Q. From my first pregnancy until about ten years ago, I had two or three very painful attacks of hemorrhoids a year. I would have to go to bed for up to a week at a time.
I haven’t had a single attack since I began using baby wipes instead of toilet paper. Perhaps this is because they are so much gentler on the skin than toilet paper.
I carry a supply in my purse in a small zip-lock baggie at all times. I am very grateful for a pain-free bottom and have found that they are also great for cleaning spills from clothes and removing makeup at the end of the day.
A. Thanks for pointing out the advantages of baby wipes. Clearly, they aren’t just for baby’s bottoms.
Other products designed specifically for this purpose include Preparation H Medicated Wipes and Tucks Medicated Pads. Both contain 50 percent witch hazel, which is an astringent and cleansing agent.
Q. What is a safe daily dose of Advil? What harmful side effects does it have, if any?
A. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Like other medications in this class, it can be irritating to the digestive tract. Such drugs may also cause dizziness, rash, ringing in the ears, fluid retention and higher blood pressure.
The recommended dose for over-the-counter use is one caplet every four to six hours up to a maximum of six pills (1,200 mg) in 24 hours. This dose should not be taken without medical supervision for more than ten days. Physicians may prescribe ibuprofen in doses up to 3,200 mg in a day, but this large amount requires careful medical supervision.
Q. Over the last few months, I have been put on various drugs for sinus problems. These include antibiotics like Tequin and Levaquin as well as prednisone. The prednisone made me squirrely, so I stopped it with my doctor’s okay.
I was given another course of Levaquin for a bladder infection and started feeling panicky. Then my doctor put me on Zoloft to combat anxiety.
Next I began having full-blown panic attacks and a bout of depression. I was prescribed Zyprexa and Klonopin to boost serotonin in my brain.
Before all this began, I ran a marathon and was living a full life with no anxiety problems. Is it possible that the drugs set off these troubles?
A. Antibiotics are rarely considered as contributors to anxiety or depression. But quinolone-type antibiotics (Levaquin, Cipro, Floxin, Noroxin, Tequin) may trigger nervousness, confusion, dizziness, depression or even psychosis.
Prednisone is notorious for causing insomnia, serious depression and mood swings.
We are sending you our Guides to Psychological Side Effects and Antidepressants for more information about drug-induced depression and anxiety. Anyone who would like copies, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons’ The People’s Pharmacy®, No. MX-23, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Treating anxiety or depression with heavy-duty anti-psychotic medicine like Zyprexa is risky. This drug can cause weight gain, dizziness, agitation, personality disorder and sleepiness.
Q. I take aspirin for my heart. I bruise easily and get dark splotches on my hands and arms. Is there any connection?
A. Some people are very susceptible to this potential side effect. Please discuss this issue with your doctor to see if you should take a lower dose of aspirin.
