Q. Is there any blood pressure medicine that does not give you a cough or make you feel exhausted? I am almost ready to give up on blood pressure pills. A. Some people are quite susceptible to cough as a... (Read More)
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Pharmacy Q&A
Q. What is the story about the toxic effects of zinc in denture creams? A. Too much zinc, whether from dental adhesives or taken as a supplement, can lead to a copper deficiency. The possible consequences are anemia and neurological... (Read More)
Q. I tried the soap-under-the-sheet remedy for leg cramps. It was successful, but it didn't last. Then my doctor prescribed Qualaquin 325 mg capsules, and they work like a charm. This medication has quinine and is usually used for the... (Read More)
Q. I would like you to know about medical marijuana for cancer. In her late 30s, my wife was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, stage 4a. It was a 6 cm tumor that had grown around the hepatic artery and portal... (Read More)
Q. I've been taking levothyroxine for more than a dozen years. I just recently learned I've been taking it at the wrong time. I was taking it along with breakfast and coffee, not to mention vitamins, minerals, probiotics, Citrucel and... (Read More)
Q. My elderly mother has been taking the following drugs for at least 15 years. They are: furosemide for blood pressure, doxepin and thioridazine to calm her and help her sleep, Lanoxin for her heart and acetaminophen with codeine, two... (Read More)
I was on Prozac for two years for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), but it decimated my libido. My doctor prescribed citalopram instead. If I missed a dose or two of Prozac nothing bad happened, but if I miss a few... (Read More)
Q. Early this summer, I got poison oak and couldn't find the anti-itch cream. I was desperate so I used my rosacea medicine, MetroGel (metronidazole gel 0.75%), hoping for any relief. Not only did the itch stop within minutes, but... (Read More)
Q. The chances are very good that every time you get a prescription filled you will get a little leaflet in the bag with some information about your medicine. How reliable is the drug information you get? A. A new... (Read More)
Q. I started taking vitamin D3 supplements about a year ago when my doctor tested my blood and found out I was vitamin D deficient. Is it just a coincidence that my migraines and chronic headaches have almost disappeared? I've... (Read More)
Q. I was interested in the letter from a reader who applied tincture of iodine to his nails to fight fungus. He mentioned that it stains the nails brown. I am surprised you did not tell him that iodine also... (Read More)
Q. Your column helped me finally get off Prevacid. All my previous attempts failed until I learned to eat almonds to stop the indigestion. Now that I have eliminated the drug I am hopeful my risk of bone fracture will... (Read More)
Q. The letter about the girl on the pill who developed blood clots in her brain caught my eye. At 21 my daughter was on the pill and being treated for bronchitis. She began having trouble breathing, fainted and ended... (Read More)
Q. I am in good health but have trouble both getting to sleep and staying asleep. This may run in the family, since my dad also had trouble with insomnia. I have tried everything under the sun and moon but... (Read More)
Q. I went to the hospital for an unrelated problem that prompted an X-ray and CT scan. The doctors found five nodules in my lungs. I met with a pulmonologist to discuss this. After I mentioned that I put Vicks... (Read More)
Q. I'm 17 years old and I have epilepsy. I started taking Keppra two years ago. It got my seizures under control and I went into remission. I recently moved to a new state and my new doctor switched me... (Read More)
Q. My internist says I need extra vitamin D and suggested I spend more time in the sun. My dermatologist insists that I need to use a high-SPF sunscreen every day and stay out of the sun. I am feeling... (Read More)
Q. For over 20 years I was plagued with dry flaky skin on the side of my nose and behind my earlobes. I went to several doctors, including dermatologists. We tried various salves to no avail. After a while this... (Read More)
Q. You wrote recently about mosquito bites. I am a mosquito magnet myself and get bitten every day during the summer. I find that rubbing the bite with hand sanitizer stops the itch right away. This is the best discovery... (Read More)
Q. I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, with the most severe bone loss in my spine and hips. I have taken Fosamax, Actonel and Boniva. Fosamax didn't work and Actonel and Boniva caused terrible musculoskeletal pain and a flu-like malaise... (Read More)
Q. I used Flonase for one year to ease nasal congestion caused by allergies. I am 37 and have just learned I have cataracts in both eyes. The optometrist was as surprised as I was that I would have cataracts... (Read More)
Q. I've just read about the "hot water" remedy for mosquito bites. I too seem to be a mosquito magnet and have found Vicks VapoRub is a magical remedy. I have no idea how or why it works, but it... (Read More)
Q. I have taken levothyroxine for several years but my insurance keeps changing the brand (from Synthroid to Levothroid to several generics). I have had progressively deteriorating hypothyroid symptoms (weight gain, fatigue, muddled thinking, high cholesterol, low sex drive, constipation,... (Read More)
Q. I am a 54-year-old male and I have noticed a drop-off in sexual performance as well as in other parts of my life. I have seen commercials for products that are supposed to boost testosterone. Do such products work?... (Read More)
Q. I was diagnosed with an overactive bladder six months ago. The urologist prescribed VESIcare and handed me a pamphlet on the main offenders that cause the symptoms. After reading it, I eliminated caffeine, chocolate and alcohol from my diet.... (Read More)
Q. I suffered both flatulence and abdominal pain for more than three years to a degree of misery I'd like to forget. I had lots of tests for digestive problems but they showed no problem and my doctors could offer... (Read More)
Q. I take Zoloft (sertraline) for depression but I had a frightening experience recently. I am in excellent physical health. To relieve a cold, I took one dose of a cold formula that contains dextromethorphan. The box warned about MAOI... (Read More)
Q. Please tell your readers that taking moderate amounts of a magnesium supplement can alleviate depression. I have personally had good results taking magnesium aspartate, oxide or citrate salts, at a dose of at least 400 mg of magnesium a... (Read More)
Q. I have a curious question. Whenever I take a Tums Dual Action tablet for heartburn, I can't go to sleep. It keeps me awake all night. I've tried taking half a tablet and taking it earlier but it still... (Read More)
Q. I started taking 10,000 IU of Vitamin D a day. Six months later I suddenly developed severe constipation. Was the constipation caused by the large dose of vitamin D? A. Vitamin D is a superstar among vitamins these days.... (Read More)