DEAR DR. ROACH: A friend has been suffering from persistent erectile dysfunction, whereby he can achieve (usually) an erection but has difficulty maintaining it. He is currently in rehab for a lower-back injury, so it could be physical rather than psychological in nature. He has sworn to me that he is going to talk to […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 85-year-old male and am having trouble with frequent trips to the bathroom and a weak stream. I was prescribed 0.4 mg of tamsulosin daily, which worked very well. However, my blood pressure dropped significantly, with the systolic measurement in the 90s and sometimes in the 80s. Standing was always […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: You have made several claims about statins in your column. Could you please clarify the studies or data on which you are basing these statements? The idea that statins are the first line of heart health seems to be nearly universally accepted among medical practitioners, to the point of being a mantra. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 39-year-old male with systemic lupus. I read your article on artificial and natural immunity and how getting the flu shot helps “prime” the immune system. I have been told by some that priming the immune system with any vaccine is not a good idea in my case, since I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Is Lyrica a safe type of medication for fibromyalgia? I am worried about side effects and interactions with other medicines. — L.M. ANSWER: Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder whose hallmark symptoms include disordered sleep, pain and fatigue. Treatment can include, among other strategies, careful attention to sleep and exercise, and often medication. […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 68 years old. A recent column discussed a woman on antibiotics for seven years, and I was concerned about my own situation. I had a knee replacement four years ago, and I had a severe staph infection afterward. I also have an artificial mitral heart valve, which added to my […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My girlfriend has been taking pseudoephedrine HCL for at least a year. She takes an average of four 30-mg pills per day. As far as I know, she started this to keep her sinuses open and help her nasal breathing. I am concerned about addiction and long-term effects. She was on Adderall […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife has been told that she has a tumor (noncancerous, the doctors think) on her pituitary gland. The specialist told her that it’s so small that they don’t expect it to grow, and since she isn’t showing any symptoms, they are not going to do anything about it. He told her […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Two years ago, I took advantage of our local $99 low-dose CT scan for smokers at high risk of lung cancer (I certainly fit the criteria). Still smoking, I had the scan, and it was reported to me that they had “seen something” and wanted to do a follow-up PET scan. I […]

DEAR DR. ROACH: Lately I have had lightheadedness and a feeling of floating while standing or walking. I have seen my primary doctor and a neurologist. I had an echocardiogram and a Holter monitor (a 24-hour heart monitor), and nothing was found. My primary doctor told me to take escitalopram. I have taken Xanax for […]