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Q: I used to be scuffling with a cough for six weeks, particularly at night time after I was mendacity down. After two fruitless visits to pressing care, I lastly went to my major care physician.
He identified strolling pneumonia and prescribed a strong antibiotic and a few meds to heal my throat, as a result of it was irritated from the coughing. After I instructed him about how unhealthy it was at night time, he really useful Vicks VapoRub on the underside of my ft after I went to mattress. I believed he was joking, however he instructed me it labored for him and urged me to provide it a attempt.
I did in order that very night time and I’m telling you it was like magic! I had gotten up 5 straight nights to take a seat up as a result of my coughing was so unhealthy. I slept by the night time with Vicks with little to no coughing each night time thereafter.
A: Thanks for sharing your success story! Eucalyptol, thymol and menthol are components in Vicks, they usually can assist ease a cough. The query is why apply it to your ft? These compounds activate transient receptor potential channels present in nerves which might be plentiful within the soles.
You’ll be taught extra about Vicks and different nonprescription approaches to calming a cough in our “eGuide to Colds, Coughs & the Flu.” This on-line useful resource could also be discovered underneath the Well being eGuides tab at PeoplesPharmacy.com.
Q: After I was identified with prediabetes, my physician prescribed Rybelsus. It’s additionally supposed to assist with weight reduction.
I developed 5 kidney stones after which a month later, one other cluster of stones. Each instances, I wanted surgical procedure and stents for the stones. I’m liable to kidney stones. Up to now, I’ve gotten them each 4 or 5 years, not two months aside.
I ended taking Rybelsus whereas going by this trauma, however I do wish to take one thing for weight reduction and diabetes. Each drug I examine has kidney issues as a aspect impact. Are you able to recommend a medicine I may attempt with out growing these horrible kidney stones?
A: Rybelsus is an oral (capsule) type of semaglutide, a drug that’s higher acknowledged by the model names of its injectable varieties, Ozempic and Wegovy. There isn’t a point out of kidney stones within the prescribing info for these medicine.
However, a big trial in contrast several types of diabetes medicine with respect to the chance of kidney stones (JAMA Inner Drugs, Jan. 29, 2024). This analysis revealed that some medicine are much less prone to set off kidney stone formation than others. You would possibly ask your physician about completely different diabetes medicines, corresponding to dapagliflozin (Farxiga) or empagliflozin (Jardiance), often known as SGLT2 inhibitors.
Individuals with Sort 2 diabetes are prone to kidney stones. SGLT2 inhibitors aren’t excellent for shielding kidneys, however they’re much less prone to trigger stones.
Q: I’ve had eczema for years, and it didn’t reply to any remedy I attempted. Lastly, I discovered a dermatologist prepared to prescribe Opzelura cream. Inside per week, all my pink itchy patches had been cleared! When any new patches begin, I apply the cream and they’re gone in a couple of days. What are you aware about this remedy?
A: This drug is named a JAK (janus kinase) inhibitor. That places it in the identical class as Rinvoq (upadacitinib) and Cibinqo (abrocitinib).
Opzelura (ruxolitinib) is a topical cream that’s higher than a placebo for eliminating the itch of atopic dermatitis (eczema). It does carry a black field warning, nevertheless. Prescribers are warned about an elevated threat of an infection or malignancies which might be related to JAK inhibitors.
Unintended effects of the cream embody sore throat and runny nostril. The largest problem is prone to be the fee. The checklist value at GoodRx is over $2,000 for one 60-gram tube.