Ask the Pharmacist about the useof over-the-counter and prescribed drugs. Your guest is Vahan Aladadi,who is a Doctor of Pharmacy with many years of experience in the fieldof retail pharmaceuticals.
| Q | What if I quit taking Zoloft suddenly? |
| A | Zoloft is primarily used to treat depression. As with almost any antidepressant, it should not be stopped abruptly. If you do, it maycause problems far worse than for the reasons for which it is used. Therefore, I suggest that the drug be tapered off, that is, reduce thedosage gradually over a period of time. Even alternate dayadministration may be advisable. Do not go this alone; check with aphysician first before embarking on any cessation procedure. |
| Q | Should I stop my antidepressantprescription medications by myself? |
| A | No, absolutely not.These medications should only be tapered off under instructions of a physician. |
| Q | What about St. John'sWort antidepressant use? |
| A | St. John's Wort is anherbal product not approved by the FDA for use by patients who are diagnosedwith depression. St. John's Wort use is only anecdotal. There areno clinical studies done by orthodox medicine in this country to proveits efficacy, even though some people have reported benefits. Consult yourhealth care provider prior to use or when considering switching to St.John's Wort as an antidepressant. |
| Q | I usually get a commoncold about twice every year. My Doctor often prescribes an antibioticto protect me against any invading bacteria. I am told he shouldnot do this, rather, he could can give me an anti-viral to protect me againstpossible viral pneumonia. Amantadine, an anti-viral drug, was suggestedas the alternate. Please enlighten me. |
| A | Whoever told you notto take an antibiotic is right. These drugs are used only for bacterialinfections, not the common cold. Amantadine, trade-named Symmetrel,an antiviral agent is used for early onset viral disease. I suggestyou discuss this with your doctor to determine the proper indications becauseit is not always effective in certain circumstances. Symptomatictreatment without antibiotics is usually the best approach for the commoncold. |