Scrutinize Labels on Over-the-Counter Drugs for Babies
Question: Our granddaughter had to be given oxygen right after birth, and she was left with a raspy breathing problem. Her pediatrician suggested Dimetapp, and her parents kept her on it for more than a year.
When she was 13 months old, she needed surgery. Blood tests before the operation indicated she had too few platelets, and the doctors said this problem was drug-induced. The only medicine she had been taking was the Dimetapp.
It took many months without Dimetapp before she recovered enough to have surgery. We were told she could have had severe bleeding problems if she had been injured during that time. Please tell other parents not to give their babies Dimetapp over a long period.
Answer: Our pediatric consultant was shocked that a doctor had suggested Dimetapp for a newborn. He agrees that long-term exposure to such over-the-counter medications is inappropriate for babies. Perhaps the parents misinterpreted the pediatrician’s instructions.
Parents might not realize that nonprescription medicines can be too powerful for young children and should not be used casually. The product labels usually say that they should not be administered for more than seven days without a doctor’s supervision.
Q: Could Fosamax, which I’ve been taking for about two years, cause an extremely scratchy/itchy throat as well as phlegm in the throat? I’ve been experiencing these symptoms for a number of months, but thought it might be due to chlorine (I swim a few times a week).
A: Any throat irritation associated with Fosamax should be discussed with a physician promptly. The risk of an ulcer is too great to ignore and the results could be disastrous.
Q: I am 66 and take Atacand (16 milligrams) daily for high blood pressure. I also take Prilosec once or twice a week for acid reflux. I use a number of vitamins and health supplements. Garlic pills for high blood pressure, glucosomine/chondroitin for joint pain and the usual multivitamims. I also drink ginseng tea once a day. Since taking the Atacand, I have expereienced serious muscle pain in my legs and thighs. Do you think I have an interaction problem?
A: Interactions are uncommon with Atacand. There is no information about whether it would interact with any vitamins, dietary supplements or herbs. The muscle pain you are experiencing is not common with this medication, but has occasionally been associated with Atacand. Please let your physician know about this possible complication.
Q: I am a 44-year-old female battling a daily, uncontrollable gas problem. This is so embarrassing, I have quit going to social events or anywhere quiet, like church.
I’ve tried watching what I eat, but it seems that everything causes trouble. (Maybe I should just stop eating.) The problem starts shortly after meals. Can you give me any advice about this or recommend any medicines or remedies?
A: Starvation is not a reasonable solution for flatulence. But you might wish to keep a detailed diary of food intake and gas passage. That way you will be able to determine which foods cause you the most trouble. Don’t overlook dairy products, sugarless gum and medications. Some drugs can cause gas problems just like a high-fiber diet.
Some of the home remedies that readers have recommended for gas are fennel-seed tea, caraway seeds, ground flaxseed, ginger or hing (an Indian spice also known as asafetida).
Q: I enjoyed your article about doctors taking penmanship lessons so their prescriptions will be legible. Perhaps they should take a tip from my new doctor.
After our consultation, she told me what medicines she was recommending. With a few keystrokes on her computer, she printed out two prescriptions and signed them. I took them to the drugstore, and both the pharmacist and I knew exactly what I was getting.
A: Not only does this get around the problem of hard-to-read handwriting, it also permits the doctor to check drug allergies and interactions.
Alternatives
Q: Recently we bought some sugar-free chocolates. All four of us who “indulged” got intestinal upsets of varying degrees. When we called the candy store to report a possible food-poisoning problem, the lady informed us the candy contains sorbitol and maltitol, which are used as laxatives in hospitals. Can you elaborate? Surely, if our reaction is common, such candy would not have many sales.
A: Sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol and maltitol are used as sugar substitutes in candies and gum. Many of these sweeteners are found in natural products: sorbitol in mountain ash berries, xylitol in birch trees and mannitol in beets.
These products are absorbed slowly and incompletely. As a consequence, they attract water into the lower digestive tract and can cause diarrhea if consumed in excess.
Q: Is there any herb I can take to make myself less attractive to mosquitoes without also making myself less attractive to the human race? I wear no perfumed lotions but seem to attract mosquitoes like a magnet.
A: We don’t know why some people are especially attractive to mosquitoes, although it seems to be related to body chemistry. Foot odor has been proposed as one possible explanation, and using an antiperspirant on the soles of the feet might help.
Another possible approach is taking the B vitamin thiamine. A dose of 100 to 200 milligrams a day has been reported to deter mosquitoes, although it might not work against all types. This is far in excess of the recommended daily allowance, so we wouldn’t suggest taking it for many days. Garlic capsules also have their enthusiasts, but the odor might discourage people as much as mosquitoes.
Homemade insect repellent can be made using 1 tablespoon of citronella oil, 2 cups of white vinegar, 1 cup of water and 1 cup of Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil.
A product called Bite Blocker contains soybean, coconut and geranium oils. In a Canadian study, Bite Blocker repelled mosquitoes better than citronella and a brand with a low concentration of the effective chemical repellent DEET.
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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 them at pharmacy@mindspring.com.
