Eyedrop restricts reader’s breathing

Dear Dr. Roach: I found your response to a question about shortness of breath in a recent column very interesting, since I had the problem for a couple of years before the cause was identified. I had been to an oncologist, cardiologist and family practice, and had all proper tests and Xrays with no answers. The answer was found at the eye doctor. I had been prescribed Combigan eyedrops for pressure in the eye. I have asthma and should not have been prescribed this drug. Since I stopped taking the eyedrops, my breathing is returning to normal.

J.M.C.

Answer: Combigan is an eyedrop that contains a beta blocker. Beta blockers are effective treatment for elevated eye pressure. Enough of the beta blocker can be absorbed into the system that sometimes people can experience side effects. The most common ones are exacerbation of asthma and slow heart rate.

I am glad your eye doctor figured it out.

Dear Dr. Roach: I would be interested in your thoughts regarding the use of Botox injections or stents to relieve the effects of BPH.

B.T.

Answer: BPH is benign prostatic hyperplasia — enlargement of the prostate gland.

Botulinum toxin (Botox and others) paralyzes muscles for a prolonged period.

Because the prostate has muscle tissue, botulinum toxin has been tried and initially seemed effective.

However, two large trials randomized men to botulinum toxin versus saline, where neither the doctor nor the patient knew what they were getting.

The results showed that saline was just as effective. Botulinum toxin has not gotten much attention since.

A urethral stent is a plastic or metal tube placed in the part of the urethra that goes through the prostate gland. In theory, these hold the urethra open and make it easier to urinate. While studies have shown benefit, not everyone had a good outcome. The stent may become dislodged or infected, and about a third of men needed to have the stents removed, which often proved difficult.