How medicines can affect the digestive system

Many medicines taken by mouth may affect the digestive system. These medicines include prescription (those ordered by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist) and nonprescription or over-the-counter products. Although these medicines usually are safe and effective, harmful effects may occur in some people. In fact many people not only suffer, but start taking another medicine to address the ...

Dr. Paul Donohue: There are alternatives to statins to lower cholesterol

Dear Dr. Donohue: My doctor prescribed statin drugs to control my LDL cholesterol. First I took lovastatin (Mevacor) and then simvastatin (Zocor), but I had muscle pain and weakness with them. I am reluctant to start the pravastatin (Pravachol) that he has now prescribed. Are there alternatives?

Dr. Donohue: Alternatives to statins for lowering cholesterol

Dear Dr. Donohue • My doctor prescribed statin drugs to controlmy LDL cholesterol. First I took lovastatin (Mevacor) and thensimvastatin (Zocor), but I had muscle pain and weakness with them.I am reluctant to start the pravastatin (Pravachol) that he has nowprescribed. Are there alternatives? How about Endur-acin? CoQ10 hasbeen suggested. — D.L.

Being heard about best mediciine

It's not a term that flows trippingly off the tongue: orthomolecular pharmacology.

For some, life-saving drugs have dark side

Like millions of Americans, Willard Clay began taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs after a heart attack in 2003. Almost immediately, though, the 69-year-old Ottawa man started experiencing joint and muscle pain so bad, he says, "I could hardly get out of bed." Trying different types of statins did little to alleviate these problems.