People's Pharmacy

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Asthma Drug Warning Causes Alarm

Posting Date: 12/12/2005

Q. My husband is a walking drugstore. He suffers from depression and migraine headaches and takes Neurontin, Zoloft, Zyprexa, diazepam, Prilosec and Fiorinal.

Since he retired, his memory is getting worse and he sometimes seems almost like a zombie. I worry that his pills are hurting more than helping.

A. It?s hardly any wonder your husband feels like a zombie. Combining a sedative like diazepam (Valium) with an anti-psychotic such as Zyprexa, a barbiturate found in Fiorinal and an anti-convulsant (Neurontin) could make almost anyone forgetful and spacey. Such a combination could also increase his risk of a fall.

As people age, they become more susceptible to some drug side effects. Forgetfulness and dizziness can wreck quality of life. Please ask his doctor to review your husband?s medications.

We are sending you our Guide to Drugs and Older People. It lists medicines that may cause mental impairment, drugs that may be inappropriate for senior citizens and a drug safety check list. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped, self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. O-85, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.

Q. My cardiologist tells me I must take aspirin for the rest of my life to prevent a heart attack or stroke. He said to avoid ibuprofen and naproxen for pain relief. Why?

A. Pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen may interfere with the anti-clotting action of aspirin (New England Journal of Medicine, Dec. 1, 2005).

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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.com. Their newest book is The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies (St. Martin's Press).