PRESCRIPTIONS AND HOME REMEDIES Dangerous drug interaction leads to cruise catastrophe

Behind-the-counter Sudafed contains pseudoephedrine as its active ingredient. This decongestant drug shrinks blood vessels in the nose to make breathing easier. But it also causes the smooth muscle at the outlet of the bladder to contract. This makes it harder to urinate.

Add to that the scopolamine patch (Transderm Scop) to prevent sea sickness, and you have a recipe for disaster. That’s because the anticholinergic activity of scopolamine also interferes with normal urination. No wonder you needed a catheter.

Always ask your pharmacist or physician about the possibility of drug incompatibility, especially when traveling.

Q: I have rambunctious dogs. They love to greet me in the morning with lots of tail wagging and wrestling. This sometimes leads to red bruises on my hands. They are unbecoming and it takes a week or more for them to disappear. Is there an herb that might make my capillaries stronger and less likely to bruise?

A:

An herb called hawthorn in English (Crataegus in Latin) has been used in Chinese medicine for 1,300 years. While the principles of Chinese medicine are different, scientific research supports the use of hawthorn for cardiovascular health. In addition to antioxidant activity, this herb can help protect the lining of blood vessels (Frontiers in Pharmacology, Feb. 21, 2020).

The authors note that we still need high-quality clinical trials to confirm the benefits of hawthorn leaf extract in cardiovascular disease.

Q: You had a recent column on stinky feet. At the end, you suggested a possible solution would be to take zinc, but you warned us not to take it for more than 30 days. Why? Would you please address zinc supplements?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I read that taking a zinc supplement could ward off the virus. I’ve been taking a zinc supplement daily for more than a year. Is there a danger in continuing to do so? A:

Daily doses of zinc above 40 milligrams for long periods of time might lead to copper deficiency. That, in turn, could impair immune function. The “tolerable upper intake levels” of zinc for adults are 40 millgrams. You might want a zinc holiday periodically in which you skip the supplement for a few weeks.

Q: The dentist recommended xylitol for my dry mouth. Wow, diarrhea city!

A:

Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is frequently found in dry mouth products and sugarless gum. It can cause diarrhea.

Another reader reported that Biotene Gel was helpful for the dry mouth caused by a CPAP machine. She suffered no adverse effects. Biotene contains both sorbitol and xylitol. This suggests some people are less susceptible to GI complaints.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Send questions to them via www. peoplespharmacy.com.

Q: I recently experienced a traumatic drug interaction on a cruise. While being treated for a sinus infection, I was advised to take behind-the-counter Sudafed. I started taking it four days before leaving on the cruise. On the first day of the cruise, I One reader experienced a traumatic medication interaction that necessitated the use of a catheter.