Q: I read that there is a new non-hormonal medicine coming out in November 2013 for hot flashes. It is called Brisdelle.
What do you know about it? What side effects should I be aware of?
A: The FDA approved paroxetine (Brisdelle) as a non-hormonal treatment for hot flashes. This medication may be more familiar under the brand name Paxil. It was originally marketed as an antidepressant starting in 1992.
The most common side effects of Brisdelle are headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Serious complications can include thoughts of suicide, an increased risk of bone fractures and interactions that could result in bleeding or agitation.
Another problem is that discontinuing paroxetine abruptly can result in nightmares, muscle cramps, anxiety, headache, insomnia, nerve tingling, shakiness, visual disturbances, dizziness and sensations like an electric shock (referred to as “brain zaps”).
You will find more details at www. PeoplesPharmacy.com about other non-hormonal options for controlling hot flashes, including Estrovera (rhapontic rhubarb) and Pycnogenol (maritime French pine bark).
Q: I am healthy and in very good physical condition, but for a few years now I wake up early in the morning with leg pain. Sometimes it is so sharp that it almost knocks me to the floor.
These cramps ease up, and eventually the pain goes away, but it can take a couple of hours to disappear completely.
Could the pain be related to my medication? I take atorvastatin (Lipitor), a multivitamin, fish oil and quinapril daily. Is there a particular stretch I should do to relieve the pain?
A: Atorvastatin can cause muscle spasms and pain. We don’t know if that is the source of your agony, but we suggest you discuss this possible side effect with your doctor. We are sending you our Guides to Cholesterol Control and Heart Health and Leg Pain so that you can have an informed conversation. Anyone who would like copies, please send $5 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (66 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. RLC-58, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. They also can be downloaded for $2 each from our website: www.peoplespharmacy.com. There are stretches that can be helpful in preventing or alleviating leg cramps. You will find detailed descriptions in the Guide to Leg Pain.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or email them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”
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