Q. At 98, my mother lived in a nursing home but was in good health overall. One night after I visited, I got a call from the home saying she was “out of it.” That was odd, but by the time I got back there she had been loaded into the ambulance.
At the hospital, she was diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer. She died from the blood loss without regaining consciousness. One of the doctors there thought the Motrin they were giving her at the nursing home was probably to blame. He said older people just should not take Motrin, Advil or other such pain relievers. Is this true?
A. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and 17,000 die each year because of ulcers caused by anti-inflammatory arthritis drugs. Although older people are more vulnerable to this complication, younger people may also be affected.
It was hoped that drugs like Celebrex and Vioxx would eliminate bleeding ulcers. But a study in the British Medical Journal (June 12, 2004) suggests that such pain relievers have not solved the problem.
People who would like to know more about drug-induced ulcers and ways to reduce this risk will find further information in our Guide to Digestive Disorders. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. G-3, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Q. Why did you recommend Botox injections for a reader with excessive perspiration? When I was a young woman I had the same problem, but a co-worker suggested Certain Dri. It really works. The process takes two weeks but costs less than $10. I still use it once or twice a week.
A. Certain Dri contains 12 percent aluminum chloride. This highly effective antiperspirant is applied to dry skin before bedtime.
Many people have good results, but hyperhidrosis can be difficult to treat. Certain Dri is a reasonable first step.
Q. I quit smoking in 1996 and started chewing Nicorette gum. Now I cannot wean myself off it. I chew the higher strength gum all day. What effect does nicotine have on the body?
A. Nicotine can be highly addictive regardless of the delivery system used. Smoking cessation products offer nicotine via chewing gum, skin patch, inhaler or nasal spray. Any of these can help a smoker give up cigarettes. But a small proportion of people then find themselves hooked on the substituted product.
The maker of Nicorette says that the gum is supposed to be used in decreasing doses for just 12 weeks, as an aid to stop smoking. Chewing the gum is certainly less harmful than smoking cigarettes, but nicotine can be irritating to the digestive tract, causing hiccups, heartburn and nausea. It can also constrict blood vessels and cause chest pain or irregular heart beats.
Switching to a nicotine patch may allow a more gradual withdrawal. The slower onset and longer action may help you cut back bit by bit.
Q. My 13-year-old daughter is allergic to sunscreen. It causes itchy little bumps wherever it is applied. Is there any sunscreen that will protect her without causing a reaction?
A. Physical rather than chemical sunblock ingredients should do the job. Look for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide in sunscreens from Clinique, Neutrogena or Blue Lizard Australian Suncream-Baby.
