Is benzene still seen as a problem in sunscreen?

Q: Last summer, I read that my favorite spray-on sunscreen contained benzene. Is that still a problem?

A: You are right that last July the Food and Drug Administration announced a “voluntary recall” of some Neutrogena and Aveeno aerosol sunscreen products because of the presence of benzene. On June 9, 2022, the FDA answered questions about benzene contamination in drugs and other consumer products but failed to provide a current list of products to avoid (tinyurl.com/3h3hj6hu).

One source of unintentional benzene comes from propellants such as isobutane. Although aerosol sprays may be convenient, you might want to switch to a cream or lotion this summer while the FDA continues to monitor for benzene. Q: I have been taking brand-name Celebrex for more than a decade to ease chronic back pain. My insurance company now says that I will have to use the generic celecoxib instead. It does not work as well to ease my pain. I cannot afford to pay for brand-name Celebrex out of pocket. The FDA needs to provide appropriate protocols for generic drugs and hold those who produce junk medicine accountable. Is there a generic company that is trustworthy? A: Other readers have expressed similar complaints about generic forms of the pain reliever celecoxib. We have notified the FDA about this problem but have not received a satisfactory answer.

Brand-name Celebrex is pricey. A month’s supply could cost more than $500. Even with a coupon from a company like Goodrx, the price could be over $400.

If your pharmacy can order the authorized generic from Greenstone (now sold by Viatris), you could save money and still get brand-name quality. Another option would be to order brand-name Celebrex from a legitimate Canadian pharmacy. A three-month supply (100 pills) would cost anywhere from $90 to $200, depending where it is shipped from.

To learn more about authorized generic drugs and online Canadian pharmacies, you may wish to consult our eguide to Saving Money on Medicines. This electronic resource is available under the Health eguides tab at Peoplespharmacy.com.