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The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by The Wellness Imperative People or the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
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The 24-Hour Pharmacist
For more information, or to submit your own health question visit Suzy Cohen’s website:
Website: www.dearpharmacist.com
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Past Dear Pharmacist
- Dear Pharmacist August 28, 2010 10 Tips for Back to School Cough & Cold
- Dear Pharmacist August 21, 2010, Bitter Orange Improves Weight Loss
- Dear Pharmacist August 14, 2010, Minimizing Candida Die-Off Reactions
- Dear Pharmacist August 7, 2010 Candida Treatments and Tests
- Dear Pharmacist, July 31, 2010 Candida Yeast Can Hurt You
- Dear Pharmacist, July 24, 2010 Natural Protection for Nerve Pain
- Dear Pharmacist, July 17, 2010
Some Medications Scare Me - Dear Pharmacist July 10, 2010 FDA Requires Me to Tiptoe Through My Two Lips
- Dear Pharmacist July 3, 2010 Relieve Sore, Achy Muscles Fast
- Dear Pharmacist, June 26, 2010 The Goods on Grapefruit and Medications that Won’t Mix
- Dear Pharmacist, June 19, 2010 Calcium D-glucarate: A Novel Way to Eliminate Toxins
- Dear Pharmacist June 12, 2010 Tiny Seeds Offer Gigantic Protection to Men and Women
- Dear Pharmacist June 5, 2010 toenail fungus
- Dear Pharmacist, May 22, 2010 Hot Springs Are the Fountain of Youth
- Dear Pharmacist, May 15, 2010 How Drug Muggers Can Slowly Steal the Life Out of You
- Dear Pharmacist, May 8, 2010 Micronutrient Testing: Find Out if You Are Deficient in Vitamins & Minerals
- Dear Pharmacist, May 1, 2010 New Discovery: Liberation Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis
- Dear Pharmacist, April 24, 2010 Your Tongue Tells a Story
- Dear Pharmacist, April 17, 2010 When You Lower Cholesterol, You Lower Sex Drive Too
- Dear Pharmacist, April 3, 2010 How to Curb Cravings for Alcohol and Drugs
Dear Pharmacist, July 17, 2010
Some Medications Scare Me
Dear Pharmacist,
I just became a pharmacist and started reading your syndicated column. Your emphasis is usually centered around the benefits of vitamins, minerals or alternative treatments, as compared to prescription medications. I take offense sometimes because I think you should recommend more of our gold standard pharmaceuticals which are FDA approved, unlike nutritional supplements. For example, I read your article about depression and you only discussed vitamins and minerals, and never mentioned prescribed antidepressants. --JK, Gainesville, Florida
Answer: The depression column is entitled “Natural Ways to Ease Depression and Reduce Anxiety” so of course it was not about drugs. It is posted at my website where it continues to be well-received.
I’ve been a pharmacist 22 years, and syndicated columnist for years, so my perspective is that our gold standards are sometimes rusty!
Listen carefully to me, because your customers’ lives depend on you being educated about natural remedies as well as pharmaceuticals. While you were in school, didn’t your professors make it clear that you can’t lift low levels of folic acid -a common cause for depression- with any of our so-called gold standards.
Didn’t anyone mention that you can’t fix a deficiency of vitamin C, B12 or thyroid hormone with those drugs? All that can cause depression.
Let me teach you something ‘outside the pill.’ Magnesium, vitamin C, B6, folic acid and 5-HTP can enhance mood by sparking production of feel-good hormones such as GABA, serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. When taken in natural, physiological dosages these nutrients are well-tolerated. Typical side effects: Gas, diarrhea or minor stomach upset.
Our gold standard antidepressants also have side effects. Depending on the drug, your age and medical history, their side effects include:
Agitation, anxiety, blurred vision, red or purple spots on the skin, breast enlargement, anorexia, abdominal cramps, gas, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, loose stools or constipation, unusual secretion of milk in women, yawning, trouble walking, dizziness, decreased sexual ability, low libido, impotence, inability to orgasm, abnormal bleeding, nose bleeds, inability to sit still, headaches, increased sweating, insomnia, feeling vertigo (you or your surroundings constantly move), muscle weakness, breast tenderness, unusual or sudden facial movements, strange involuntary postures, fever, flu-like syndrome, hot flushing of the skin, confusion, drowsiness, dry mouth, fatigue, seizures, hyponatremia, tremor, mania, heart palpitations, fast talking or feeling out of control, skin rash, hives, itching, and a dangerous condition called “Serotonin Syndrome” which may include such symptoms as serious blood pressure swings, fever, mood/behavior changes, diarrhea, racing heartbeat, shivering, shaking, racing heartbeat, overactive reflexes, sweating, intravascular coagulation, renal failure, seizures, respiratory failure or coma. There is also a black box warning regarding the higher incidence of suicide among children and adolescents who take these drugs. Despite all those risks, some people feel safer with our gold standard drugs because they are FDA approved!
Did You Know?
To avoid pharmacy errors, know the correct name of your drug and have your doctor spell it out for you, clearly and legibly.
