Medication Can Be a Culprit in Insomnia
Question: I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and some other health problems. I am wondering if any of my medicines (Avapro, Norvasc, Zebeta, Zoloft, Pravachol, Estrace, Celebrex) can cause insomnia. If I don’t take a sleeping pill, I wake up after two or three hours and can’t get back to sleep. I don’t feel safe driving 40 miles to work on so little sleep. If one of my prescriptions is causing the problem, I would like to discuss it with my doctor.
Answer: Many medications can interfere with normal sleep. Antidepressants such as Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil are notorious for this reaction. Other medications that you are taking occasionally contribute to insomnia. They include Celebrex, Zebeta, Pravachol and Norvasc.
Inadequate sleep can interfere with driving ability as much as excess alcohol. It can also affect the immune system and memory.
Q: I have been a widow for 10 years and am terribly annoyed by sexual needs I cannot satisfy. I am too embarrassed to talk to my doctor about this. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I am desperate for something to take away my desires.
A: Even though it is difficult, please find a physician with whom you can discuss this personal issue. Some doctors prescribe antidepressants such as Prozac to reduce libido or sexual obsessions. Such drugs have side effects, however, and should not be taken casually.
Hormone replacement therapy containing progesterone sometimes dampens sexual desire. A natural approach that might also be worth considering is chaste-tree berry extract. Also known as monk’s pepper, this herb has been used for centuries to lower libido. It contains compounds similar to progesterone.
Q: What can you tell me about the new drugs for rheumatoid arthritis? I heard about them on the news and would like to ask my doctor semi-intelligent questions. I’ve been on methotrexate for years, and it is only partially effective.
A: The New England Journal of Medicine (Nov. 30) reported on two new prescription drugs for rheumatoid arthritis, Enbrel (etanercept) and Remicade (infliximab). Both injectable medications halt the progression of joint damage. Side effects of these drugs might include headache, nausea, rash, fever and risk of respiratory infection.
Q: I am a 44-year-old male with an old knee injury. About a year ago it was causing me great pain, and I had it examined. The doctor checked the X-ray and told me that I had essentially no cartilage left. The soreness after playing tennis or other activities was from bone banging on bone. He prescribed Vioxx, which didn’t do much for me.
After reading your book on herbs and home remedies, I have been using the following combination: Boswellia, turmeric and glucosamine. I have been very pleased with the results. The pain in my knee is under control.
Would it help to add the gin-soaked-raisin remedy? For various maladies, you list a variety of herbal and home- and folk-medicine remedies. Is it OK to try combinations of them as I did?
A: Boswellia and turmeric have been used together in India for centuries to relieve pain and inflammation. Glucosamine is more recent, but studies have shown it is helpful for arthritis.
We don’t know whether adding gin-soaked raisins to other natural arthritis remedies would enhance effectiveness, but we can’t think of any serious hazards.
Combining home remedies is an experiment. It makes sense to try them one at a time first.
Q: My uncle has high cholesterol like I do. His doctor recommended he take flaxseed oil with his meals.
I decided that since I was due for a checkup in six weeks, I would try it to see if it worked. My cholesterol went from 289 to 218. Is flaxseed oil safe?
A: Flaxseed oil is moderately effective in lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of blood clots. Usual doses of up to 1 tablespoon per day do not appear to be dangerous.
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Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their column runs every Monday. Send questions to People’s Pharmacy, King Features Syndicate, 235 E. 45th St., New York, NY 10017, or e-mail pharmacy@mindspring.com.
