Tri-State Neighbor: South Dakota Farm Newspaper

Q:I have atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm, for which I take Tambocor (a heart rhythm drug) and warfarin (a blood thinner). I also have arthritis. I was taking Tylenol for it, but my lab tests went haywire. I think the Tylenol was affecting the warfarin, because after I stopped taking it, my bleeding time results came back into balance.

I know warfarin is crucial to prevent a stroke, but I find it very challenging to figure out all the conflicting information about it. I had been told that Tylenol would be fine, but it isn't. I've also heard different advice about cranberry juice and vegetables. Can you send me any information on warfarin and diet?

A:Warfarin, also prescribed by the brand names Coumadin or Jantoven, is a lifesaving drug, but it can be tricky to use. It interacts with many other medicines and even many foods. While acetaminophen (Tylenol) could be used for occasional pain relief, regular use can raise the INR (a measure of blood coagulation) and increase the risk of dangerous bleeding.

Cranberries may also increase the risk of bleeding, while vegetables rich in vitamin K, such as brussels sprouts or kale, can counteract warfarin's action and increase the risk of a blood clot.

Q:I read your suggestions for the treatment of head lice. Why doesn't anyone ever mention the remedy that really works and works fast? Kerosene.

Comb it through the hair for about five minutes. It kills the lice and removes the nits, and the child can return to school the next day.

A:Although kerosene was an old-fashioned remedy for getting rid of lice, it should never be used. The manufacturers safety recommendations specifically warn against contact with eyes, skin and clothes.

Absorption of petroleum byproducts through the skin is potentially dangerous. Kerosene also can irritate the skin and lungs. Far worse, a spark could trigger a horrendous accident, leading to severe burns or death. Anyone who would like to learn about safer lice remedies can find them at www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q:Do you know of a home remedy for athlete's foot? I have had a fungus between the fourth and fifth toe for quite a while.

I was using Lamisil AT, but it does not work well for me. The doctor also gave me clotrimazole, and it, too, is not clearing the fungus. I am serving in Iraq and would like to try something that will give me results instead of wasting my time.

A:Readers have suggested a number of home remedies. Soaking the feet for 20 minutes a day in a foot bath may also help. The herbal oils thymol and eucalyptol in Listerine have antifungal activity.

Another approach is to put Vicks VapoRub on the affected area. This product also contains thymol and eucalyptol, along with other herbal oils that appear to fight fungus on skin and nails.

One new product worth considering is Miranel (www.miranelbrands.com). This over-the-counter cream contains the antifungal drug miconazole along with some of the same ingredients found in Vicks.

We're told that urinating on your feet in the shower is an old military trick against athlete's foot and foot odor.

Q:My husband has taken Zocor to lower cholesterol since he was 48. In 2006, he started to notice problems. His feet became numb, and he had trouble writing. He believed that he was less sharp mentally. I could see that his muscle strength was waning, too. I excused this as growing older, but he was just in his early 50s.

The problems became more obvious starting in January 2007. Now it's February 2008,and he's 55.

He can't communicate with customers in the business he started 30 years ago. His writing can't be read even when he tries his best to print.

He has trouble walking. He loses his balance easily. It is very difficult for him to get up when he falls. He has very little body strength, and he can't walk up stairs. He has no feeling in the bottom of his toes.

He has trouble expressing his thoughts, and his speech pattern is halting. He has a lot of trouble sleeping.

He's made numerous trips to this internist and a neurologist. They have recommended that we see a dimentia psychiatrist. I feel I need to look elsewhere for help - but I don't know where to go. Could any of this be related to Zocor?

A:We have heard from hundreds of people who have developed memory, nerve or muscle problems while taking statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs (Lipitor, lovastatin, simvastatin, Zocor, etc.). People frequently complain that they have trouble remembering words and names.

Comments »

lynda kennedy wrote on Mar 15, 2008 10:58 AM:

" Reading your answer to taking statins has confirmed to me that simvastatin has had a major effect on my memory, also muscle problems. I will now be taking further advice from my GP. "

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