I told my physician that my penis bends as an erection occurs. He said that this was not uncommon at my age (71). I've heard that there are medications that might help.

Your description fits Peyronie's disease, which affects about 8% of men over 50. It is caused by scarring on one side of the erectile body of the penis.

Urologist Dr. Culley Carson says that medications can sometimes help. They include pentoxifylline and colchicine. Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, is sometimes injected directly into the scar tissue. Such treatments must be supervised by a specialist.







I take Tambocor (a heart rhythm drug) and warfarin (a blood thinner). I also have arthritis and was taking Tylenol for it, but my lab tests went haywire. After I stopped, my bleeding came back into balance. I know warfarin is crucial to prevent a stroke, but I find it hard to figure out all the conflicting information.

Warfarin, also prescribed by the brand names Coumadin or Jantoven, is a lifesaving drug but can be tricky because it interacts with many medicines and foods. Although acetaminophen (Tylenol) could be used for occasional pain relief, regular use can raise the INR (a measure of blood coagulation) and increase the risk of dangerous bleeding.

Cranberries may also increase bleeding risk; vegetables rich in vitamin K, such as Brussels sprouts or kale, can counteract warfarin and increase the risk of a blood clot.

Pharmacologist Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon, an expert in medical anthropology and nutrition, can be reached at www.peoplespharmacy.com or care of this newspaper.