Q: Reading your column provided me with life-changing information. I am now 56. As a child and into my late teens, I endured chronic belly pain. Despite many tests through the years, no diagnosis was established.
At 21, these symptoms subsided somewhat but were replaced by migraines. I had four to six a month, and they could last more than a week. I saw a lot of different doctors and underwent various studies; they prescribed many medications, including some experimental drugs, with limited success.
Nothing worked for prevention until I read your column mentioning the potential benefit of a gluten-free diet for migraines. Not only have I been migraine-free since that time, but I also discovered I have celiac disease.
I have better health on so many levels I cannot even begin to list the benefits. I will always be grateful to you for the information that may have saved my life.
A; Thank you for sharing your powerful story. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye. Symptoms range from digestive distress and migraines to anemia, fatigue and itchy skin rash. Celiac disease can go misdiagnosed for years.
Anyone who would like to know more about the diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease will find details in our Guide to Digestive Disorders. To get a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (70 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. G-3, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It also can be downloaded for $2 from our website: www.peoplespharmacy.com.
Q: What are the side effects if I stop taking Pristiq cold turkey?
A: This is a very bad idea. Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), used for depression, can trigger severe withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly. These include dizziness, nausea, headaches, anxiety, “brain zaps” (shocklike sensations in the head), tremor and severe fatigue. Gradual tapering of the dose with medical supervision is essential.
Q: While getting my prescription filled this week, I saw a big display for Nasacort Allergy 24HR. It was being sold without a prescription. Is this the same Nasacort my doctor used to prescribe for my allergy symptoms?
A: Nasacort (triamcinolone) is a corticosteroid nasal spray that once was available only by prescription. It has recently gone over-the-counter at the same dose (55 micrograms per spritz) as the previous prescription product.
Q: I have scalp psoriasis. The tea tree shampoo I use helps with the itching, but my scalp is left very dry after using the shampoo on a daily basis.
Someone wrote to you and said to try rubbing the scalp with glycerin at night and shampooing it out in the morning. This is helping me tremendously! The glycerin is easy to wash out and has a big impact on the psoriasis.
A: Glycerin is a clear, odorless, sweet liquid that is used in topical and oral pharmaceutical preparations. Many skin-care products contain glycerin to take advantage of its moisturizing and lubricating qualities.
Some readers use glycerin on their legs at night to prevent leg cramps. Others report that applying a solution of glycerin mixed with vinegar and alcohol to the ear canal can prevent swimmer’s ear. There is little research on the use of glycerin to control psoriasis, but dermatologists have found it helpful against dandruff (SKINmed, May-June 2014).
Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”
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