Tools in the Battle Against Head Lice
Question: I am a medical student in London, now on holiday in the States. I read your column about head lice and want to suggest a possible solution.
In between leaving secondary school and starting medical school, I worked for a year in a boys’ boarding school. We had many lice attacks and found that the most effective way to eliminate them was to use a very fine lice comb with plenty of hair conditioner. Put the conditioner in the hair and then pull the comb through the hair, carefully cleaning it after each stroke. Repeat until the comb is clear.
This kept the problem at bay in 150 boys and numerous staff. It may help your readers.
Answer: Thank you for the recommendation. This approach to lice eradication is old-fashioned and time-consuming, but it is effective. The comb removes nits (lice eggs) that would hatch into lice. A good comb can make this job easier. The National Pediculosis Assn., (888) 542-3634, sells one called the LiceMeister.
Using conditioner to make the combing easier is an idea we had not considered. Some people may wish to use Nix Creme Rinse, available in drugstores, to kill lice simultaneously. An alternate approach might be HairClean 1-2-3, a shampoo containing coconut oil, anise oil and ylang-ylang oil. It is available from Quantum Inc., P.O. Box 2791, Eugene, OR 97402; (800) 448-1448.
Q: I understand you have written about “white coat syndrome,” and I’m very interested. I believe I suffer from it.
I take Cardizem to control my blood pressure. At home, it runs about 130/55 with a pulse of 45 to 50, and I feel fine. At the doctor’s office, it runs very high, and he keeps saying I should be on more medicine. I’m not convinced.
A: You may be experiencing “white coat hypertension.” Some people with normal blood pressure at home develop high readings in the doctor’s office. In some cases, blood pressure measurements may be 30 points higher. A few individuals are so reactive that their numbers may jump as much as 75 points above baseline when the nurse or doctor takes their pressure.
Treatment of white coat hypertension remains controversial. Many physicians believe that aggressive drug therapy for blood pressure that is high only in the doctor’s office may lead to excessive costs and possible side effects.
Q: My doctor has had me on Zoloft for three years for depression. Because it is no longer working, he is switching me to Celexa. I’d like to know more about this medicine but have not been able to find it in the reference books at the library. Is it new? What can you tell me about side effects?
A: Celexa (citalopram) is a relatively new antidepressant. Like Prozac and Zoloft, it affects the brain chemical serotonin.
You are not the first person to tell us that an antidepressant lost its effectiveness. Only time will tell if Celexa solves this problem for you. Side effects to be alert for include dry mouth, nausea or diarrhea, drowsiness or insomnia, delayed ejaculation, sweating and fatigue.
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Send questions to them at People’s Pharmacy, care of King Features Syndicate, 235 E. 45th St., New York, NY 10017, or e-mail them via their Web site: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com.
