Q. As a pharmacist, I don’t understand how you could cast doubt on generics. These drugs have to go through rigorous testing to prove that they have equal ingredients and bioavailability before they are ever allowed on the market. You shouldn’t be undermining people’s confidence in these affordable products.
A. It is true that the FDA has a very rigorous procedure to approve generic drugs. But once medicines get into the market, the monitoring leaves something to be desired. The FDA only tests 300 products (branded and generic) each year. That amounts to 0.00001 percent of the pharmaceuticals dispensed in US pharmacies annually.
There is a growing problem with counterfeit drugs. These are products that contain inadequate doses or incorrect ingredients. Authorities have focused on the trafficking of expensive, brand-name fakes, but generics may not be immune to unscrupulous practices. There is no organized system to seek out substandard compounds.
We are trying to assist the Food and Drug Administration in this process. Anyone who would like to report a problem with a medicine may email us at pharmacy(AT SIGN)mindspring.com so we can pass it on to the FDA.
Q. Benadryl worked like a charm for me. It stopped all my allergy symptoms and then put me to sleep at night. Unfortunately, it also kept me from urinating.
Is there another drug out there that will do the job for me? I’ve become so fearful about this problem, I even read labels on breakfast cereals to be sure there will be no peeing problems.
A. Diphenhydramine (found in Benadryl, Tylenol PM, Excedrin PM, Nytol, Tavist Nighttime Allergy, Sominex) comes with a warning about prostate problems and urination difficulties. Many over-the-counter cold and allergy remedies also carry such a warning.
Ask your doctor about antihistamines that would be safe for you. Prescription Zyrtec or Allegra may be such products.
Q. Is there a correlation with blood pressure drugs and insomnia? Several years ago I was diagnosed with hypertension. Ever since I started taking medicine for this problem I have developed severe insomnia. I can fall asleep, but then I wake up with awful nightmares and cannot get back to sleep.
A. A surprising number of medications (certain antibiotics, antidepressants, asthma drugs, blood pressure pills, diet pills, etc) can indeed cause insomnia or make sleeping more difficult. Beta blockers such as metoprolol or propranolol, for example, may cause nightmares.
Ask your doctor if different medicines could control your blood pressure without disturbing your sleep. Insomnia or early wakening can have serious health consequences. A prescription sleeping pill like Sonata may help you get back to sleep.
For more information about sleep medication such as Sonata as well as relaxation tapes and other non-drug approaches, we are sending you our Guide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep along with a one-hour CD of our radio show with sleep expert Martin Scharf, Ph.D. Anyone who would like copies, please send $15 in check or money order to Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. CD-70, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Q. What are the long-term adverse effects of using baking soda to control heartburn?
A. Baking soda is high in sodium. New guidelines suggest Americans should cut back on this mineral.
The People's Perspective on Medicine