Tylenol and ibuprofen safe to treat fevers in children
Q: My dad was a pharmacist, yet as a kid I don’t recall taking a lot of medicines, like cough syrup. We did use Vicks VapoRub and took vitamin C for colds.
I’ve seen debates on giving ibuprofen or Tylenol to reduce fever. Sometimes doctors leave comments on your website advising people to let a fever run its course. Does that hold for everyone or just for adults? A lot of parents I know give their young children medicines to knock down every fever.
A: A fever is often the body’s response to infection. That’s why many physicians now believe that a mild fever does not require medication. Parents should measure a child’s temperature and check in with a pediatrician if it goes over 102 F.
A recent study in JAMA Network Open (Oct. 30, 2020) analyzed trials of acetaminophen compared with ibuprofen to treat fever in kids under 2. The authors concluded that both drugs are relatively safe, and that ibuprofen is slightly more effective for both fever and pain.
Q: I grow hot peppers, ferment them and make hot sauce. I also eat a couple of Thai chiles a day. They have completely cured my heartburn.
I used to eat Tums like crazy and take heartburn medication. I couldn’t go without it. Now I’m heartburn-free. It took me a little while to get used to the capsaicin burn, but now I’m a beast!
Check in with a doctor if a child’s fever goes over 102 F.
the enemy of heartburn. Although many individuals cannot tolerate the burn from hot peppers, others, like you, seem to benefit. One study from Thailand suggested that regular consumption of hot peppers might help control symptoms of reflux (Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, April 2010)
More recently, a paper presented at the 2020 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association reviewed research on the cardiovascular effects of hot peppers. Over 500,000 participants were involved in the four studies. The authors report that pepperheads like you had less cardiovascular disease and were 23% less likely to die of cancer.
Q: I took ashwagandha for insomnia for several years. It really improved my sleep issues.
I stopped taking it before a surgical procedure. For over a month, I had brain zaps like people do when discontinuing SSRI antidepressants. I take no medications, so was surprised by this.
In online research I read that it works simi
A: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an ancient Ayurvedic herb from India. It is gaining popularity in the West as a sleeping aid and an antianxiety supplement (Current Clinical Pharmacology, April 13, 2020).
Compounds in the plant act on neurotransmitters in the brain. In particular, they affect GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid). This is the same brain chemical affected by benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium). Although we could find no research reports of withdrawal symptoms like yours, this type of reaction deserves more attention. Thank you for telling us about your experience.