Side Effects

There's a new commercial touting the benefits of a drug called LYRICA and how it helps those suffering from Fibromyalgia.
I'm sure it does.
I've tried the drug.

For years, my 65 pound Shepard -mix dog, Sammy and I used to run together. For the first mile ( our usual route took us 3-4 miles but he was good for 8) I'd have a heck of a time keeping up. No matter what 'control' device I used with Sam he paid no heed - he was out of the house and rarin' to go. Too many years of me hanging on wreaked havoc with my back.

Now, I wouldn't have traded any of those runs on country roads or through the woods, but I do have to pay the pain piper.

So, after a summer of physical therapy appointments for hip pain I finally saw a neurologist. The root of the trouble, the L4/L5 disc in my back. It's a very common trouble spot. As the doctor explained, since the hip is a large joint, the brain thinks that's where the pain is originating.

Be that as it may, I needed relief. By now I was having tingling down my leg. So the doctor prescribed Lyrica. It works by blocking the nerve impulse to the brain - if the pain message can't get through you say, AHHH.

Did it work? Like a charm. But it had a side effect or two. At the dose prescribed I was a bit fuzzy - and some unwanted pounds started creeping on.

Now, I'd read the fine print on the enclosed packaging paper. But to get the skinny on it I went to the blogs. Yes, there are blogs or message boards for just about every treatment. Lo and behold, I had plenty of company.

Luckily I was able to stop taking the medication and remain mostly pain free.

The 'moral' of the story. Know the side effects a new medication can cause. Tell your doctor if you develop any of those side effects so you can work out a plan. And yes, those boards can be of help, but remember, they are personal experience and may not apply to your life.

As for the dog - well, he's 14 and his own aches and pains keep him from running with me. But there are days when he still tears down the driveway and sprints to the next house. Now that's an attitude I hope I always have!

And what about you? Have you ever been prescribed a medication that had an unwanted side effect? What did you do? Was your doctor responsive? Please, share your experiences.

Random acts of Kindness

I don't know if MARION will read this blog . . or any of her friends .. but it's a story worth sharing.

Every year I take the bus to NYC with a dear friend. For many years we took her church bus - lately we've been traveling Yankee Trails - timing, dates are better.

Last year, on the bus filled with shoppers and folks heading to a show, I met a delightful woman named Marion. At days end as everyone piled into the bus Marion came by to hand me a small, white paper bag. Inside, she explained, was a cupcake.

Cupcakes are all the rage in NYC. There are a couple of specialty bakeshops - people will line up to get the sweet treats right from the oven. It was a chocolate cupcake with the most perfect frosting you can imagine.

As Marion explained - she spent the day with her daughter and when they purchased the cakes she bought one extra, for me, 'just because'.

How often do we do something like that - 'just because' ..

I was so touched by her kindness ..

Well, here we are again .. spending the day in the city, climbing back aboard the bus for the trip home and there's Marion. Didn't see her earlier in the day - and don't you know, she's got a little white, paper bag again; this time, as she happily tells me, it's a vanilla cupcake. (she'd remembered that last year's was chocolate)

Look, I'm not much of a cake eater but I've got to tell you - it's the best tasting treat - not because it's from a 'fru fru' place - but because it came from someone so caring and considerate.

So, if you'll allow me a moment of preaching .. take time this holiday season to practice a random act of kindness. It doesn't cost much, doesn't take much time but the payoff is huge.

Marion - again, thanks for making my holiday season merry and bright ..

Sun Spots

I was trolling my usual places on the internet today, looking for details on another story when I came across this. It caught my eye because at a recent Women's Health Expo sponsored by B95.5 I moderated a panel on skin care. Dealing with age spots caused by the sun was a topic of conversation .. so when I came across this on TOPICAL TREATMENTS FOR AGE SPOTS from the 12/3/07 issue of the Harvard Women's Health Watch I figured I'd share.


Hydroquinone
Many dermatologists consider this cream the best choice for treating age spots. You can expect to see results in four to six weeks, with the greatest improvement after four to six months. The most common side effect is irritation or reddening. The FDA recently proposed a ban on over-the-counter preparations containing hydroquinone because studies found that the drug may cause cancer when fed to rats and mice. So far, there are no studies showing any increased risk to humans using the drug topically. The FDA is still responding to challenges from critics who oppose the ban.

Tretinoin
Topical tretinoin was first approved for treating acne, but trials have demonstrated that it also improves photoaged skin. It can take several months to lighten age spots, and side effects include redness, scaling, and itchiness, although these generally subside after a few weeks. Brand names include Retin-A, Renova, and Avita.

Adapalene gel
This prescription drug is approved only for treating acne, but sometimes it is used off-label to improve photoaged skin.

These topicals work mainly by interrupting the formation of melanin, the pigment responsible for tanning. To get the best results, you should also use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

The spots can also be removed by surgery, microdermabrasion or chemical peel.