Dosage, Treatment, Side Effects, and More

D-mannose is often taken as a supplement to help treat and prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). It’s believed to work by blocking the activity of a specific type of bacteria that causes UTIs.

What is D-mannose?

D-mannose is a type of sugar that’s related to the better-known glucose. These sugars are both simple sugars. That is, they consist of just one molecule of sugar. As well, both occur naturally in your body and are also found in some plants in the form of starch.

Several fruits and vegetables contain D-mannose, including:

• cranberries (and cranberry juice)
• apples
• oranges
• peaches
• broccoli
• green beans

This sugar is also found in certain nutritional supplements, available as capsules or powders. Some contain D-mannose by itself, while others include additional ingredients, such as:

• cranberry
• dandelion extract
• hibiscus
• rose hips
• probiotics

Many people take D-mannose for treating and preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs). D-mannose is thought to block certain bacteria from growing in the urinary tract. But does it work?

E. coli bacteria cause 90 percent of UTIs. Once these bacteria enter the urinary tract, they latch on to cells, grow, and cause infection. Researchers think that D-mannose might work to treat or prevent a UTI by stopping these bacteria from latching on.

After you consume foods or supplements containing D-mannose, your body eventually eliminates it through the kidneys and into the urinary tract.

While in the urinary tract, it can attach to the E. coli bacteria that may be there. As a result, the bacteria can no longer attach to cells and cause infection.

There isn’t much research on the effects of D-mannose when taken by people who have UTIs, but a few early studies show that it might help.

A 2013 study evaluated D-mannose in 308 women who had frequent UTIs. D-mannose worked about as well as the antibiotic nitrofurantoin for preventing UTIs over a 6-month period.

In a 2014 study, D-mannose was compared to the antibiotic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for treatment and prevention of frequent UTIs in 60 women.

D-mannose reduced UTI symptoms in women with an active infection. It was also more effective than the antibiotic for preventing additional infections.

A 2016 study tested the effects of D-mannose in 43 women with an active UTI. At the end of the study, most women had improved symptoms.

A lot of different D-mannose products are available. When deciding on which one to use, you should consider three things:

• whether you’re trying to prevent an infection or treat an active infection
• the dose you’ll need to take
• the type of product you want to take

D-mannose is typically used for preventing a UTI in people who have frequent UTIs or for treating an active UTI. It’s important to know which of these you are using it for because the dosage will differ.

The best dose to use isn’t entirely clear, however. For now, only the doses that have been used in research are suggested:

• For preventing frequent UTIs: 2 grams once daily, or 1 gram twice daily
• For treating an active UTI: 1.5 grams twice daily for 3 days, and then once daily for 10 days; or 1 gram three times daily for 14 days

D-mannose comes in capsules and powders. The form you choose mainly depends on your preference. You might prefer a powder if you don’t like to take bulky capsules or want to avoid the fillers included in some manufacturers’ capsules.

Keep in mind that many products provide 500-milligram capsules. This means that you may need to take two to four capsules to get the desired dose.

To use D-mannose powder, dissolve it in a glass of water and then drink the mixture. The powder dissolves easily, and the water will have a sweet taste.

UTI Supplement Options

Read our full review of Uqora, a company that focuses on developing natural supplements for UTI prevention.

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Most people who take D-mannose don’t experience side effects, but some might have loose stools or diarrhea.

If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor before taking D-mannose. It makes sense to be cautious since D-mannose is a form of sugar. Your doctor might want to monitor your blood sugar levels more closely if you take D-mannose.

If you have an active UTI, don’t delay in talking with your doctor. Although D-mannose might help treat infections for some people, the evidence isn’t very strong at this point.

Delaying treatment with an antibiotic that has been proven to be effective for treating an active UTI can result in the infection spreading into the kidneys and blood.

More research needs to be done, but D-mannose appears to be a promising nutritional supplement that may be an option for treating and preventing UTIs, especially in people who have frequent UTIs.

Most people who take it don’t experience any side effects, but higher doses may cause health issues yet to be discovered.

Talk with your doctor about appropriate treatment options if you have an active UTI. Although D-mannose might help treat a UTI for some people, it’s important to follow medically proven methods of treatment to prevent the development of a more serious infection.

Can it help prevent or treat UTis?

The first line of treatment for a urinary tract infection (UTI) is antibiotics. However, some people may take cranberry supplements or drink cranberry juice to reduce their risk of developing one. Research is conflicted about whether cranberry juice is an effective method of treatment or prevention.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.

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UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urethra and infect the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the urethra, bladder, ureter, and kidney. UTIs are common in females, infants, and older adults.

According to a 2017 article, 1 in 3 females will experience a UTI by the time they are 24 years old.

Most UTIs resolve within 1–2 days of taking antibiotics. However, a UTI could cause serious health issues without treatment, including kidney infection and sepsis. Sepsis is a very serious condition that can lead to organ failure and death.

This article takes a look at how drinking cranberry juice may play a part in preventing UTIs and highlights some other evidence-based home remedies and treatment methods.

Learn about some other health benefits of cranberry juice here.

Many people drink cranberry juice in the hopes of preventing a UTI from developing. However, the Office on Women’s Health states that the efficacy of cranberry juice for preventing UTIs has had conflicting results.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, raw cranberries contain antioxidant proanthocyanidins, or PACs, that can prevent bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract.

In one 2017 study, researchers discovered that taking cranberry capsules containing 36 mg of PACs daily reduced the frequency of UTIs in young people aged 12-18 years with recurrent infections.

According to an older 2012 research study, cranberry juice on its own is unlikely to have the same effect. This is because most store-bought cranberry juices do not contain enough PACs to prevent bacterial adhesion.

However, researchers in 2013 examined the preventive effects of cranberry juice on those with recurrent UTIs. The researchers found a lower recurrence rate in those who drank 125 milliliters (ml) of cranberry juice before sleeping for 24 weeks.

It is important to note that this study included those with complicated UTIs, which means that they had an increased chance of complications and persistent or recurrent infections. Males, people who are pregnant, and people who use urinary catheters are among those at higher risk of developing complicated UTIs.

Results from using cranberry juice may differ for those with uncomplicated UTIs. An uncomplicated UTI is a UTI that occurs in those with normal urinary and kidney functions.

People with painful bladder syndrome, also known as interstitial cystitis, should avoid drinking cranberry juice as it can worsen their symptoms.

Learn more about UTIs in pregnancy here.

While cranberry products may help some people prevent UTI recurrence, there is no evidence-based research that proves drinking cranberry juice can cure or improve the symptoms of an active UTI.

However, according to one 2021 feasibility study, some people found that taking cranberry supplements in addition to antibiotics cleared the infection more quickly than taking antibiotics alone, whereas others reported no improvement at all.

There is not enough evidence to suggest that cranberry products can reduce or improve the symptoms of an active UTI.

Learn more about cranberries here.

Some research suggests that up to 42% of uncomplicated UTIs resolve without treatment. However, individuals who suspect that they have a UTI should seek medical attention as soon as possible as a mild infection could become serious and potentially fatal without treatment.

People who get two or more culture-documented UTIs within 6 months should consider seeing a urologist.

Learn about D-Mannose, a supplement that may help alleviate and prevent UTIs.

Medical

Antibiotics are the standard treatment method for UTIs. However, the type of medication prescribed and the length of treatment will depend on the person’s symptoms and medical history.

First-line treatments for UTIs include:

• nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin and Macrobid)
• fosfomycin (Monurol)
• trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim and Septra)

People who experience recurrent UTIs might consider:

• taking an antibiotic after sexual intercourse
• taking a long-term, low-dose antibiotic for up to 6 months
• taking a 3-day course of antimicrobials if symptoms reappear within 48 hours of initial treatment
• seeing a licensed acupuncturist
• undergoing vaginal estrogen therapy

Learn more about antibiotics here.

Home treatment

A person can try the following to ease symptoms of a UTI:

• try to drink 2–3 liters (l) of water each day
• use a heating pad to help manage the pain or discomfort
• avoid drinks such as alcohol or caffeine
• take sodium bicarbonate to reduce the acidity of the urine
• take over-the-counter painkillers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen

If a person decides to drink cranberry juice to help prevent or treat a UTI, they should opt for an unsweetened juice.

Learn more

• seven ways to treat a UTI without antibiotics
• how to relieve UTI pain at night
• natural treatment options for interstitial cystitis

A person can take the following measures to minimize their risk of developing a UTI:

Stay hydrated

According to one 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis, drinking more fluids is one of the simplest ways to prevent recurrent UTIs.

Although there is no set recommendation for how much water a person should drink daily, one study showed that drinking 6–8 glasses of water per day may reduce UTI recurrence in older people living in care homes. Proper hydration might also reduce the number of care home residents admitted to the hospital with dehydration, which is a leading cause of UTIs.

Learn more about UTIs in older people here.

Wipe from front to back

For females, wiping from front to back may help reduce UTI risk.

Wiping in this manner prevents germs and bacteria from coming in contact with the urethra. In addition to wiping from front to back, people should use separate pieces of toilet paper to wipe the genitals and anus.

Learn about other urethral infections and conditions here.

Urinate when the urge strikes

According to one 2019 study, delayed voiding, or waiting to urinate, has associations with an increased risk of recurrent UTIs.

Learn about urine hesitancy here.

Other prevention

To prevent a potential UTI from developing, people should urinate as soon as they feel the need to do so. Other methods to help prevent UTIs include:

• urinating before and after intercourse
• practicing good sexual hygiene
• avoiding scented feminine products, including douches and scented pads or tampons
• taking probiotic supplements or eating fermented foods, such as yogurt and kefir
• limiting alcohol and caffeinated drinks

Learn more about urinating after sexual intercourse here.

People who have one or more of the following symptoms should see a healthcare professional:

• urinary frequency or a constant urge to urinate
• burning sensations while urinating
• red or pink-colored urine
• cloudy urine
• strong-smelling urine
• pelvic pain in females

While drinking cranberry juice may reduce recurrent UTIs for some people, cranberry juice and other cranberry products are unlikely to treat an active UTI infection.

Many health professionals still consider taking antibiotics the gold standard of UTI treatments. However, this is not always the case.

People who suspect they have a UTI should consult their doctor before trying to treat the infection themselves.

The Masquerade – Bloodlines in 2019 — DTF Guides

Fixing the game with the help of cracks, patches and mods, and at the same time answering the most popular questions.

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Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines became a cult hit right after the release. Although it was remembered by the players not only for the atmosphere of the World of Darkness and the variability of passing for different vampire clans, but also for bugs – there were insanely many of them.

Troika Games has released only one patch that fixes a critical bug. Fortunately, the game has a strong community: fans are still releasing patches (the last version was released in September 2019th) to restore content cut by the developers or to make the game compatible with modern operating systems and hardware.

Bloodlines 2 has been pushed back from March 2020 to “later this year.” This is because the authors want to “avoid the problems that the first game suffered from.” But the players have more time to pass or replay the first part with new patches and mods. We tell you how to do it with maximum comfort.

How Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is played today

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines was released in 2004, so it is not surprising that outwardly it was not preserved in the best way. Game animations hurt the eyes, and the combat system leaves much to be desired. But what cannot be taken away from the game is a high-quality script, which even now many big-budget blockbusters can envy.

In general, the main storyline can hardly be called original: the player spends most of his time looking for a local MacGuffin. But the unique atmosphere of the World of Darkness, bright characters and excellent dialogues (a separate pleasure is to communicate with the TV while playing as a representative of the Malkavian clan) will allow you to enjoy the game 15 years later.

Thanks to the immersive sim elements, many quests can be solved in several ways, and the unique vampire clans and their characteristics further increase the replay value. Playing as an ugly Nosferatu who can’t even properly communicate with NPCs because they are afraid of him will be very different from playing as a Tremere who can blow people up by heating their blood from the inside.

Which version of the game to choose

In fact, there are two legal options: a Steam version or a game from GOG. The Steam version contains only the official patch, which does not solve many problems, and does not support the Russian language. The GOG version has an unofficial patch, but also no localization.

Fortunately, thanks to patches, you can build any version that is convenient for you: whether you want a “vanilla” game without bugs or with additional content and localization – choose what you like best.

For the guide, I went through the GOG version with localization and the True Patch Gold patch and did not encounter any critical bugs. And those that met were easily solved by peeping into guides or using console commands (more on that later).

It’s important to reiterate: Bloodlines is a 2004 game that originally came out with a lot of bugs. In the 15 years since its release, fans have been able to make it fully playable and passable. But, like any poorly optimized game, some unique errors and bugs are always possible. Next, we will talk about all the patches and cracks so that you can choose the right one. And ways to solve the main problems can be found at the very end of the material.

Remember that saves from different versions of the game (with other patches, mods, etc.) are not compatible with each other, so do not try to use your old saves after installing a new patch / mod / crack – this is fraught with unpredictable bugs and errors .

Why the game needs unofficial patches

Version 1.2 with only one official patch (that is, the Steam version) is completely passable, but the modern player in it can be scared off by animation bugs or disappearing textures – the patch in this case will make life much easier. In addition, fan patches restore cut content, plus you can install crack or graphic mods that make the picture much nicer.

What are patches

The patches differ in their approach to changing the gameplay: one of the authors of Unofficial Patch was not happy with the changes in the original game and made his own True Patch Gold patch with minimal edits, but then stopped developing it. His colleagues continued and not only corrected errors, but also supplemented the game with new content.

When installing patches, remember to run all applications as an administrator.

Official patch 1.2

This patch resolves a critical boat bug in the Leopold Society. A bunch of small and not very bugs remained untouched here (for example, the player will not receive experience points for a peaceful passage to the gallery, although he should). Included in all available versions of the game.

True Patch Gold

A fan-made patch that fixes cut dialogue branches and fixes the mentioned bug with experience points, but without interfering with “Troika Games’ intentions”, as the author himself claims. For TPG there is a stable Russification – and with it I went through the game with almost no problems.

Unfortunately, the author of the patch did not add support for Windows 8 and 10, so to play on these systems, another patch will have to be put on the patch – and, in general, stability is not guaranteed.

How to install True Patch Gold:

1. Download the archive from the forum, site (careful, NSFW content!) or via a direct link.
2. Copy the TRUE_PATCH_MAIN folder from the unpacked archive to the game directory with the replacement of all files.
3. For owners of Windows 8 and 10, you also need to download a special patch from the site.
4. Copy the contents of the unpacked archive with replacement to the game directory.
5. Disable automatic game updates in GOG: Game → Settings → uncheck “Automatic updates”. Updates are not released for the Steam version, and auto-updates cannot be disabled.

Unofficial Patch

A patch that is still being updated. It has two versions: Basic and Plus. The basic version fixes errors, in Plus the authors add cut content and supplement it: a location with a library and a quest from Beckett for it appeared, a normal entrance through the atrium appeared in the Hallowbrook hotel, they even added a comic ending, as well as an ending for the Sabbat.

Please note that cracks for the patch are released with a delay, and the latest one is for version 10.0. Therefore, the performance of Russification, which is not suitable for the version, is not guaranteed. And if you want to install Unofficial Patch with Russification, then immediately go to the appropriate section below.

How to install Unofficial Patch 10. 5:

1. Downloading the patch.
2. Run and select Basic (default) or Plus-version.
3. Install in the directory with the game.
4. For the Steam version: in the library, right-click on the game → “Properties” → “Set Launch Options” → write without quotes “-game Unofficial_Patch”. In the GOG version, this option is set by default.
5. Disable automatic game updates in GOG: Game → Settings → uncheck “Automatic updates”. There are no updates for the Steam version, and auto-update cannot be disabled.

Russifiers

There are two translations differing stylistically, in font and versions. In fact, there is only one choice: crack from Russian Bloodlines, because the pirated one is “famous” for its quality. The fan translation has nuances depending on the patch: different fonts and how the computer translation is done.

Russifier Russian Bloodlines for version 1.2 (Steam version)

Translated computers, non-original font.

How to install crack for version 1.2 (Steam version):

1. Download crack from the site.
2. When installing, specify the game directory.

Russifier for True Patch Gold

Uses the original font, computer interfaces are translated, except for directly entered commands.

How to install the crack on the version with True Patch Gold:

1. Download the crack from the site or Yandex.Disk (this option contains a few more fixes).
2. When installing, specify the game directory.

Russifier Russian Bloodlines for unofficial patch

Computers are fully translated into Russian along with commands, the original font is used.

Version 10.0 is distributed along with the Unofficial Patch, so you can bet directly on a “clean” game.

How to put crack on the version with Unofficial Patch:

1. Downloading Russian-language Unofficial Patch 10.0. This patch is placed on a “clean” version of the game. If you already have the previous Unofficial Patch (relevant for the GOG version), remove it by deleting the folder of the same name from the game directory.
2. When installing, specify the game directory.
3. In the properties of the shortcut in the “Object” line (for the GOG version) or the launch options in the Steam library (right-click on the game in the library → “Properties” → “Set Launch Options”), write the parameter “-game Unofficial_Patch” without quotes .

Pirated translation from Triad

It will be interesting only to those who are nostalgic for the times of “cool the fuck” and similar absurd localizations. Only computer interfaces are not translated.

I failed to skip the tutorial: in this case, the game tries to launch it anyway. What other bugs may be ahead is difficult to predict, so you should use this crack only at your own peril and risk.

Installing a pirated translation is very time consuming and is done almost by hand. For enthusiasts – a link to the source and the archive re-uploaded to Yandex.Disk. Follow the instructions in the Readme file.

You can compare versions of russifiers and their differences from the original in the gallery below.

Graphic mods

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines was made on Source, but Troika Games, unlike the authors of the Valve engine, could not squeeze all the juice out of it. So the graphics of the game is not preserved in the best way, unlike the same Half-Life 2.

Fortunately, there are graphical mods for this problem that improve lighting, change textures, add shaders and other nice little things. A miracle will not happen, and the game will not amaze the imagination with a picture, but this will still help smooth out the impressions for demanding gamers.

SweetFX

To improve the graphics, first of all, you need to set the control panel settings of your video card for the game. They can be changed to suit you. I will describe the method for owners of an Nvidia video card. Radeon owners will have similar settings.

1. Open the Nvidia Control Panel program from tray or Start.
2. Select the Manage 3D Settings tab.
3. Select the Program Settings tab.
4. Find the game in the list or add it by specifying the path to the game folder and vampire.exe.
5. If you have a laptop, select High Performance Nvidia Processor.
6. Set “Anisotropic Filtering” to “16x”.
7. Enable Anti-Aliasing – FXAA.
8. Enable the Anti-Aliasing – Gamma Correction option.
9. Set Anti-Aliasing – Transparency to 8x.

Reshade HD

There are two main picture enhancement mods: Reshade and SweetFX.

Reshade is a complete set of graphic enhancements suitable for many games. It increases the depth of field of the picture, changes color correction, improves anti-aliasing and much more. More demanding on iron.

SweetFX is also a set of improvements with its own approach. Less demanding on hardware.

In the galleries below you can compare screenshots of the original, the enhanced version through the control panel, as well as the versions with Reshade and SweetFX.

Be aware that graphics mods can drop framerates, so adjust graphics settings for your machine.

How to install Reshade graphic mod

1. Download Reshade.
2. Copy the contents of the archive to the game directory.
3. Download Reshade HD Preset.
4. Copy the contents of the archive to the Reshade folder in the game directory.

How to install the SweetFX graphic mod

1. Download mod.
2. Copy the contents of the archive to the game directory.
3. In game press Shift + F12 to enable/disable ENB effects.

If the error “the procedure entry point createDXGIFactory2 could not be located in the dynamic link library c:\Windows\SYSTEM\d3d11.dll” occurs, rename the dx gi.dll file in the game directory (if it is not there, copy it from C :/windows/system32) to d3d11.dll.

Console commands

They are useful for overcoming sudden bugs or especially difficult stages (I would not have the patience to go through the Hallowbrook hotel without invulnerability mode). Here is a list of commands that may come in handy most often. A complete list can be found here.

The console in almost all versions is called up by pressing tilde ~. If this suddenly does not happen, then write in the properties of the shortcut in the line “Object” (for the GOG version) or the launch parameters of Steam (in the library, right-click on the game → “Properties” → “Set Launch Options”) the parameter “-console ” without quotes.

• god – invulnerability;
• noclip – the ability to pass through walls. Useful when stuck in textures or doorways;
• give item_g_lockpick – get lock picks. If you suddenly did not receive them at the very beginning;
• giftxp X – get X experience points;
• money X – change the size of the female breast to X. You can set negative values.

Other codes in Russian.

How to use the

gamepad

The game does not officially support gamepads (the original was still released in 2004). The best way to fix this is to use Xpadder. With this program, you can assign keyboard and mouse keys to controller buttons. The Steam Controller is also great for this purpose. Next – instructions for installing the program and, probably, the best layout for the game (buttons can be set as you like, the material indicates the option for the Xbox 360 controller).

• Download Xpadder (price $10).
• Create a new profile.
• Fill out the profile following the instructions (do not forget to add L3 and R3 in the “Buttons” section).
• Once all gamepad buttons appear, assign keyboard keys to them.

Convenient layout:

• Left stick – WASD (movement).
• L3 – Ctrl (sneak).
• Right stick – mouse movement (overview).
• R3 – F (feeding).
• LT – right mouse button (discipline use).
• RT – left mouse button (attack).
• LB – mouse scrolling (next discipline).
• RB – E (use).
• Y – H (hide weapons).
• X – R (reload weapon).
• A – space (jump).
• B – I (inventory, weapon selection through inventory).
• “Up” on the cross – the first line in the dialogue.
• “Right” on the cross – the second line in the dialogue.
• “Down” on the cross – the third line in the dialogue.
• “Left” on the cross – the fourth line in the dialogue.
• Back – L (diary. From here you can also get to the character screen using the right stick and RT as a mouse).
• Start – Esc (exit to the menu).

Known issues and solutions

Some of these problems are solved by installing any fan patch. But there are unforeseen exceptions, so let’s look at them.

The game does not start/gives an error/crashes on Windows 8-10.

Install VtM Loader.

Error “Available memory less than 15MB!!!”

Set the compatibility mode to Windows XP.

“Failed to find Steam” error.

1. Open the Steam folder (for example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam).
2. Locate the Steam.dll file.
3. Copy it to your game folder (e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines).
4. Launch the game (without restarting Steam).

Or check the “Run as administrator” checkbox in the properties of Steam.exe and vampire.exe (at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines). If this does not help, then set another Windows XP compatibility mode and turn off the visual design and desktop composition in the properties of the shortcuts.

Can I play Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines on Linux/Mac OS?

Unofficial Patch has a skin for Wine. You can also try the following methods.

The game freezes after calling the console.

We use the console only in the pause menu. You can also type unpause in the console.

After a long game, a lot of debris begins to appear, doors do not open, etc.

This is due to engine imperfections and memory leaks. It is difficult to treat such a problem, so make your sessions shorter and reboot if you start noticing problems.

There are crashes in the middle of the game.

Do not play sound files of the game through Windows Media Player, it adds its own information to them, and when you try to start such a sound, the game crashes.

If you’re having any non-standard issues, look for a solution in the game’s community on Steam, on the GOG forum, VK fan group or website.

As a result, players have the following options for a comfortable game: store versions with minimal changes, playing with True Patch Gold installed, treating bugs and with “vanilla” gameplay, as well as Unofficial Patch with cut content. Russifiers and graphic mods can be set any and at will.

Almost all patches have an uninstaller (in the patch folder). If for some reason it is not there, you can remove the patch by cutting out all the copied files.

It is hardly possible to mention all the possible problems of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines within one guide, so let’s continue the topic in the comments: tell us what problems you encountered during the passage and how they were solved. And if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask them – we will figure it out together.

Otirelax instructions for use: indications, contraindications, side effects – description Otirelax Ear Drops (17731)