ArcaMax

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

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 5 feet, 1 inch tall, weigh 200 pounds, and have found it next to impossible to lose weight, even though I'm active. I swim, walk, or do yoga almost every day. I avoid most processed foods and stick to organic vegetables and pasture-raised eggs and meat.

My doctor put me on metformin; I lost 7 pounds ,but that was it. I do...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have venous insufficiency and have a laser procedure by a vein specialist coming up in a couple of weeks. I don't know much about the procedure and wondered if you can expound on it. I am 79 but get told that I look 14 or more years younger. I exercise a lot (aerobics/weights, Pilates), eat well, and usually stay in good ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My brother, who was extremely active and athletic in his younger years, is now in his early 70s. His decision to have both of his knees replaced several years ago was not due to any general pain, but to an inability to bend his knees more than 90 degrees. It was limiting his mobility and affecting his quality of life. Afterward...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: In March 2023, my 94-year-old mother had a shingles episode on the right side of her neck, head, ear and (to a lesser degree) right cheek. The active blisters lasted about three weeks. Since then, she's been experiencing continued neuropathy that involves itchiness, a sense of desperation, and some pain. She's been prescribed ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 81-year-old man in reasonably good health. When I had trouble falling asleep, I would take a swig of Zzzquil, which worked perfectly every time. However, since then, my cardiologist told me to stop taking such products, so I turned to 5-mg tablets of melatonin in the evening to help induce drowsiness. Sometimes it worked,...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: You recently stressed the need for at-home blood pressure monitoring for the control of blood pressure. Which brand should I buy? -- L.L.

ANSWER: Home blood pressure monitoring adds a great deal of information to in-office blood pressure monitoring, since it ensures that the blood pressure is being optimally controlled. A few ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a 93-year-old woman in good health. I take 40 mg of lovastatin once a day for high cholesterol, but my cholesterol levels are always high when tested. My physician is not concerned, but I am. Why isn't lovastatin bringing down my cholesterol levels to normal? -- S.A.

ANSWER: Lovastatin (Mevacor) was the first statin drug ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: In a recent column that touched on taking laxatives daily, you mentioned a sugar called lactulose that you recommend for constipation. I'm wondering if other sugars have the same effect. My 70-year-old wife drinks several cans daily of diet lemon-lime soda that contains sucralose. She also tends to have fairly loose, even runny...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife recently underwent a successful open heart surgery with two valves repaired and one replaced. During her post-surgery recovery, she experienced an issue with the timing of several prescriptions and their impact. We learned that there is a big difference between taking a prescription medicine "twice a day," versus taking...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a 67-year-old healthy male, but I do take Humira for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It does a wonderful job for me with no side effects. It does such a good job that I can periodically extend the time between injections, such as one every three weeks instead of the recommended dose every two weeks. I can even go as long as six ...Read more