Dear Pharmacist,
I suffer from gout and would like more information about this
condition. What foods should I avoid, and what foods can help me?
L.B., New York, New York
ANSWER: Even though the pain may be in your big toe, what you
put in your mouth really does matter. People with gout often wake
up with an extremely painful, [...]

Dear Pharmacist,
My 16-year-old daughter has been taking an antidepressant drug for depression for 10 months. She was doing better and enjoying life but in the past few weeks her sadness has set back in. She isolates herself and I hear her crying all the time. She’s irritable and refuses to participate in family activities. [...]

Dear Pharmacist,
Do you think it’s a good idea to take antioxidants during the cough/cold season? I am trying hard not to get sick this year.
V.C., Atlanta, Georgia

Answer: Yes. Anything you put into your body to improve your immune system is important, including good foods. Antioxidant’s are just the tip of the iceberg. There [...]

Dear Pharmacist,
I almost died a few years ago after taking an antibiotic, Amoxicillin.  What other medications are related, so I can avoid those too.
D.P., Arco, Idaho

Answer: The serious life-threatening allergy that you experienced (called anaphylaxis) is not that common – most people who are allergic to drugs usually develop a nasty rash which [...]

Dear Pharmacist,
In a recent column, you said that a person should NOT take glucosamine if they have Rheumatoid Arthritis, but that it was useful for people with Osteoarthritis.  I have just been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and my doctor started me on glucosamine and chondroitin immediately.  Why is this a problem?
CP Coral Springs, Florida [...]