Daily Column

December 10, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am 72 years old and have prostate cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides and diabetes.

In October, my local paper had an article that wrote there was an increased risk of prostate cancer in men who ate flax seeds. It recommended that men eat fish or omega oils instead. It also said that we could completely stay away from flaxseed oil and flaxseed oil pills.

For the past seven years I have been using flaxseed oil and flaxseed oil pills. I consume 2000 mg daily. My doctors have never told me there was a problem with my usage of the supplement. My PSA has varied from 4.9 to 6.9. I would like to know your opinion of this.

DEAR READER:
This is a complex issue. Not many studies have been done to determine the benefits of flaxseed. [Read more...]

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Sunday Column

September 14, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
After being told that his cholesterol was elevated, my 70-year-old husband was given a prescription for Lipitor. Before filling it, he researched the side effects first and then opted for red yeast rice instead. After nearly two months on the medication, he had a Transient Global Amnesia (TGA) episode. It lasted most of the day and he had no idea that he had asked the same question over and over. He also couldn’t recall what he had done the day before, what he planned to do later that day and when it was over he couldn’t remember what had happened but knew something was wrong. He saw his doctor who assured him that he did not have a mini-stroke and again prescribed Lipitor.

After doing another internet search, this time on TGA episodes, [Read more...]

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Daily Column

July 22, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
In a past column you recommended replacing Lipitor with either omega-3 fish oil capsules or niacin. I have elected to try the niacin. You said to START with 500 milligrams per day and I have done this for a couple of weeks. Now I want to increase the dosage but don’t know what to increase it to. Should I go to 1000, 1500 or 2000 mg? Maybe more? Also, how long should I stay on the niacin? I would also like to know your opinion on red yeast rice. I have noticed that you don’t mention it.

DEAR READER:
Niacin is an excellent alternative choice for lowering cholesterol levels. I often recommend patients to start with a relatively low-dose of 250-500 mg daily and then slowly work up to 1000-1500 mg daily, usually in increments of 250 mg. This is primarily to allow the body to become accustomed to the vitamin and reduce the chance of side effects, namely, flushing. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

July 1, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
During my last visit to my physician, I commented that since taking Lipitor I have had sleepless nights. He recommended I start taking it in the morning rather than before bedtime as I had been. I am willing to do this as long as the drug will be as effective if I take it in the morning.

DEAR READER:
Lipitor will work the same regardless of what time of day it is taken or even if it is taken with or without food. In my experience most physicians recommend some medications be taken in the morning and others at night simply to reduce the number of pills taken simultaneously and to reduce the chance of drug interactions. If your physician has said you can safely take the Lipitor in the morning, I recommend you take his advice. If that fails to stop the sleeplessness, perhaps you could successfully be switched to another cholesterol lowering medication. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

June 20, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I never fail to read your column in my daily newspaper for your good advice, although your article about niacin being an excellent choice for a non-prescription treatment for cholesterol was rather confusing to me.

The only niacin a person can buy without a prescription is the non-flushing kind that does nothing for high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. The one that helps is Niaspan that requires a prescription and can definitely cause flushing — to the degree that some people cannot take it at all.

Can you please clear this up?

DEAR READER:
Non-flushing niacin contains an ingredient called inositol which does nothing for reducing cholesterol levels and may prevent the niacin from working correctly. Straight niacin or sustained-release niacin is available over-the-counter and does [Read more...]

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Daily Column

May 14, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have read and enjoyed your column for many years. I have also successfully tried most of your home remedies.

I have a question that I cannot seem to find an answer to. Can calcium and fish oil be taken at the same time? I find it easier to remember if I take all my pills at once but worry that I am not getting all the possible benefits.

DEAR READER:
As far as I know, there is no problem taking fish oil and calcium together. The benefits should not be adversely affected. If you are worried about taking medications together, I suggest you speak to your pharmacist who will be able to help. He or she should know of any possible dangers or complications that may occur between two or more medications taken at the same time.

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Don’t sweat it out

February 26, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am writing to you about a problem my husband has been experiencing for several months. He wakes up in the middle of the night covered in sweat. It is similar to night sweats experienced by many menopausal women.

He is 41, in great physical shape, has high triglycerides and takes several medications (Niaspan, half an 81 mg aspirin, and Pravachol). He also has borderline hypertension that he is trying to control with diet.

The sweats happen whether he takes his medication or not. They seem to appear more on days when he has exercised very hard. Is this a sign of some type of health problem? What can he do about it?
[Read more...]

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Add niacin only with physician approval

February 14, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am writing concerning the letter a gentleman wrote regarding his wife’s high triglyceride level. He said that when she started with a niacin regimen, her triglyceride level was lowered considerably. He did not mention whether she was on any prescription medication during this time.

I take Lipitor for high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels and would like to try this approach. However, since niacin can cause side effects, I don’t want to try it until I know it will not adversely interact with the Lipitor. Any thoughts on this?
[Read more...]

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High cholesterol helped by low fat diet

February 7, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My husband has high cholesterol and his doctor at the clinic said that if he couldn’t get it down on his own and refused to take medication, he wanted him to sign a release stating this fact. The doctor told him to take niacin and drink a half glass of red wine each night to help lower his levels. My husband thinks this is enough but continues to eat a great deal of cheese, bacon and salami. I’m afraid for him. Am I justified?

DEAR READER: Unfortunately, yes. However, your husband appears to be willing to make some modifications. He has taken a step in the right direction by using niacin. For appropriate benefits from this vitamin, he should be taking 1000-1500 mg every day (500-750 mg twice daily works best).
[Read more...]

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