have hypertension, taking amphetamine could counteract the effectiveness of your blood pressure drugs. You may want to ask your physician about nonstimulant alternatives that won't affect your heart.
Q: Your article linking cholesterol medications to memory loss was not based on evidence. There are no studies showing that these drugs have a negative effect. Instead you used letters from readers, which are not scientific. I am concerned that some of my patients may have discontinued their cholesterol medicine.
A: We agree that these drugs can be valuable in preventing heart attacks and strokes. Most people can take them without complications. Those who experience difficulties, however, deserve to have their concerns taken seriously. No one should discontinue without consulting a physician.
We have heard from hundreds of readers who have had severe muscle pain and weakness as side effects of these medicines. Many others have written about memory problems or cognitive difficulties. We have received too many case reports of transient global amnesia to ignore. In this frightening condition, people temporarily lose memory of significant blocks of time.
We are sending you a one-hour CD of a radio interview we conducted with physicians who have studied this effect. Anyone who would like a copy of this CD, "The Dark Side of Statins," may send $16 to: People's Pharmacy (CD-523), P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027 or visit our Web site, www.peoplespharmacy.com, and look for radio show No. 523.
Q: When I get a cold, it often becomes a sinus infection. The congestion is uncomfortable, but the headache is what really bothers me. Any suggestions for breaking this curse?
A: Another reader shared his approach to sinus headaches: "I use nasal saline for sinus headaches. Nasal saline was first recommended to me by my ear, nose and throat doctor. Ocean Mist is the brand-name OTC product. Xlear is a version with xylitol. Both come in small spray bottles. Generic versions of Ocean Mist can be found at most pharmacies for less than $3. Xlear is about $12 per bottle."
Xylitol is a natural sugar with antibacterial properties. Unlike decongestant nose sprays, nasal saline is not habit-forming.
Q: You had a question from a woman suffering vaginal dryness. I am using Estring, an estradiol ring. After 18 months, I have experienced no side effects, and my dryness is gone.
A: Estring is a prescription vaginal ring that releases 2 mg of estradiol over three months. It is convenient, and the dose of estrogen is quite low.
Q: I wonder whether some additive to Earl Grey tea might cause muscle pain and cramping. I am a yoga teacher with a generally mobile body. During the past couple of years, I have suffered worsening muscle pain, cramping and restricted movement. Medicine, acupuncture, physical therapy and massage all failed to provide lasting improvement.
When a recent flulike episode caused me stomach distress, I gave up my two cups of Earl Grey with breakfast and switched to regular orange pekoe tea. Within two weeks, all symptoms were gone and mobility was restored.
I am still drinking tea and have made no other conscious changes, so it seems that the Earl Grey tea is somehow the cause of my problems. What is there in Earl Grey that could set up this reaction?
A: A doctor in Austria published a case report on a 44-year-old man who developed severe muscle cramps in his feet and legs after he started drinking a lot of Earl Grey tea (The Lancet, April 27, 2002). The patient also had muscle twitching, but all the tests on the work-up were normal. When he stopped the Earl Grey tea, his symptoms also disappeared.
Earl Grey tea is flavored with bergamot oil, from the citrus fruit bergamot. It contains a compound called bergapten that can block potassium channels. Potassium flow in and out of the cells is crucial for muscle function, and this presumably explains why too much Earl Grey tea could cause muscle cramps.
Q: The lady who was concerned about her husband's hot food causing an ulcer should ease up. My stomach used to bother me until I started using