A. You have plenty of company. Experts estimate that 20 to 30 percent of men climax too early. Some studies have defined that as lasting less than two minutes after intercourse begins.
Drug companies are working on medicines designed specifically to treat premature ejaculation. One such drug is called dapoxetine. It has been found to extend intercourse by two or three minutes, on average.
The FDA has not yet approved dapoxetine, which is related to drugs like the antidepressant Prozac (fluoxetine). Some doctors already prescribe medicines such as Prozac, Paxil or Zoloft for premature ejaculation. Delayed climax is a common side effect of these compounds.
You should discuss this issue with a physician who has experience in treating it. Behavioral therapy can also be effective.
Q. My husband tried Neosporin Pain Relief on a wound that was 99 percent healed. The area around the wound turned fiery red and looked inflamed. We assume he is allergic to Neosporin. Is there a safe product for him to use on scrapes and cuts in the future?
A. Contact dermatitis from neomycin (one of the active ingredients in Neosporin) is not rare. Uncomplicated cuts and scrapes may not need anything other than soap-and-water cleaning and then covering with a secure bandage to keep dirt out.
Adhesive bandages have been transformed into a variety of products in the last few years, so he can choose a non-stick, waterproof or gel-based covering.
Q. I have been on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) since my forties. Over the last few years, I have tried to get off the hormones a number of times, but the debilitating symptoms have driven me back on them. Do you have any recommendations for alternatives?
A. Doctors used to put menopausal women on hormones because they thought estrogen would protect them from heart attacks. When well-controlled studies such as the Women’s Health Initiative demonstrated that HRT actually raises women’s risk of heart attack and stroke, many women went off their pills. Discontinuing hormones suddenly often results in symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Some women adapt over time; others find this too difficult. A recent study from Germany confirmed that the black cohosh extract called Remifemin alleviates hot flashes (Obstetrics and Gynecology, May 2005).
We are sending you our Guide to Estrogen: Benefits, Risks & Interactions for more information. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. W-49, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Q. When I take NSAIDs like Motrin I experience a visual disturbance. Doctors are skeptical about this. Is it a reported side effect?
A. According to the official prescribing information, blurred or diminished vision has been reported with this drug.
The People's Perspective on Medicine