Community ClicksQ: I have just been diagnosed with high blood pressure (145/95).
My doctor and I are trying to find a medicine that agrees with me.
Im currently trying the third one.
The first was an ACE inhibitor that made me cough.
Then he prescribed Norvasc (amlodipine) and now Cardizem (diltiazem).
They made me drowsy during the day even when I took them at night.
Isn’t there a new drug thats better than the old standards?
A: You may want to ask your doctor about a thiazide diuretic such as hydrochlorothiazide or chlorthalidone.
Although such drugs have been around for more than 50 years, they are still considered a first-line treatment for high blood pressure (New England Journal of Medicine, Nov. 26, 2009).
We are sending you our Guide to Blood Pressure Treatment with nondrug suggestions and more details on the pros and cons of various medications.
For a copy, send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (61 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons Peoples Pharmacy, No. B-67, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
It also can be downloaded for $2 from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com.
Q: I have been stressing out over a wart on my face.
I have tried every treatment mentioned in your column for more than two years, including banana peel, vinegar, Listerine and duct tape.
Nothing worked, no matter how conscientious I was about applying the treatment.
Finally I read about the aloe plant and how to apply it by peeling it and applying the juicy material directly to the wart. That worked!
Now I dont feel like a Halloween witch with a big wart.
A: We are delighted to learn that topical application of aloe vera gel got rid of your wart.
This is the first time we have heard of using aloe as a wart remedy.
Other readers have had success soaking warts in hot water, or applying duct tape, castor oil, lemon juice, vinegar or the prescription antiviral drug amantadine.
Others tell us that taping eggplant or banana peel to a wart also will make it disappear.
Q: I have read your articles about various ways to treat heartburn naturally.
What I have found most helpful are chewable papaya enzymes they work great!
A: We have heard from other readers that chewing a tablet with papain, an enzyme from the tropical fruit papaya, can help with heartburn.
Although we could find no recent scientific research supporting this natural approach, we did locate an article in the British Medical Journal from April 3, 1886.
A physician writing about acid reflux (dyspepsia) noted that “this drug [papain] is extremely valuable in this form of indigestion.”
Papain is found in powdered meat tenderizer because it breaks down proteins.
Anyone who is allergic to latex should steer clear of papaya enzymes, though, as they might cause an allergic reaction.
Q: I am a preschool teacher and have to wash my hands dozens of times a day to try to avoid colds and flu.
I am suffering the worst case of dried-out winter skin I can remember, with deep, painful cracks around my fingernails.
Ive tried everything under the sun, from Eucerin and Corn Huskers Lotion to Aveeno and Aquaphor.
My hands are still a mess, and the cracks make it hard to type or fasten buttons.
A: Cold, dry air and frequent hand-washing are guaranteed to cause dry-skin misery
Readers tell us that using ChapStick (or other lip balm) on the cracks is sometimes helpful.
Another approach for cracked fingertips is instant glue.
A safer solution might be liquid bandage, such as New-Skin or the Band-Aid brand.
For more recommendations on healing dry, cracked skin, we are sending you our Guide to Skin Care and Treatment.
For a copy, send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (61 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons Peoples Pharmacy, No. S-28, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Or download it for $2 from www.peoplespharmacy.com.
Wearing cotton or disposable vinyl gloves over a greasy moisturizer overnight can also help heal dry, cracked skin.
Q: Years ago, my cholesterol was in the stratosphere, and Lopid (gemfibrozil) was ineffective.
When Lipitor (atorvastatin) became available, the doctor prescribed it to be taken as well.
It certainly gave amazing results, with the cholesterol count dropping like a stone in just three months.
A pharmacist mentioned that this combination might be dangerous, but my doctor just laughed and pointed to the great lab results.
One day the following month, I awoke immobilized.
Luckily, the phone was next to my bed, so I called my brother.
He carried me to the emergency department, where they suspected a stroke.
During the next five hours under observation, I gradually regained my ability to move.
I was sent home and told to see the doctor the next day.
When I saw him, he looked at me like I was a freak and said I was depressed. (Not so!)
Other doctors have also been skeptical.
Has anyone else ever experienced this kind of muscle problem?
A: Your story is unique because the problem came on suddenly and you recovered so quickly.
The combination of gemfibrozil and Lipitor does increase the risk for rhabdomyolysis, a serious muscle breakdown that can be life-threatening.
We have heard from hundreds of people who have experienced a gradual onset of muscle pain in shoulders, legs or back after taking statins.
Other complaints have included weakness or nerve problems such as numbness, tingling, itching or burning.
You will find more stories at www.peoplespharmacy.com.
Q: Why dont over-the-counter medications (such as famotidine) have to show who makes them or in what country they are made?
Almost any other product, from shoes to bananas, must give this information.
Is there a loophole in the law?
A: The law does not require country-of-origin labeling on medications.
Ingredients in popular OTC products such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen often are manufactured abroad in countries like China and India.
Prescription drugs are increasingly made overseas as well, and it is hard to tell where such medicines originate.
Any changes would require congressional action.
