Q: My husband has glaucoma, heart trouble and respiratory problems. Several years ago his eye doctor put him on Betoptic eyedrops for glaucoma. Soon his breathing problem worsened, and one morning he was in such severe distress that I had to take him to the emergency room. They diagnosed it as asthma.

When I read that Betoptic is a beta blocker and that people with asthma should not take such medicine, I spoke to his doctor. The medication was changed, but it’s sad that patients have to look out for themselves on such issues.

In February his cardiologist gave him Coreg. My husband soon began to have extreme breathing problems and landed in the hospital. He told the doctor that Coreg had set off this attack, but the doctor ignored him. Further tests showed that his lung capacity was only 39 percent of normal. He could not tolerate this medicine, which is also a beta blocker. How can patients protect themselves from dangerous prescribing?

A: Beta blockers are used to treat a variety of conditions, including glaucoma, high blood pressure, migraines, irregular heart rhythms and heart failure. But drugs like atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol can make breathing difficult for people with asthma. Even glaucoma eyedrops such as betaxolol (Betoptic) and timolol (Betimol, Timoptic) can trigger an asthma attack.

Coreg is inappropriate for patients with a history of asthma or related breathing problems. Your husband will need to be extremely vigilant about future prescriptions.

We are sending you a drug safety questionnaire and medical history form along with our “Guide to Blood Pressure Treatment” to help your husband alert his doctors to this potentially life-threatening problem. Others who would like copies should send $2 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. BQH-63, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, N.C. 27717-2027.

Q: My insurance changed, and I no longer have a prescription drug benefit. When I went to pick up my prescription for Zocor, the bill was $90. Is there a generic that is more affordable?

A: Ask your doctor if lovastatin is an appropriate cholesterol-lowering option. Although it is not identical to Zocor (simvastatin), it is in the same class. Lovastatin is the generic equivalent of Mevacor and should cost about $30 to $40 per month.