Dear people, Pharmacy: I have been on Ozympic for 12 weeks. At first I was very nauseous and tired, but I lost 18 pounds.
I was tired for two days after the injection. Then I feel better for the rest of the week. I’m on the 0.5 milligram dose, and it has greatly reduced my cravings. My classes have shrunk a lot. I feel like I eat to live instead of living to eat. For the first time in my life, I can eat responsibly.
As a result, I have more energy to exercise. I went from no exercise to an hour a day, and I am forever grateful for this drug. I don’t think about food every waking moment. I can focus on the day.
Ozympic was the first drug that got me over my sugar cravings. I couldn’t do that before. I am diabetic so this is amazing work. I look forward to the next A1c.
A. Thank you for telling us about your experience. The Food and Drug Administration has approved Ozpic to help people with type 2 diabetes use diet and exercise to effectively control their blood sugar. Evidence suggests that it may also reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems. We believe that the next glycated hemoglobin (“A1c”) measurement will show your blood sugar levels much higher than before.
We are very sorry to hear that people without diabetes are using Ozympic to lose weight. This has created a shortage for people who depend on this drug to control blood glucose levels.
Dear people, Pharmacy: Can you comment on the new findings about donanemab? In a Phase 3 clinical trial, I read that “donamab reduced clinical decline by 35% compared to placebo on the primary outcome measure and reduced ability to perform daily activities by 40%.” What exactly does that mean?
A. Eli Lilly has made headlines with its new Alzheimer’s drug donanemab study. Hopefully, the company will provide more details soon to better evaluate the benefits of the drug.
All participants in the experiment performed worse on cognitive tests as the study progressed. However, those on donanemab declined somewhat more slowly. Whether this will keep such patients out of nursing homes remains to be seen.
Dear people, Pharmacy: I was on a PPI for years, starting with omeprazole. When I tried to log out, I experienced the rehab effect.
Someone told me to try Pepcid to help with my relapsing heart attack. I’ve been taking one Pepcid pill every day for years, without worrying about dementia or other problems from PPIs.
A. Pepcid (famotidine) inhibits stomach acid production in a different way than proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole. Famotidine is a histamine (H2) blocker. Because histamine stimulates the production of stomach acid, H2 antagonists such as famotidine and cimetidine (Tagamet) relieve heartburn symptoms and heal ulcers.
Because famotidine is less potent, it is less likely to cause the adverse effects of some PPIs. You can learn a lot more about managing heartburn through diet and non-drug methods, as well as OTC and prescription medications, in our “Overcoming Indigestion.” This online resource addresses excess gas, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and diarrhea. Available under the Health eGuides tab. www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graydon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803 or email them at their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. His new book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”
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