Generic Ambien Upsets Stomach? Try Alternatives
Q: I never used to have indigestion or heartburn. However, if I take zolpidem (Ambien) for more than a few days in a row, I get very bad indigestion.
Now I have to decide whether I want to be tired or have an upset stomach. If I go a few days and don’t take it, my digestion is fine. Is there anything that will help me sleep without upsetting my stomach?
A: The official prescribing information for zolpidem lists dyspepsia (aka heartburn or indigestion) as a frequent side effect. Zolpidem is intended for the short-term treatment of insomnia. People who take it regularly run the risk of dependence and additional side effects such as next-day impairment (JAMA Internal Medicine, online, July 16, 2018). You may want to try some nondrug approaches, such as melatonin, magnesium, acupressure or tart cherry juice.
Q: A long time ago I visited a friend in the mountains. I stepped on a wasp in the shower stall, and the sting was horribly painful.
My friend put a paste made from water and meat tenderizer on the sting. Within 10 minutes, the pain and swelling had totally disappeared. Now I don’t go anywhere in the summer without meat tenderizer.
A: We first read about using a quarter teaspoon of meat tenderizer mixed with a teaspoon of water for a painful insect sting in the Journal of the American Medical Association (April 24, 1972). The doctor recommending this remedy suggested that the papain in meat tenderizer breaks down the venom in the sting.
If you’ve been stung by a bumblebee or honeybee, however, the first step is to flick the stinger out with the edge of a credit card. People who are allergic to stings should not rely on home remedies. They must keep an epinephrine injector available and seek emergency medical attention.
Q: My teenage son has tree pollen allergies and also plays a stringed instrument. His fingertips were peeling, so I thought it might be an allergy to the bow rosin, a pine tree product.
We tried over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for a bit and saw mild improvement. Then I read about eating cilantro for eczema or psoriasis. He does not like the taste of cilantro, so I crushed it and mixed it with olive oil and applied it to one hand. I tested the theory by putting organic coconut oil on the other hand, in case moisturizing was all that he required.
We were both impressed with the results the next morning. The cilantro hand was appearing to heal already, and the coconut oil hand looked about the same as before. After three nights of use, his fingers were nearly healed.
A: Cilantro ( Coriandrum sativum) is popular in Mexican, Indian, Chinese and other cuisines. It is rich in antioxidants and has antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Your story sent us to the medical literature to see if topical cilantro had been studied for skin irritation. Iranian scientists have found it helpful against diaper rash (Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, August 2017). Some people may develop allergic reactions to cilantro leaves (Contact Dermatitis, December 2001).
Others have found that eating fresh cilantro leaves can reduce the redness and itching of psoriasis plaques.
One reader wrote about a different way to use this plant: “Coriander seed taken as a tea also helps with psoriasis. It is a more economical way than eating cilantro leaves to get the same effect.”
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Send questions to them via www.peoplespharmacy .com.