What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet?
It’s easy to take way too much of four active ingredients found in hundreds of cold, cough, or allergy remedies. Protect your health with tips from our pharmacist.
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Tag Archives: medicine
What Are Probiotics?
Joan Salge Blake explains some of the potential benefits of probiotics.
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The Cholesterol Conundrum
Statin drugs benefit some people immensely but are taken by millions more. If you’re at low risk for heart disease, taking drugs to lower your cholesterol may be doing you no good. Is it time we took a second look at statins?
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House Call
A man who was a doctor of divinity resided with his son,
a doctor of medicine. One day the phone rang and the
doctor answered. “Is this Dr. Smith?” the caller inquired. “Yes,” came the reply. “Well,” asked the caller, “are you the one who practices or the one who preaches?” Herm Albright Indianapolis, Indiana
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Call First, Act Later
One of the most rewarding parts of my work as a
pharmacist is answering questions people have about their medicines. It is also one of my most frustrating jobs, especially when people call with a question about a medication that they have already taken. At that point, I’m unable to help them avoid potential drug ... More
Top Medical News Stories of the 2000s
The Post’s top seven health features from the first decade of the 21st century.
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5 Ways to Save on Prescription Drugs
How to get the medicines you need at a price you can afford.
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Are You Allergic to Penicillin?
Probably not, suggests results of skin tests reported in the Annals of Emergency Medicine. The new study shows that more than 90 percent of patients who report a penicillin allergy in fact test negative for it, a finding which has important implications for how infections are treated in the emergency department and elsewhere. “Penicillin is ... More
A Heartfelt Thank You
Dear Dr. SerVaas, In your November/December 2008 issue I happened to read that leg and hand spasms could be caused by the cholesterol medicines. I had been having such severe pains that I would have to pull over in traffic because I was afraid to drive with them. I tried eating bananas and all the ... More
Taking Multiple Drugs
To M.G., Two or more medicines may be taken at once unless the labels state otherwise. If you find it difficult to swallow multiple pills, spacing them a few minutes apart is fine, too. As mentioned above, it is a good idea to make a list of all of your drugs and supplements. Some drugs ... More
Clean Out Your Medical Cabinet
Medicine cabinets have a way of filling up. But drugs often expire. Heat and humidity from a year’s worth of showers and baths may cause others to lose potency. And there’s another potential danger: Holding on to old prescriptions increases the risk of taking the wrong pill. After clearing away the clutter, the American College ... More
Second Ablations Often Succeed
In 2001, I suddenly had a short in the electrical system of my heart, and this threw me into A-fib. I have had an ablation with a 67 percent cure, and am taking digoxin, Sotalol, and Cartia XT. Why do they say a second ablation usually has an 80 percent or better cure? I am ... More
Rapid Heartbeat Problem May Be Curable
Q: How serious is SVT? I have had it for 45 years and am now taking verapamil. For years I took Lanoxin. I see a cardiologist once a year. What advice can you give me to remain in stable condition? A: Leading cardiologist Dr. Douglas Zipes replies: Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a general term indicating ... More
Hearing Heartbeat in Ears
I hear my heart beating in my right ear like a reader reported in the May/June 2008 issue. An ENT doctor diagnosed my condition as tinnitus due to the closeness of the carotid artery to the ear. Perhaps this could be a consideration for that reader. My question: Would you suggest I see a heart ... More
Heart Valves, Leg Pain, and Exercise
In 2004 I had heart failure and surgery to replace a valve and arteries. Will the valve last forever? I am 70 years old. My legs pain a lot when I’m walking on an incline but not when on level ground. I feel sluggish and wonder if it is from heart problems or medicines. How ... More
The Top Cancer Research Advancements of 2008
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently reported major scientific advances in the following areas: new therapy options for hard-to-treat lung and pancreatic cancers; FDA drug approvals for women with advanced breast cancer that does not express the HER2 gene (the majority of breast cancers) and people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (a cancer with ... More
