I am a 57-year-old woman who has had a lifetime fight with depression. I function quite well, but life can be difficult.
Approximately eight years ago I began using Prozac. It was like a miracle! Within six weeks the depression was gone. For the past few years, however, the drug has been less effective. The depression isn't nearly as bad as before, but it's mild to moderate.
My doctor prescribed Wellbutrin, but a month after discontinuing Prozac I was in a black depression and was desperate. I went back on Prozac, and within a month I was out of severe depression and back to status quo.
I am afraid to stop Prozac and try something else. Would taking St. John's wort along with Prozac be a solution?
Do not combine St. John's wort and Prozac. There have been cases in which such a mixture led to a serious drug reaction called serotonin syndrome.
Symptoms may include agitation, anxiety, nausea, muscle jerks, sweating, shivering and mental confusion.
Other serotonin-type antidepressants such as Paxil and Zoloft might also interact badly with St. John's wort.
Please help settle our discussions regarding grapefruit. We poolside retirees have an endless supply of free, beautiful grapefruit, but many of us are afraid to eat it because of interactions with medications.
We understand there is a connection between grapefruit and cholesterol-lowering drugs. Please send any information you have on this subject.
Grapefruit interacts with many, but not all, medications. Ingredients in grapefruit affect an enzyme important in drug metabolism. As a result, blood levels may be higher than expected when blood pressure medicine such as Procardia, Plendil or Sular is taken with grapefruit.
People ask if taking medicine at a different time sidesteps this problem. The grapefruit effect can last more than 24 hours, so waiting two hours won't solve the problem.
Knowing which medicines may interact is crucial. When it comes to cholesterol-lowering drugs, for example, Lipitor, Mevacor and Zocor are affected by grapefruit, while Pravachol is not.
We are sending you our "Guides to Grapefruit Interactions, Blood Pressure Treatment and Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs," which describe this issue in greater detail.
Anyone who would like a copy should send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (55 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. BJL-797, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
I am a college student on a very tight budget. I recently got prescriptions filled for Ambien (to get to sleep after studying), Claritin (for allergies) and Cleocin and Avita (for my complexion). Even with insurance my co-pay came to $115. I was stunned. Why is the co-pay so high?
These days, insurance companies find that the cost of prescription drugs is breaking their budgets. They have been passing their increased drug costs along to their clients. As a result, many have adopted a three-tier system.
Generic drugs can cost around $10 to $15, preferred brand-name drugs run about $15 to $20, and nonformulary brands may cost $25 and up. Usually this is for a one-month supply.
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 235 E. 45th St., New York, N.Y. 10017. E-mail can also be sent to the Graedons via their Web site, www.peoplespharmacy.com.
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