Q. Not long ago, my doctor prescribed a new thyroid medicine, and since then, my hair has started falling out. What’s happening to me?
A. It is not uncommon for some medication to affect your hair. It’s common knowledge that some cancer drugs cause the patient’s hair to fall out. The same is true for some non-cancer drugs. The drug you are taking, synthroid, alters the body’s metabolic balance. This can result in hair loss due to rapidly growing hair cells being thrown into a crisis and shutting down. This typically occurs when you first start taking synthroid and diminishes once the body’s hormonal balance gets restored. Talk with your doctor and make sure that your hair loss is not due to having too little thyroid in your system. Hair loss is a consequence of low thyroid hormone levels. So, your doctor may actually need to increase the dose of the synthroid.
Q. My grandmother swears that using baking soda helps her gout. She has so many home remedies that I tend to be suspect. Any truth to this?
A. There are thousands of testimonials to the benefits of using baking soda to fight off attacks of gout over the years. Gout attacks happen when uric acid deposits and builds up in the joints, especially joint in the feet and hands. By raising the body’s Ph level, baking soda helps keep uric acid in the blood and does not allow it to easily deposit in the joint tissues. It is recommended that you dissolve a half teaspoonful of baking soda in eight ounces of water and drink it. This should be done approximately four times a day with the last dose being taken at bedtime.
Q. I read that horny goat weed is a natural type of Viagra. Is it?
A. Well actually, it has similar properties. Horny goat weed is a Chinese herb that has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries. It generates testosterone-like effects by enhancing sexual desire. It blocks an enzyme that works to diminish sexual arousal so that performance is stimulated. Since many of us cannot easily travel to China to pick up a bag of the supplement, it is good to know that it can be conveniently found at the local vitamin shop. It is recommended to take two 500 mg pills daily.
Q. My doctor has prescribed me a blood thinner, but I’m thinking I can do something simple on my own, like aspirin.
A. Now that’s a loaded question. First, never go against what your doctor has prescribed you without first talking to him or her. Different blood thinners work in different ways and should not be interchanged. One of the most frequently prescribed blood thinners is Plavix®. Because Plavix ® is used for pretty much the same indications as aspirin but costs a lot more, your doctor may approve of you using the aspirin instead as a more cost effective alternative. But talk to your doctor first!
Q. The pharmacist says the drug prescribed by my doctor is not covered by my insurance. What should I do?
A. Great question! This is a common problem and is faced by many people. If your doctor prescribes a medicine that is not covered by your insurance company, consider these options. You can pay the total cost out-of-pocket. This is fine if the cost is not prohibitive. Some drug store chains charge only a few bucks for a month’s supply of many drugs. Another option is to have your doctor speak with your insurance provider and convince them to cover the drug he prescribed. This may take a couple of days and delay treatment, so keep that in mind. Finally, ask your doctor to prescribe a similar drug that is covered by your insurance. This can typically be taken care of quickly by having the pharmacist call your doctor’s office. Whichever option you choose, please remember to take action! Simply doing nothing and going without prescribed medication should never be an option.
