ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: My parents are in their 80s and have health issues that require careful monitoring, including diabetes and lymphoma. Their primary care doctor insists that Medicare only covers their blood tests every six months and that they would have to pay for any additional blood tests themselves. In the meantime, their medical specialists...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I would like to know your opinion on the hepatitis B vaccine and its pros and cons. I'm a 39-year-old man who is thinking about potentially getting one. -- Anon.

ANSWER: Hepatitis B is a viral illness that can cause both acute and chronic liver disease. It's much better to prevent it than treat it.

Among adults in North ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 63 years old, and four weeks ago, I was diagnosed by my gastroenterologist with erosive esophagitis after an endoscopy. I was placed initially on Protonix, but I didn't improve much. So, I was switched to 20 mg of Voquezna, and after eight weeks, I am starting to feel better.

I have painful osteoarthritis in my right hand...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband (age 71) received a diagnosis of polycythemia vera a few years ago. I understand this variety of polycythemia isn't caused by smoking, but we know that smoking does make it worse.

For most of his life, he's had a history of smoking with some short periods of not smoking, and he continues to smoke several times every...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a reasonably healthy 80-year-old man who is fortunate enough to have a partner of a child-bearing age. She would like to bear us a child. I am concerned about any potential problems with my old genes and any birth defects that might be caused by them. Please help us decide. -- R.B.

ANSWER: This is a question I hear from ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: A few months ago, you wrote about the benefits of the shingles vaccine. At 63, I'm one of the 1% who has never had, nor been exposed to, chicken pox. I was tested in 2022 for varicella-zoster virus antibodies, and the results were negative. My current physician wants me to get the shingles vaccine, even though I can't get ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Could you kindly tell me about the current status of paregoric? Has it been banned by the Food and Drug Administration? Is it available anywhere in the United States? I remember using this product occasionally as a teenager back in the 1960s. It was a miracle drug for stopping diarrhea, and it was available over the counter. ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old man with a physically active lifestyle, and I have a strong passion to control my A1C and cholesterol levels by eating the right kind of food. I am taking metformin, atorvastatin and losartan to assist in controlling my blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure.

After turning 70, I was having difficulty ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was wondering whether Ozempic might be prescribed for somebody who gained weight due to antipsychotics or drugs for depression. I read some years ago that the weight gain associated with antipsychotics had something to do with blood sugar levels (or some other metabolic reason). -- K.

ANSWER: You are quite right that many ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been diagnosed with low cortisol and put on 15-mg hydrocortisone tablets daily for life by my endocrinologist. I was told that if I get sick with an infection, I should double the medication. I am 77, and my pharmacist told me that this medication shouldn't be used long-term. I worry about the side effects, but I hear ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 47 years old and 6 feet tall. I weight 185 pounds, exercise regularly, and am in overall very good health. I take 5 mg of Crestor and a multivitamin daily.

I recently took a generic 12-hour, maximum-strength nasal decongestant to manage typical sinus pressure and congestion. Within an hour of taking the medication, I ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am interested in knowing how long it might take for someone who discontinued all medications that have been taken for years to have serious or dire consequences? I started seeing a cardiologist five to six years ago, mainly as a preventive because of a family history of cardiac and stroke risk with both of my parents/...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 69-year-old female. Recently, I had some blood work done, and my doctor decide to put me on Lipitor based on my LDL results. After reading the side effects, I am hesitant to take the drug. My LDL level is 128 mg/dL, my HDL is 49 mg/dL, and my total cholesterol is 192 mg/dL. Over the years, my numbers go up and down. I ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a 75-year-old woman who is active in many ways. I did the swimming leg for a triathlon female relay team, which was 2-3 miles in the open ocean. So, I am baffled by my recent diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG)! Reading as much as possible for a clue, I found a (nonvalid) study stating that seniors who began taking statins ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was diagnosed with several liver cysts over 15 years ago. My primary doctor and I follow the growth of the cysts by ultrasound, and one is increasing in size. We did an MRI with and without contrast to take a look at the cyst. The radiologist stated that the cyst looked "complex" and, for a lack of a better word, unusual.

A ...Read more