Tri-State Neighbor: South Dakota Farm Newspaper

Q:As a physician, I have been testing my patients for 25-hydroxy vitamin D for several months. Many are deficient, and some have symptoms of pain and muscle weakness.

I advise patients to take one or two vitamin D supplements of 1,000 units daily. Many pharmacists are not aware of the new information, and some have discouraged my patients from buying such supplements if they are taking multivitamins with 400 International Units per daily dose. Please write about this issue.

A:Fatigue, high blood pressure and joint and muscle pain are just a few of the possible symptoms associated with vitamin D deficiency. Researchers are reporting high rates of this condition because few people spend much time outside, especially during the winter. During the summer, conscientious use of sunscreen can block vitamin D formation.

Experts are now recommending daily doses of vitamin D in the 1,000 to 2,000 range. Although pharmacists may worry about the potential for vitamin D toxicity, this appears to occur only at much higher doses.

Q:I have read that using decongestant nasal sprays can be addictive. What are your views on using oral OTC cold remedies for more than seven days? Will these cause any symptoms when I stop?

A:There is considerable controversy about the effectiveness of the readily available oral decongestant phenylephrine (Annals of Pharmacotherapy, March 2007). Such drugs seem less likely to cause rebound nasal congestion, but they may raise blood pressure in susceptible individuals. Since there is doubt about their benefit, we generally don't recommend them.

Q:I was diagnosed with celiac disease and advised to avoid gluten from wheat, rye and barley. Avoiding gluten in my diet has made a huge difference for me. Are there any resources to help me avoid gluten in pills?

A:In celiac disease, ingesting gluten triggers the immune system to attack the body, especially the small intestine. This interferes with nutrient absorption. The Food and Drug Administration does not require manufacturers to list gluten on drug labels, but you can look up your medicines at www.glutenfreedrugs.com.

Q:I have back problems and have been taking Vicodin daily for pain. For the past six months, my breathing has been terrible. I have had to stop and catch my breath with any little thing.

I've been off Vicodin for a week and my breathing is much better. Could the Vicodin be responsible?

A:The prescription pain reliever Vicodin contains acetominophen and the narcotic hydrocodone. According to the manufacturer, in sensitive people or at high doses, hydrocodone can produce respiratory depression and irregular breathing. We don't know if that is what you experienced, but you should report it to your physician.

Q:I awoke one night with the muscles and nerves in my legs feeling like fireworks (little explosions, big explosions, the grand finale). They were so active that they started twisting into cramps. This literally kept me awake all night. The cramps were in all parts of my legs and feet - nowhere else in my body.

Blood tests didn't reveal any problems, so the doctor shrugged and gave me muscle relaxants so I could sleep at night. I took them for months. If I stopped the drug, the problem returned.

One day I read in your column about a man who was taking a diuretic and began having cramps in his legs at night. He found that low-sodium V8 juice stopped the problem.

Since I was taking a diuretic at the time, I thought I would give it a try. It stopped the cramping and severely curtailed most of the weird muscle/nerve activity. I faithfully drank two glasses of V8 every evening, and I haven't taken a muscle relaxant since the first glass.

A:Low-sodium V8 juice provides plenty of potassium. When this mineral is in short supply, many people develop cramps. Diuretics frequently deplete the body of potassium, and that might be why low-sodium V8 helps some people.

Comments »

Sil wrote on Apr 12, 2008 12:15 PM:

" Very interesting.
Articles like this one, help us to enjoy a better life.
Thank you very much. "

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