Originally published Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 12:00 AM
The People's Pharmacy
Cholesterol drugs linked to muscle pain
Q: I was on Lipitor for a number of years and have severe muscle and nerve damage to the extent that I am in a power wheelchair. Do you think Lipitor...
Syndicated columnists
Q: I was on Lipitor for a number of years and have severe muscle and nerve damage to the extent that I am in a power wheelchair. Do you think Lipitor could be to blame?
A: Statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Crestor (rosuvastatin), Lipitor (atorvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin) and Zocor (simvastatin) are linked to muscle pain, weakness and nerve damage. Most physicians have assumed that muscle problems are an extremely rare side effect.
New research (New England Journal of Medicine online, July 23, 2008) suggests that some people are highly susceptible to muscle-related complications from high-dose statins. This genetic vulnerability may affect up to one-fourth of the population.
Q: I seem to recall reading on your Web site about a reliable Canadian site from which to get less-expensive and legitimate prescription drugs. I am in the Part D "doughnut hole," and a 90-day supply of my Actos is more than $500.
Can you direct me to that Canada information once again so I can get some much-needed help with my drug costs?
A: We did some checking and found that in the U.S., the diabetes drug Actos might run anywhere from $570 to $692 for a three-month supply. The same medicine in Canada could cost between $161 and $382.
When people enter the dreaded "doughnut hole" in their Medicare Part D prescription plan, they have to pay 100 percent of the medication costs. Buying from Canada can be helpful, but caution is necessary. Some Web sites that claim to be Canadian are actually based elsewhere.
Medicare participants who spend more than $4,050 out of pocket become eligible for catastrophic coverage. If you think your drug bills will be a lot more than that, you should probably continue buying your medicine in the U.S.
Q: Here in Hawaii, we call head lice "ukus." We've had quite a problem with them this year, and I have found the medication costly and ineffective. I'm glad you wrote about Listerine, because I never would have thought to use it. We tried it, and it worked.
A: Many traditional lice treatments have lost effectiveness. The alcohol and other ingredients in Listerine may help kill lice. One mother described saturating the scalp with Listerine and covering the hair with a shower cap for two hours. She then combed out the dead lice.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them c/o King Features Syndicate, 888 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10019, or via their Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.org
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
On the left hand, answers aren't easy
Getting active outside can bring sunshine to your winter
How to encourage healthy computing
Obese people asked to eat fast food for health study
Charlie Sheen claims AA has a 5 percent success rate — is he right?

nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new car? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Club promoter convicted in brutal 2010 murder of Des Moines prostitute
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
490 - Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming
371 - Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
353 - 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
245 - Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
237 - AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule
231 - Oregon live game thread
155 - Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game
140 - Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'
108 - Rough road again
100
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- State's share of mortgage settlement: $648 million
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- Bellevue College adds a third bachelor's degree program
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review





