San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Cruise crisis brought on by drug combination
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 put on a motion sickness patch (scopolamine), as I have done many times before. At 65, I’m sure my prostate isn’t what it used to be, but I’ve never had any problems before.
It turns out that these drugs can shut off urine flow when taken together. I spent an agonizing night trying to void my bladder and later ended up in the ship’s infirmary with a catheter. Maybe my story will help others avoid this crisis.
A: You got hit with a double whammy. 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.
Your physician and pharmacist might have anticipated this interaction. It always makes sense to ask about the possibility of drug incompatibility, especially when traveling.
Q: Those of us with PCOS have tried the “normal” way to lose weight: eat nothing, exercise and don’t lose a pound. Yes, it’s real!
That’s why drugs like Wegovy have been the only thing that helps us. Traditional advice does nothing, and there have been no answers for people with PCOS.
The cost of these drugs is shameful. This “diabetes of the ovaries” finally has an answer and it’s out of reach for most people.
A: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance that interferes with regular menstrual periods and fertility. It is called “polycystic ovary syndrome” because the ovaries are enlarged and contain numerous small fluid-filled cysts.
Women with PCOS may also struggle with too much androgen and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance, often a feature of Type 2 diabetes, can make it difficult to control weight.
You are not the first person with PCOS to report positive results with semaglutide (Wegovy). One small study found: “treatment with semaglutide, at low doses, significantly reduces body weight in almost 80% of obese PCOS patients who were unresponsive to a previous lifestyle plan.” We hope that researchers will undertake more trials to see how best to use semaglutide for people like you.
Q: My wife was prescribed a medication that cost $1,475 a month via the mail-order pharmacy required by our insurance. I inquired at a Canadian pharmacy, and the same med in the same brand was $325 for a three-month supply. That seemed like a no-brainer, since I was tired of being ripped off.
A: Ordering from a legitimate Canadian pharmacy can often be a great way to save money on brand-name medication. Not all drugs qualify, though. We discuss the pros and cons of this tactic in our “eGuide to Saving Money on Medicines.” This online resource may be found under the Health eGuides tab at PeoplesPharmacy.com.
Write to Joe and Teresa Graedon in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.