The People's Pharmacy®

Q. I have suffered from acid reflux for about six months, and it kept getting worse and worse. Nothing that I tried was helping. I read some comments on your Web site that Ambien might cause heartburn. The light bulb... (Read More)

Hospitals are dangerous places. Our ancestors intuitively knew that and generally tried to stay out of the hospital if at all possible. These days we like to think of hospitals as sterile, safe and high tech. They are unquestionably high... (Read More)

Q. Several years ago I had hemorrhoids so bad that I couldn't even go to work. The only comfort I could find was sitting in a tub of warm water. A friend who was into old folk remedies told me... (Read More)

Q. I suffered from cluster headaches for 14 years. Some doctors said the pain was psychosomatic. Others told me I was allergic to chocolate. Once I actually put a pistol to my head to kill myself because the pain was... (Read More)

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America, killing 150,000 people a year. The survivors can face a difficult challenge, as they may need to relearn simple activities such as talking, reading or dressing themselves. For one neuroscientist,... (Read More)

Q. I have had dry mouth for years due to medication. Recently, with my diabetes diagnosis, it has gotten much worse. It is hard to talk and hard to swallow. In the last week or so I have had very... (Read More)

Q. Recently I heard a suggestion that niacin would be better and cheaper than Vytorin for lowering cholesterol. I know there has not been an extensive study on this. I exercise and watch my diet pretty well and wonder if... (Read More)

Q. I have GERD and I have been on Nexium for several years. Before Nexium I took Tagamet, Zantac, and Prilosec, in that order. I have tried to get off of this medicine several times, and I have been unsuccessful... (Read More)

Q. Is soy good or bad for an overweight breast cancer survivor? I've heard both. A. Breast cancer survivors have sometimes been warned to avoid soy-based foods because of the natural estrogen-like compounds soy contains. A recent study of survivors... (Read More)

If you watch the evening news on television, you are likely to see commercials for osteoporosis drugs. Sally Field will tell you that Boniva builds strong healthy bones to help prevent fractures. Strong bones are desirable, but preventing fractures also... (Read More)

Q. I am 23 years old and I just learned I have herpes. I feel like my life is over. I fear no one will ever want to date me again. I'm not promiscuous at all. It only took one... (Read More)

Q. My oldest son used to get canker sores a lot when he got a cold. Then my mother-in-law gave us the ultimate cure that works overnight. Swish cultured buttermilk in the mouth and hold it there for about a... (Read More)

For years, women have been admonished to drink milk and eat yogurt so that they will have enough calcium to keep their bones strong. Calcium supplements have become big business, and foods like orange juice have been fortified with calcium.... (Read More)

Q. My 31-year-old sister is an alcoholic. She has been to two rehab facilities within the last year. My parents and I have been very supportive and paid her bills for those. She has lived with both of us, but... (Read More)

Q. You recently had a man write in about problems with Lipitor for lowering cholesterol. I'd like to share my personal experience with my 97-year-old mother. She experienced muscle pains on Zocor she was taking for cholesterol control. She discontinued... (Read More)