People's Pharmacy

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Snuff May Be Bad For Blood Pressure

Posting Date: 09/26/2005

Q. Sometime ago I read about a special seat cushion that traps odors from intestinal gas. Where can I find such a cushion? When I asked at my pharmacy they thought I was joking.

A. You may be referring to a cushion containing activated charcoal called GasBGon that is sold by Dairiair (877) 427-2466. You can find more information at www.gasbgon.com.

Q. I was recently diagnosed with an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation. The doctor prescribed Coumadin and Toprol XL.

I would like to know if my vitamins and other supplements would interact with these drugs. In addition to a B complex and multivitamin I take vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, garlic, Coenzyme Q10 and fish oil.

A. The blood thinner Coumadin (warfarin) can interact with dozens of drugs, foods and dietary supplements. For example, Coenzyme Q10 is also known as ubiquinone and is related to vitamin K. It may reduce the effectiveness of Coumadin and lead to a blood clot.

Vitamin E, garlic and fish oil have modest anti-coagulant activity. That means they might increase the risk of bleeding when combined with Coumadin.

We are sending you our Guides to Food, Herb, Drug and Coumadin Interactions so you can better gauge what to avoid. Anyone who would like copies please send $3 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. FED-192, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.

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In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.org. Their newest book is The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies (St. Martin's Press).