Biography

Joe Graedon, a pharmacologist, and Teresa Graedon, an expert in medical anthropology and nutrition, can be reached at www.peoplespharmacy. ...

Read full bio

Joe Graedon, Teresa Graedon

The People's Pharmacy

E-mail

Listerine cleared up jock itch

September 20, 2010

I was in Marine Corps boot camp early in 1970 and developed a bad case of jock itch. My drill instructor, although an extremely harsh and seemingly uncaring guy, had warned us all of this possibility and suggested using Listerine.

  • How to keep hotel bedbugs from biting

    September 6, 2010

    I have to travel in a couple of weeks and stay in a hotel for several days. I have been reading and hearing a lot about the bedbug epidemic in New York, Washington and Baltimore. Do you know of any way I can make sure I do not pick up any bedbugs while I am traveling and bring them home with me?

  • Red yeast rice may lower cholesterol

    July 5, 2010

    What can you tell me about red yeast rice? Is it really good for lowering cholesterol levels, and are there any side effects?

  • Warfarin and cranberry juice

    May 24, 2010

    Recently, I had to increase my dose of warfarin by 1 milligram. The label said to avoid cranberry juice, but I've not seen this on previous warfarin prescriptions. I have atrial fibrillation, and that is why I take the anticoagulant.

  • Cranberry juice cocktail for urinary tract health

    May 17, 2010

    Q: I published the original article on cranberry juice cocktail and urinary tract infections (Journal of Urology, May 1984). We also demonstrated in several nursing home studies that cranberry juice cocktail, not the plain juice, works best. Please spare your readers the tartness of the straight juice. — Anthony E. Sobota, PhD

  • Statins can reduce sex drive

    May 3, 2010

    Q: I have taken statins to lower my cholesterol. Decreased libido was one of the many side effects I experienced. As things happened gradually, I hadn't fully taken note of how my normal nighttime erections had virtually ceased.

  • Benicar might be a factor in back pain

    April 26, 2010

    I have been taking Benicar for hypertension for about three years. Now I have developed muscle and back pain.

  • Natural sleep aids are worth trying

    April 19, 2010

    I have suffered from insomnia for many years. My doctor prescribed Ambien, but it doesn't seem to be working very well anymore. I also suspect that it affected my memory.

  • Are eggs truly bad for the heart?

    April 12, 2010

    I gave up eating eggs years ago due to high cholesterol. I have only been eating egg substitutes. I recently heard that eating eggs doesn't really raise cholesterol. If this is true, I would love to go back to eating real eggs again.

  • Blood pressure drug suspected in bad cough

    April 5, 2010

    Q: My insurance company refused the blood pressure drug my doctor prescribed ( Hyzaar) and had me take lisinopril instead. After one month, I got a cough you wouldn't believe. Despite three trips to the doctor, prescriptions for antibiotics, bottles of cough syrup and bags of cough drops, nothing helped. Thinking I had TB or cancer, I got a chest X-ray and was ready to see a specialist.

  • Lemonade to ward off kidney stones

    March 29, 2010

    Q: The other day, someone wrote asking about kidney stones. To cut down on kidney stones, I drink several glasses of lemonade a week.

  • People’s Pharmacy: Cream to lighten age spots is controversial

    March 22, 2010

    Q: Recently, I heard that there was a cream or ointment for getting rid of age spots. I think I heard it referred to as Hydroxycordone. I would like to get rid of my brown sunspots.

  • Fish oil beats flaxseed oil for cholesterol

    March 15, 2010

    Q: Which is better, fish oil or flax oil capsules?

  • Side effects reported from generic antiseizure drug lamotrigine

    March 8, 2010

    Q: I am a clinical nurse specialist who has submitted 37 adverse-event reports to the Food and Drug Administration regarding generic lamotrigine. Most involved a loss of response, but many involved side effects that did not occur with brand-name Lamictal.

  • Sauerkraut as a remedy for canker sores

    February 15, 2010

    If I feel a canker sore coming on, I put a wad of chopped sauerkraut on the area, hold it there for a minute, then chew and swallow. I do this three or four times a day for two to three days.

  • Can topical use of milk of magnesia reduce blemishes?

    November 16, 2009

    Q: Milk of magnesia is great for blemishes. I started using it six months ago, and it really helped clear up my skin. It was better than the things my dermatologist prescribed. I apply it every night before bed and leave it on all night.

  • Salsalate: What is it?

    November 9, 2009

    Q: Can you tell me about the pain reliever salsalate? My doctor says it will help ease my arthritis pain and might help control my blood sugar.

  • Milk of magnesia helps battle against acne

    July 7, 2008

    I am 44 years old and have had acne since I was a teenager. Dermatologists have prescribed countless antibiotics, including Cleocin T, to no avail. Birth control pills worked, but when I stopped, the acne returned. Retin-A helped, but made my skin sensitive to the sun and caused redness and cracking.

  • Using duct tape to remove a wart

    June 4, 2007

    I had a wart near my ankle and decided to try the duct-tape treatment. Each morning, every day for three weeks, I cut a small piece and, after my shower, stuck it over the wart.

  • Just how much selenium is safe to take every day?

    May 21, 2007

    You wrote that three or four Brazil nuts daily supplied enough selenium to cause toxicity. I'm taking 100 micrograms of selenium daily to ward off prostate cancer. Is this safe?

  • Lipitor pills can be safely split

    March 20, 2006

    My doctor told me to take half a tablet of Lipitor a day. In a magazine ad, it said not to cut tablets but didn't say why. Do you know why Lipitor shouldn't be broken?

  • Drugs may cause B-12 deficiency

    March 13, 2006

    I am a diabetic, and I'm afraid I'm missing something in my diet. My hair is rapidly falling out, and my nails refuse to grow. They just split, despite nightly moisturizing. I eat carefully, but I take a lot of medicines: insulin and metformin for diabetes, atenolol and HCTZ for blood pressure, lovastatin for cholesterol and Prilosec for reflux. Could any of them be contributing to this problem?

  • Long-term risks of prednisone

    March 6, 2006

    I have been given prednisone twice. It was only so-so for the problems for which it was prescribed, but while I was taking it, my arthritis completely went away. I was told I can't take it long-term because of side effects. Is there any way to get the benefits without the bad parts?

  • Cramps? Replenish minerals

    February 27, 2006

    I'm 47 years old and play basketball. My calves seem to cramp almost every time I play. I stretch them for about 20 minutes beforehand, but it doesn't help. Could this be due to a lack of calcium or potassium?

  • Natural options for dryness

    February 20, 2006

    My mother died of breast cancer, so I am careful to avoid estrogen. Vaginal dryness is a problem, though, so my doctor prescribed Vagifem, which is a vaginal tablet. He implied that it would act locally and that I need not worry about estrogen exposure. Is this true? If not, are there alternatives?

  • From anxiety to suicide

    February 13, 2006

    My husband went to the hospital for chest pains on a Sunday. He was kept overnight and was finally told that he'd probably just had an anxiety attack.

  • Hormones may lessen sex drive

    February 6, 2006

    I recently read that contraceptives diminish sexual desire. Does hormone replacement therapy do the same thing for menopausal women?

  • ADD drug can upset stomach

    January 30, 2006

    My daughter was diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder last fall and began taking Adderall.

  • Magnesium is a gentler solution

    January 23, 2006

    Chronic constipation has been a problem for me for as long as I can remember. I have tried extra fiber, but it makes me feel bloated and causes gas. I drink lots of water, but that makes me urinate a lot. Is there a laxative I can take regularly that would be safe?

  • Culprit in breathing difficulties

    January 16, 2006

    For several years I have been taking atenolol for my blood pressure, Zoloft for depression and Prevacid for acid reflux. During this time, my breathing has gradually gotten worse, and now I can't walk more than 20 or 30 feet without stopping to catch my breath. Up to a couple of years ago, I walked four to five miles a day at a fast pace. Could this change have anything to do with my medicines?

  • Other benefits of diet drug

    January 9, 2006

    I read about a new drug that affects the body's cannabinoid receptors. It is supposed to curb appetite, lower cholesterol and block glucose.

  • Brazil nuts are rich in selenium

    January 2, 2006

    What foods are high in selenium? I've been told this mineral may help prevent arthritis.

  • Beware of horny goat weed

    December 26, 2005

    My husband takes HCTZ and Monopril for his hypertension, and Vytorin to lower his cholesterol. Since starting the drugs, he's had trouble with impotence. He refuses to see a urologist but takes an herb called horny goat weed instead.

  • Aspirin won't raise pressure

    December 19, 2005

    Using Aleve or Tylenol seems to increase my blood pressure. Does aspirin have the same effect? I need something to help with sinus headaches, but don't want to continue raising my blood pressure.

  • Mix of pills merits a review

    December 12, 2005

    My husband suffers from depression and migraine headaches and takes Neurontin, Zoloft, Zyprexa, diazepam, Prilosec and Fiorinal.

  • Drug may cause B-12 deficiency

    December 5, 2005

    I am a retired doctor with Type 2 diabetes. Metformin had kept my blood sugar in the normal range for 10 years, but my foot numbness was getting worse. I was also a little unsteady on my feet.

  • Some juice, drugs not a good mix

    November 28, 2005

    I would like to try pomegranate juice for its health benefits. Will it interact with Lipitor?

  • Unlikely drugs for Raynaud's

    November 21, 2005

    I have Raynaud's syndrome. When I get cold, my fingers turn white, then turn blue and then go red. When they turn white, it feels like I've been out in the snow for hours. My doctor told me to move to a warmer climate. That's impractical. I hope you have some advice.

  • Aspirin's effects on surgery

    November 14, 2005

    I am going in for surgery and my doctor said not to stop taking aspirin. The last time I had surgery, I was told to quit two weeks ahead. What's changed?

  • Painkillers up blood pressure

    November 7, 2005

    I was surprised to hear that taking acetaminophen daily might lead to elevated blood pressure. I take extra-strength pain relievers containing acetaminophen several times a week.

  • Vitamin D for gums that bleed

    October 31, 2005

    Do you know of any vitamins for gum irritation? When I floss, my gums bleed.

  • Laxatives not the answer

    October 24, 2005

    I have a friend who is convinced that constipation causes cancer. She uses an enema a couple of times a week, and drinks laxative tea containing senna all the time. Are there any dangers to colon cleansing?

  • Gluten can lead to migraines

    October 17, 2005

    I suffered from migraines for more than a decade. A few years ago, my condition worsened and I had headaches almost nonstop. I took prescription painkillers, but I mostly lay in bed in a dark room. Then my family doctor suggested a gluten-free diet. I gradually got better, and after several months I was 98% headache-free. Please share my story so others can benefit.

  • A natural remedy for narcolepsy

    October 10, 2005

    Are there any natural treatments for narcolepsy and cataplexy?

  • Remedy for canker sores

    October 3, 2005

    My doctor had me take Prelief because he thought I had interstitial cystitis. It turns out I don't. But since I started using Prelief, I have hardly had any canker sores, which I got every time I ate something acidic, like salsa or barbecue sauce.

  • Antibiotics may cause depression

    September 26, 2005

    In 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 squirrelly, so I stopped it with my doctor's OK.

  • Comparing drugs for arthritis

    September 19, 2005

    Several years ago, when my arthritis began acting up, I started taking aspirin to relieve my pain and inflammation.

  • Sensitivity to beta blockers

    September 12, 2005

    My husband had open-heart surgery last spring. Since then, even putting his clothes on makes him so breathless he can barely speak. He is weak and exhausted all the time.

  • St. John's wort may affect HRT

    September 5, 2005

    I recently started taking St. John's wort for mood elevation. I've also been on hormone replacement therapy (Activella) for more than year with very good results. Will the St. John's wort interfere with my medication?

  • Be aware of risks of pain pills

    August 29, 2005

    I take six Tylenol Arthritis Pain pills every day. They contain 650 milligrams each of acetaminophen. I read recently that acetaminophen can increase blood pressure. Should I worry?

  • Balancing diet and medicines

    August 22, 2005

    My internist has advised me to go on a high-fiber, low-cholesterol, low-salt diet to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. I am supposed to eat lots of vegetables and bran with my oatmeal. My wife even got me a salt substitute.

  • Pennyroyal can repel insects

    August 15, 2005

    My family faced the problem of insect bites when I was young, living in the hills of Arkansas. Much of our food, such as huckleberries or blackberries, came from the woods. When we went out to gather them, our first stop was a spot that had a lot of pennyroyal herbs. We pulled up a couple of plants, scrubbed them against our trouser legs and were never bothered by ticks, chiggers or other insects while we were gathering fruit.