever possible, obtain all required medications before travelling, as this avoids the risk of purchasing falsified medicines. Do not purchase medicines from street markets or unregulated online sources, as these are high-risk areas for counterfeit products. Discuss the need for medications abroad with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide guidance on obtaining them safely and legally. Be cautious of misspellings or incorrect packaging, as these can be indicators of falsified medications. Some embassies can provide lists of reliable pharmacies in the country you are visiting. Be cautious when buying medicines online, as there is a high risk of purchasing counterfeit products.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I Asked Doctors What They Do (And Absolutely Avoid Doing) When They've Got A Stomach Bug
Norovirus is showing no signs of slowing as it continues to take out households across the UK with those characteristic (yet wildly unpleasant) symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea. The number of NHS hospital beds taken up by patients with the virus is nearly 150% higher than last year, new figures reveal, while visits to the NHS' norovirus webpage have surged by 40% in the last week. If you're currently down with the virus, you're not alone. We asked Dr Lawrence Cunningham, of the UK Care Guide, and Dr Deborah Lee, of Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, what they tend to do when they're off with a stomach bug. Here are their tips... For Dr Cunningham, the priority when dealing with a stomach bug is to stay well-hydrated. His go-tos are: water, clear broth or herbal teas which can help replace lost fluids. If you've been vomiting a lot, Dr Lee recommends taking small sips of water as often as needed. Small sips are best, as opposed to a big glug, as it helps reduce the risk of overloading your stomach and prevents further nausea. 'The important thing is to look out for signs of dehydration: a dry mouth, lips and tongue; headache; rapid heart rate; low blood pressure; feeling dizzy; not passing much urine; and dark concentrated urine,' says Dr Lee. If you're being sick or having very watery poos, you're going to want to alter your diet accordingly. 'Certain foods should be avoided during recovery, particularly dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and greasy or highly processed foods, as these can irritate the stomach,' says Dr Cunningham. Dr Lee agrees with his comments, adding she would also avoid the following foods if she had diarrhoea: High-fibre foods such as wholemeal bread, rice, cereals or pasta Any foods that contain wholemeal flour Fruit juice as the high sugar content can make diarrhoea worse Nuts and dried fruits as they are also high in fibre, and dried fruits contain a lot of sugar Raw vegetables and fruit which can harbour unwanted bacteria Beans, lentils and other pulses which are high fibre Cauliflower, cabbage and onions as these increase intestinal gas Spicy foods like chilli and curry as these can irritate the gut Boiled sweets Chewing gum. 'When ready to eat, I say that is always best to start with bland and boring foods such as plain toast, crackers, rice or plain boiled potatoes, as these are easier to digest,' says Dr Cunningham. Dr Lee's go-to ingredients for recovery are similar: dry crackers, scrambled egg or banana. 'We would avoid high-fat or high-sugar foods until things had got back to normal,' she adds. 'In general, there is no need for electrolyte sachets such as Dioralyte. But if the episode lasted more than 48 hours, I would probably get some.' If you have vomiting or diarrhoea, it's best to stay home for 48 hours after your last runny poo or bout of vomiting. This is mainly to stop it from spreading to other people, but it's also important to just spend some time to rest. 'Rest is also an important part of recovery, allowing the body time to fight off the infection,' says Dr Cunningham. 'If symptoms persist for more than 48 hours, or if there are signs of severe dehydration (such as dizziness, confusion or reduced urine output), I'd recommend seeing or speaking to your GP.' I'm A Doctor – Here's Why You Might Get The Shakes For No Reason Norovirus Is Rife Right Now – This Is Why Some People Might Get It Worse Than Others Worried About Getting Norovirus? Do These 7 Things To Prevent It From Spreading I'm A Gynae Health Expert, This Is Why You Get Butt Pain On Your Period
