My teenage daughter has been taking antibiotics to treat her acne for years, but she's also had terrible GI problems (stomachaches and diarrhea) for much of that time. I didn't think of a connection until recently, but now I wonder if the antibiotics might be responsible.
She has taken Prilosec, as per her doctor's recommendation, but it really hasn't helped. Is there anything else that might help her overcome these symptoms? Her dermatologist says if she stops the minocycline she is taking, her acne will come back, and I hate for her to have to deal with that at the start of the school year.
It is possible that years of antibiotic treatment have altered the ecology of her digestive tract, contributing to her pain and diarrhea. Antibiotics kill good bacteria as well as the bad ones.
Repopulating the digestive tract with good bacteria can sometimes help reverse that problem. Such probiotic bacteria may be found in yogurt with active live cultures or capsules such as Culturelle, Enzymatic Therapy or Florastor.
Can Synthroid and ferrous sulfate be taken at the same time of the day?
No. Iron supplements such as ferrous sulfate interfere with the absorption of Synthroid (levothyroxine), taken to treat thyroid problems. Wait at least two hours after Synthroid before taking iron, calcium or other minerals.
I used to have continuous, terrible canker sores. I discovered that my toothpaste was the culprit. Since I brush my teeth daily, it was a never-ending cycle.
There is an ingredient (sodium lauryl sulfate) in all the name-brand toothpastes that can cause problems for sensitive people. Switching brands made an immediate difference. I now buy my toothpaste at health-food stores and almost never have canker sores anymore.
Others may want to try this approach, eliminating the problem rather than treating the symptoms. It can't hurt, and it might help.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a detergent found in toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream, bubble bath and carwash soaps. Research on the effects of SLS on the teeth and mouth is complicated and contradictory.
Some studies from the 1990s suggested that SLS might contribute to canker sores, while other trials showed no impact. More recently, SLS has been implicated in wear on tooth surfaces and irritation in the mouth (Swedish Dental Journal, January-March 2003).
Some people may be more susceptible than others. Another reader offered this story: "I used to have canker sores all the time, and then I read about SLS in toothpaste. I searched around for toothpaste that did not contain this ingredient. I started using Biotene toothpaste, and I have not had a canker sore since I started using this product. It also reduces dry mouth."
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: PeoplesPharmacy.com.
