Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them: Health care screwups are one of the leading causes of death in America, killing as many as 750,000 people annually. That’s more than heart attacks or cancer. And yet most people don’t know this, including most physicians. From diagnostic disasters to deadly drug interactions, the bestselling authors of The People’s Pharmacy expose the alarming epidemic of medical mistakes in America—and offer a lifesaving prescription to make the healthcare system safe again. Only $26.00 +s/h
Q. I was a nanny last summer, and one day we were in the kids' back yard. Their dog knocked a yellow jacket down, but it was still alive. Unaware of this, I walked on the deck where the yellow... (Read More)
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Pharmacy Q&A
Q. I am 61 years old. My doctor recently tested me for vitamin D and found I am deficient. I was really surprised, since I play golf both summer and winter. (We go to Arizona in the winter.) What are... (Read More)
Q. You wrote about antidepressants like Effexor for hot flash relief and I thought I'd share my experience. My doctor prescribed Effexor XR for my hot flashes five years ago. I took one tablet at bedtime, as directed, and did... (Read More)
Q. I am very concerned about my wife's practice of giving our boy's enemas on the last Thursday of every month. Our sons are 14 and 12. When I ask why she does this, she replies that it's good for... (Read More)
We never fail to be amazed about what our readers and visitors worry about. Of all the things that can go wrong with our health, the color of our pubic hair seems pretty low on the list. Nevertheless, many people... (Read More)
Q. If it hadn't happened to me I wouldn't have believed it. Recently several of my friends have reported bouts of extreme stomach cramps, severe bloating and uncontrollable gas. The common culprit in all these cases turned out to be... (Read More)
Q. Do you know anything about a new blood pressure drug called Tekturna? Three months after my doctor prescribed this pill I developed the most horrendous deep cough. I thought it was whooping cough. A chest X-ray showed my lungs... (Read More)
Q. I almost died from an allergic reaction to lamb chops. I was surprised when my allergist asked about ticks, but told him I had gotten into a nest of seed ticks a year ago. Now I have to avoid... (Read More)
Q. I am suffering with side effects from finasteride to control prostate symptoms. I have erectile dysfunction, loss of libido and enlarged breasts. Does it make sense for me to take testosterone to overcome these side effects? A. Finasteride is... (Read More)
Q. I am at my wit's end. I've been taking Prempro for hot flashes. Now my doctor wants me to stop because of cancer concerns. Whenever I quit, though, the hot flashes return worse than ever. My friends swear by... (Read More)
Q. I have suffered with severe, chronic nasal congestion and sinus headaches for decades. Periodically I get addicted to over the counter nasal sprays and have a terrible time weaning myself off. Sleeping with a stuffy nose is the pits.... (Read More)
Q. Twenty years ago I started taking high doses of B vitamins to help prevent migraines. It worked, but about eight years ago I began having twitching all over, but mostly in my lower legs. I was tested for MS... (Read More)
Q. People are concerned about BPA (bisphenol A), phthalates, and other possibly harmful chemicals in plastic containers. Instead of trying to use the "safest" kinds of plastic containers (recycling numbers 2, 4, 5), I bought glass storage containers and stopped... (Read More)
Q. My grandmother was given Seroquel in the hospital to help her sleep. She has been on it for three months now and I have noticed symptoms such as slight head nodding and mouth movements like chewing or sucking. She... (Read More)
Q. Last fall my doctor prescribed atorvastatin (Lipitor), and after several months I found I was having trouble remembering names and coming up with the right word. At dinner once I said "please pass the elephant" though I wanted the... (Read More)
Q. I have been breastfeeding my baby for seven months and have suffered through recurring infections with Candida albicans. The antifungal pill fluconazole worked but I needed a very high dose. That worries me. I'm interested in a more natural... (Read More)
Q. I was given a prescription for lisinopril last year to lower my blood pressure. During the winter I developed a constant horrible dry cough that just wouldn't go away. One day at work I started coughing and couldn't stop.... (Read More)
Q. I was addicted to eating cornstarch for ten years. Then I was hospitalized for an unrelated problem and got a blood transfusion. My doctor also put me on iron and potassium supplements, and my cornstarch cravings completely disappeared. Other... (Read More)
Q. I have suffered from sharp pains in my feet diagnosed as peripheral neuropathy. I heard on your radio show that a supplement called benfotiamine might help. I tried it and feeling has returned and the pain is gone. Thanks!... (Read More)
Q. My husband is suffering seizures after being forced to switch to generic levetiracetam (Keppra). I can buy the brand for $735.00 per month, but at 62 years of age we can't afford to spend this much every month. I... (Read More)
Q. I am taking niacin 1000 mg to improve my good cholesterol. I get a hot flash about 20 minutes later that lasts about 15 minutes. Is this normal? My doctor recommended niacin since the bad LDL cholesterol is fine... (Read More)
Q. I have had toenail fungus for more than 37 years. I started using a light sprinkle of foot powder containing cornstarch with zinc in my shoes and socks when I go for my daily walk. This week I noticed... (Read More)
Q. I searched the Internet looking for ways to help my husband get some sleep and not cough all night. Ever since his radiation therapy for vocal cord cancer, he has coughed at night. After applying Vicks VapoRub to his... (Read More)
Q. I read your column about using xylitol spray to ease symptoms of nasal congestion and sinusitis. Please warn your readers that xylitol is very toxic to dogs. A friend's dog got into a pack of sugar-free chewing gum sweetened... (Read More)
Q. I am 23 years old and having terrible trouble with constipation. I can go for a week without a bowel movement even though I am choking down gobs of fiber. When I finally do go, it can be very... (Read More)
Q. I am 55 and have been taking fluticasone nasal spray year round for allergies since about ten years ago. (I live in California and something is always blooming.) I was having vision problems recently, and the ophthalmologist I saw... (Read More)
Q. I am hoping you can give me advice about what to take for heartburn. I lead a "normal" life for a single mom: working long hours, carpooling, going to the gym and kid's soccer games. I know my eating... (Read More)
Q. My daughter just told me a horror story about a close friend of hers. This young woman became depressed at college and was taking Zoloft. When she caught a bad cold and took over-the-counter cough syrup, she ended up... (Read More)
Q. I use a sunscreen daily because I burn easily and love being outdoors. My doctor tells me that I am seriously deficient in vitamin D. I've tried taking a high-dose supplement, but it makes my legs and feet ache.... (Read More)
Q. Our father is taking medicine for an enlarged prostate, high blood pressure, heartburn, allergies, cough and postnasal drip. A partial list of his drugs include Avodart, doxazosin, hydroxyzine, ipratropium, Nexium, sertraline, promethazine plus codeine syrup and Tylenol PM. Dad... (Read More)
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