The People's Pharmacy

Q: I take alendronate (Fosamax) to keep my bones strong. I am concerned about the possibility that this drug could cause osteonecrosis.

A: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (death of the jawbone) has been linked to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, which includes Fosamax. Although quite rare, this complication appears more likely when Aredia or Zometa is given intravenously to treat cancer patients. A few cases have been associated with taking Fosamax or Actonel for osteoporosis treatment. Tooth extraction seems to trigger this condition, and dentists are being urged to preserve teeth when possible.

Q: I've heard that there are three new drugs for macular degeneration. What are they?

A: The medicines are Macugen, Lucentis and Avastin. Ask your retinal specialist whether any of these is appropriate for you.

Q: Thank you for your advice to try oolong tea for eczema. I've had eczema on my scalp most of my life with terrible itching and scaling that usually would bleed and scab over. It's embarrassing and painful.

I'd tried everything my doctor prescribed: Nizoral, Elidel, topical steroids, shampoos and even an injection. Nothing worked until the tea. I've been drinking it about two weeks, and there's at least 85 percent improvement.

A: You aren't the only reader to find oolong tea helpful. One person with hard-to-treat eczema reported: "The last time I had an outbreak, I tried oolong tea, and the results were amazing. Within 24 hours, the itching and inflammation were gone. It took a couple of days, but the lesions disappeared."

Japanese researchers reported that patients with a form of eczema improved after drinking a liter of oolong tea daily (Archives of Dermatology, January 2001). We have found no follow-up studies, though.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them via this newspaper or e-mail them at via their Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.org