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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]