Drugs

Indeed, it has recently been suggested that EVERYONE over 60 should consider taking a 'multi-purpose pill' which would help keep them healthy, lower their blood pressure, and normalise their cholesterol! So far, the authorities haven't decided to go ahead with that particular plan - but it may come one day ....

Anyway, the likelihood is that YOU 'pop a pill' from time to time -or maybe quite frequently. If so, then this article may be of some help to you.

Why? Because I find that people tend to know alarmingly little about the tablets and medicines they're taking. Often, they are unaware that there's any risk of side-effects. And frequently, they don't know about the possibility that a drug could react with another medication - or with simple everyday things like grapefruit juice or with herbal remedies.

So this article lists about 60 of the most POPULAR pills used in the UK. It gives you the basic facts about them - and mentions some common side-effects.

However, please bear in mind that there's no way we can list ALL side-effects here. For a fuller list, you should read the 'Product Leaflet' which comes with your tablets. Further information is available from your GP or your pharmacist.

Finally, do please remember that knowledge about drugs CHANGES as time goes by. The information given here is correct as at December 2004. But over the next year or two, new side-effects will emerge - and some drugs will certainly be withdrawn because they turn out to have unsuspected dangers! Therefore, in order to keep up to date, always ask your GP or pharmacist if there's anything NEW about the medication you're taking.

So here's the list:

1. DRUGS FOR YOUR TUMMY -

* 1a - DRUGS FOR STOMACH ACID -

GAVISCON ADVANCE - Suppresses acid reflux. Good for heartburn, reflux, hiatus hernia. Warning: Don't use if you're on a sodium-restricted diet.

HELICLEAR - Gets rid of the germ which is linked with ulcers. Warning: Long list of possible side-effects and of interactions with other drugs.

LOSEC - Stops the stomach from producing acid. Very useful against ulcers and reflux. Warning: Side effects include headaches, tummy upsets and rashes. Interacts with Valium, warfarin and other drugs.

MAALOX - Antacid. Effective against gastritis, heartburn, dyspepsia. Warning: interacts with tetracycline antibiotics.

TAGAMET - Reduces acid output. Very good for ulcers, reflux and dyspepsia. Warning: Many possible side effects, including dizziness, diarrhoea, tiredness and enlargement of male breast.

ZANTAC - Also reduces acid output. Same uses as Tagamet. Warning: Possible side-effects include headache, dizziness and impotence.

ZOTON - Stops acid output. Good for ulcers and reflux. Warning: Can cause headaches, dizziness and tiredness

* 1b - LAXATIVES -

DIOCTYL - Useful for chronic constipation. Softens the motions. Warning: Not to be used on children

DULCOLAX - Bowel-stimulating laxative. Very useful in suppository form. Warning: Do not over-use

FYBOGEL - Bulk-creating laxative Warning: Must not be used if there is any suspicion of intestinal obstruction.

SENOKOT - Traditional stimulant remedy, available in various forms Warning: Avoid excessive use

* 1c - ANTI-DIARRHOEAL -

IMODIUM - Popular with travellers; worth carrying a few with you in the tropics! Warning: Can cause cramps, bloating, dry mouth and dizziness

LOMOTIL - Useful in mild diarrhoea; has been employed by astronauts! Warning: Can cause brain disturbances and allergic reactions.

DIORALYTE - Like other similar products, this is excellent for putting right the severe mineral losses which are so often caused by diarrhoea.

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2. HEART AND CIRCULATION -

* 2a - HEART RHYTHM AND HEART FAILURE -

INNOVACE - Useful in heart failure; also lowers blood pressure. Warning: Can cause coughs, rash, headache, dizziness, many other symptoms

LANOXIN - A variety of the time-honoured heart drug, dioxin . Has saved many lives. Warning: Can cause eyesight problems, tummy upset, headache, depression

* 2b - ANGINA -

ADALAT LA - Affects your calcium balance, so as to keep angina attacks away. Warning: Interacts with many drugs. Can cause headache, flushing, dizziness and (rarely) impotence.

GLYCERYL TRINITRATE - Sprayed under tongue at start of attack - or before exertion. Warning: Causes headaches and flushing; interacts with various drugs, and with grapefruit.

ISTIN - Effective against angina. Warning: Can cause ankle swelling, headache, tiredness and many other symptoms

* 2c - WATER PILLS (DIURETICS) -

APRINOX -Good for oedema ('dropsy') and lowers blood pressure. Warning: May provoke gout, and cause impotence

FRUSOL - Quickly clears excess water from body. Warning: Interacts with various other medications, and may make gout flare up

* 2d - BLOOD PRESSURE PILLS -

TENORMIN - Beta-blocker - very effective. Warning: May cause tiredness, cold hands and feet, and possibly slight increase in cholesterol

CAPOTEN - Effective. One of the 'ACE-inhibitor' group of drugs. Warning: Many interactions. May cause blood disorders, rash and occasionally cough.

ALDOMET - Long established BP remedy. Warning: Can cause sleepiness, headache, depression, dry mouth and impotence.

DIOVAN - One of the 'Angiotensin II antagonist' group. Warning: Rarely causes fainting and blood problems.

CORACTEN XL - One of the 'Calcium antagonist' group. Warning: Many interactions. May cause headache, dizziness and male nipple swelling

* 2e - CHOLESTEROL-LOWERERS -

LIPITOR - One of the widely-used 'statin' group Warning: All of this group may cause muscle pain - and sometimes muscle damage

LOPID - One of the 'fibrate' group of lipid (fat) lowering drugs. Warning: Can cause skin rashes, impotence and muscle problems

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3. BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM

* 3a - SLEEPING PILLS -

AMYTAL - One of the once-popular 'barbiturates' - now considered dangerous, especially for older people. Warning: If you have any in the bathroom cupboard, get rid of them

MOGADON - Still quite widely used for short-term treatment of insomnia. Warning: Do not use for more than a couple of weeks

ZIMOVANE - Useful when emotional trauma (e.g. bereavement) causes insomnia. Warning: Like all sleeping pills, can easily make you 'hooked'

* 3b - ANXIETY -

VALIUM - Also known as 'diazepam', a tranquiliser which has been massively over-used. Warning: It can be very difficult to get off this drug

INDERAL LA - A beta-blocker which helps certain anxiety symptoms, e.g. tremor. Warning: Must NOT be used by some people, especially those with asthma

* 3c - DEPRESSION -

CIPRAMIL - Useful anti-depressant and anti-panic agent. Warning: Many side-effects and interactions - including with St John's Wort

PROZAC - The world's most widely used anti-depressant. Warning: Dozens of side effects, including headache, rashes, anxiety and sex problems

SEROXAT - Useful but now controversial anti-depressant. Warning: Many side effects and interactions

EFEXOR XL - Currently fashionable anti-depressant. Warning: Side-effects include dizziness, dry mouth, nerviness, anxiety, confusion, tremor

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4. PILLS FOR PAIN

* 4a - PAIN KILLERS -

ASPIRIN - Excellent pain-killer - also used (in lower dosage) for 'thinning' the blood. Warning: Often causes stomach bleeding or pain in over-50s

PARACETAMOL - Also very good for most kinds of pain. Warning: Never exceeds daily maximum of EIGHT tablets - or you may risk liver damage

NUROFEN - Justly popular pain-killer. Warning: Numerous possible interactions and side-effects; internal bleeding in over-55s.

DF118 - One of various stronger prescription-only pain-killers. Warning: Causes constipation. Danger of habituation

* 4b - DRUGS FOR THE PAIN OF MIGRAINE -

CAFERGOT - Good at onset of attack. Warning: May cause nausea, vomiting, tummy ache and occasionally more serious problems

MIGRALEVE - You take pink tablets at start of attack; yellow ones if symptoms persist. Warning: May cause drowsiness

PARAMAX - Contains paracetamol, plus a helpful anti-sickness ingredient. Warning: Occasional serious side-effects on the nervous system

SANOMIGRAN - Designed to keep migraine attacks away. Warning: Sedative, increases appetite; avoid if you've ever had glaucoma

BETALOC - Beta-blocker which helps prevent attacks of migraine. Warning: Unsuitable for some people, especially those who are prone to wheezing.

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5. RHEUMATISM & ARTHRITIS

* 5a - NON-STEROIDAL DRUGS -

INDOCID - Good, traditional remedy. Warning: Reacts with many drugs. May cause gastric bleeding, headaches and eye problems

VOLTAROL - Extremely useful - especially in suppository form. Warning: Numerous drug interactions. If taken by mouth, can cause tummy upset or bleeding

VIOXX - Drug which was extremely popular with over-50s - till withdrawn late this year! Warning: If you have any left, do not take them. Long term use linked to coronaries.

* 5b - DRUGS WHICH WORK THR OUGH YOUR SKIN -

FELDENE GEL - Rub into skin near painful area. Warning: Avoid broken skin. May cause rash.

VOLTAROL EMULGEL - Rub into skin for two weeks, then check with doctor. Warning: May cause redness, itching and (very rarely) asthma

MOVELAT - Apply to painful area four times daily. Warning: Do not use if you are allergic to aspirin. Occasionally provokes asthma

* 5c - GOUT -

ANTURAN - Taken daily with food to help keep gout attacks away. Warning: Many drug interactions. Can cause stomach bleeding and ulcers

ALLOPURINOL - Keeps uric acid down - so helps prevent gout. Warning: May PROVOKE gout at start of treatment. Can cause skin reactions and nausea

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6. INFECTIONS

* 6a - ANTIBIOTICS -

PENICILLIN - Still a great antibiotic! Warning: Do NOT take any form of penicillin if you are allergic to it

ERYTHROMYCIN - Useful alternative to penicillin in many infections. Warning: Can cause tummy upset, and very occasionally jaundice.

VIBRAMYCIN - Often useful for chest infections and sinusitis. Warning: Can make you feel very sick if you take it on an empty stomach - or lying down

* 6b - ANTI-FUNGALS -

CANESTEN - Enormously useful drug, for skin, ear and vaginal infections. Warning: Can cause burning sensation

LAMISIL - Useful drug for fungus infections of skin and nails. Warning: If taken by mouth, can cause headaches. tummy upset and skin rashes

* 6c - VACCINES -

FLU VACCINE - The only vaccine routinely used in over-50s (apart from travel vaccines). Warning: Can cause fever and malaise. Rarely provokes neurological reactions

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Q. My pills are in a dreadful muddle, and I can't sort out what any of them are for. Help!

A. Please e-mail me with a complete list of your medications, and I'll try and let you know what all these tablets are for (gp@retirement-matters.co.uk - if you decide to use this facility, please be aware that the Dr can only give general information and please allow time for a reply. If in urgent need of advice, pop to your local chemist or refer back to your GP surgery)

Q. How would I know if I had a penicillin allergy?

A. People who are allergic to penicillin come out in a distressing itchy, lumpy, red or brownish rash

Q. I have a lot of pills in the medicine cupboard which I no longer need. Should I just tip them down the loo?

A. There is just a chance that the drugs could finish up in the drinking water! So it would be better to give them to your chemist for disposal.

Q. My wife often has to take antibiotics. Would it be all right if I 'pinched' some of hers when I have a bad cough?

A. No. People should never use each other's antibiotics.

Q. My GP refused to give me the antibiotic which I wanted, and insisted on prescribing something else instead. Am I entitled to demand the antibiotic I want?

A. Sorry, no. It's up to your doctor to decide which antibiotic you need - and indeed, to decide whether you need an antibiotic at all.

Q. Am I right in thinking that vitamins are totally free of side-effects, because they are natural?

A. No! Excessive doses of vitamins can cause serious illness. Keep to the stated dose.

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