deb hi what multi vitamin & sleeping aids can i take with Efexor 75mg? i heard valerian isnt good to take on it?

It is usually best not to mix over the counter sleeping aids with efexor, and changes in sleep can be a side effect of the effexor so I suggest you speak to your doctor first. Any multivitamin and mineral supplement will be fine, but I suggest one that doesnt have extra herbs as these can sometimes have effects on mood. I like the slow release supplements like Blackmores. There are also some nutrient specific ones like Select Daily Veggies which can help if you have a specific group of foods you are not getting in your diet.   ...Deb

I have been taking Reductil 15mg with great results for 3 months now, however the effect has almost worn off - what can I do about this?

If your portion sizes are now suitable you may not need to take the reductil anymore and may be able to continue the weight loss with your new eating plan. If you are no longer losing weight and have adjusted your diet then reductil may not be giving sufficent assistance but 15mg is the highest recommended dose. Is there any change recently that may have reduced the reductils effectiveness? eg sudden return of sugar cravings. ...Deb

I have 2 daughters that have survere scorissis on there scalps, I have been using medicated shampoo for them ( have tried every one on the market over the past couple of years) wich seems to make a differance for the fist couple of weeks but the flares back up again.   They are only young 10 and 8 years old and many people think that they constantly have headlice because of the constant scratching. Do you have any other suggestions that might work for them?

my period is normally 3-4 days of blood then days 4 -5 are the transition to the normal discharge, but this time it was days 4-5-6 and the normal discharge afterwards was a bit more viscous and wasnt 100% normal.. but there is no itching or redness at all ..could this just be my bodys way of cleansing out my uterus? ; (yesterdays discharge was heavy with two small brownish clumps ( SO SORRY for the details!! ) but todays is light caramel and dry as if its almost finishing )

Details are needed so no need to apologise! It does sound like a variation on a normal period and that it is going back to the usual days. I would give it another day and if it is not back to normal then see your doctor. But if this happens again next month then I would recommend a checkup for your hormone levels. ...Deb

Hi, Just wondering if duromine does cause hair loss?? My hair has fallen out from the top while taking duromine and i was wondering if it is possible it is the duromine.??? and i dont mean litle pits this is the whole top section. Its is growing back so it cannot be alopecia??

Duromine does not have hair loss as a side effect, but deficiencies in several different nutrients could cause hair loss so it might be related to the change in diet. ....Deb

Hi Deb, I have arthritis in my hands and it is really inhibiting my performance at work, as I use my hands a lot. Could you please recommend any good arthritis medication that is not an anti-inflammatory, as I am allergic to anti-inflammatory medication e.g. voltaren, as they cause kidney failure if I use them. Daniel

There are several things that can be helpful for movement eg glucosamine, fish oil, evening primrose oil, emu oil, flaxseed oil, chondriotin, shark cartillege etc. Chosing the one that works best for you before trying any is a bit trickey because everyone responds a bit differently. I would suggest considering a fish oil supplement for 4 weeks first and then review if other supplements are needed. There are also oils that can be rubbed into your hands eg emufire, elmore, pain away. My grandmother has just started on the elmore oil and swears by it, but again its a matter of trying them till you find the best for you. If your kidney function is reduced then you may need to talk to your doctor about the supplements before starting them. If the pain is bad and you cant take antiinflammatories regular doses of paracetamol are usually recommended.  ...Deb

i took fluconazole three weeks ago with internal canesten cream(for candidal infection) symptoms went away, then got my period a week and a half ago (took brufen for the pain) , finished my period and started reductil and five days after finishing my period and starting reductil i got this brownish discharge as if i was starting my period again and its been like this for around three days now, should i be concerned? (and i used inderal in two of those five days that i was using reductil in)

Reductil can cause changes in your periods but this could also be related to thrush. Did you period from a week ago last the usual number of days? ...Deb

What happens when someone takes Duromine when they dont really need it? i have a friend who is at the high end of her ideal weight, and i told her to talk to her doctor about it. But it got me thinking, what would happen if someone that is only slightly heavy, or not heavy at all takes a 40mg tablet???

Duromine is restricted because it has potential to be misused in a few ways. One of these is that if it was taken when weight loss was not required then it could reduce weight below a healthy level. In Australia your BMI needs to be above 30 (or 25 with other weight affected health issues) for it to be prescribed so when your friend goes to her doctor they will explain this and discuss alternatives. ...Deb

that was 20mg of Lexipro per day.. the diaformin is half a tab morn and night.. it doesnt seem to be doing to much other than make me nausous all day.. im not losing weight but im not hungry as much anymore.. the lexipro is my maiin concern at the moment.. please help..

You need to speak to your doctor about the pain and also possible lexapro withdrawl or change to alternatives. ...Deb

I was diagnosed with PCOS and depression early in the year. Currently on Diaformin and Lexipro.. I have found I still have a libido but no climax.. its great as ima newly wed and my husband is getting paranoid.. Currently taking 20mg a day.. is it ok to cut down to half a tab a day and see how it goes? would that have too harsh an affect on my moods.? recently i went without taking it for 2 days and my husband a best mate said i was being weird .. apparently thinking the worst in everything. Since feb we have been trying for a baby as well... no luck.. having some awesome paisn in the pelvic region for well over a month now but put it down to the pcos and that its part in parcel of having the delightful thing.. prior to going off the pill i had been on it for 8.5 yrs straight.. I dont know if this is the problem or if the pcos is the problem or where we go from here.. I feel deflated and broken that I cant give my hubby what he wants.. both kids and for me to enjoy myself during couple time..

Firstly, it is never a good idea to cut back on your medications without talking to your doctor first. The lexapro may need to be reduced or changed to an alternative but there are potential complications. The 'weirdness' your friend has noticed could be due to missing lexapro doses or could be related to stress caused by the pressure of your current situation. There is also the consideration of lexapro during pregnancy, it is not normally recommended so you need to have a chat with your doctor. If you now longer require the lexapro for the original reason you went on it your doctor may recommend coming off it, or if it is still necessary then they may help you chose an alternative more suitable for pregnancy. PCOS can make conceiving more difficult but it is quite normal to take a while to fall pregnant regardless. How long have you been trying? The pain you are experiencing is a concern. How long has it been since your last period? Could you be pregnant? Is this pain part of your normal PCOS symptoms? I suggest you discuss all this with your doctor. ...Deb

i wrote to you the other day and asked re my period being late, and i am now a week over and a home test is still telling me i am not pregnanat. Very unusual for me to be this late. I am wondering if Lexipro can affect a home preg test as i am only on a small dose of 5mg per day. Not sure what to do next as i am getting concerned why i have no period. Thanks

It should not have an effect. I suggest you see your doctor for a blood test to be sure that you are not pregnant. ...Deb

I had a breakdown some 18 months ago and I was originally put on Zoloft. I am now on Zyprexa and Lexapro. I have been looking at Bi Polar disorder. Are these two medications used to treat Bi Polar.

Zyprexa can be used for bipolar but lexapro is generally just for depressive disorders. ...Deb

Keppra Any side effects Thanks for all the information on reductil

Keppra has a few side effects (all medications do). The list of potentials includes drowsiness, headache, dizziness, confusion etc. If you would like a full list email us at pharmacy@pharmacydirect.com.au and ask for a CMI to be sent. ...Deb

Hi Deb, I am in desperate need of your help! I went and saw my GP today because I have mad my period for two weeks now and she asked me to go on google to find if my medications were having an interaction or not! I am taking Reductil 10mg, diane (started last month), salazopyrin for my Crohns. also do you think my doctors advice is acceptable or should I change GPs?

There are no drug interactions between your medications. Reductil can cause metrorrhagia, which is the technical name for bleeding occurring at irregular intervals, and sometimes of prolonged duration ie a longer period. Its quite rare as a side effect but it is the most likely cause from amongst your medications. As for you question re your doctor, I would expect a doctor to check this for you, either by contacting their local pharmacy (or ringing us on 1300DIRECT) or by looking up the information for you. If your doctor did not feel comfortable sourcing the information themselves then referring you to a pharmacist would be the usual course of action, and much more sensible than asking you to search it yourself. Medication is our speciality. There is quite a bit of dubious information floating about the web and it is easy to be unsure of what is real scientific information and what is someones 'pet theory'.  ...Deb

Hi there,  I am getting a lot of conjunctivitis (?) lately. What do you recommend from your range of products that will help without a Drs prescription?