Who should be getting the Flu Vaccine?

Flu season is generally from October through March with January-February being the peak.  Generally, the indications for influenza vaccination include: Children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years dults older than 50 years People of any age with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, respiratory problems, or cardiac problems. Pregnant women People living… Continue reading Who should be getting the Flu Vaccine?

I have itchiness and flakey skin from my eyebrows for 3 weeks. I used to wash my face with neutrogena soap and changed to a gentler soap (aveeno) but that hasn’t helped. My eyebrows look a little bit red and swollen with flakey skin in the hairs. It itches more after I shower and when I rub it, more skin falls off. What do I do?

It sounds like you have a case of “seborrheic dermatitis” of the eyebrow.  This is more commonly known as “dandruff.”  Treatment should be with an anti-dandruff shampoo such as:   Treat by lathering dandruff shampoo such as Head and Shoulders (pyrithione zinc based), Nizoral (ketokonazole based), or Selsun Blue (selenium sulfide based).  If symptoms do… Continue reading I have itchiness and flakey skin from my eyebrows for 3 weeks. I used to wash my face with neutrogena soap and changed to a gentler soap (aveeno) but that hasn’t helped. My eyebrows look a little bit red and swollen with flakey skin in the hairs. It itches more after I shower and when I rub it, more skin falls off. What do I do?

I have HIV and the doc put on medication to fight the virus. She mentioned a few reactions that I should be looking out for because she says the drugs can be toxic. What should I watch out for?

There are several drug side effects that can be potentially fatal: Lactic acidosis when using any of the NRTIs  (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) causing nausea, vomiting, hyperventilation, very low blood pressure, rapid pulse Stevens Johnson syndrome with any of the NNRTIs (nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) causing fever, sore throat, ulcers in the mouth/nose/genitals, rash and… Continue reading I have HIV and the doc put on medication to fight the virus. She mentioned a few reactions that I should be looking out for because she says the drugs can be toxic. What should I watch out for?

I have peripheral vascular disease and my doctor recommended PLETAL. How does that pill work and help me?

Pletal (Cilostazol) is one of the recommended drugs used for treating peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and it works in two ways: 1) It inhibits platelet aggregation thereby decreasing the likely hood of clots in your peripheral blood vessels. 2) It directly dilates arteries to improve blood flow. Pletal has been shown in scientific studies to… Continue reading I have peripheral vascular disease and my doctor recommended PLETAL. How does that pill work and help me?

I had sex this weekend and didn’t use protection. What are my options?

Plan B (levonorgestrel) is the recommended method of emergency contraception if used soon enough after unprotected sexual intercourse.   It is maximally effective 12 hrs after unprotected intercouse, but can work up to 120 hours.  Most pharmacies have them available without a prescription.  After 120 hours, a copper intrauterine device is an effective emergency contrception tool… Continue reading I had sex this weekend and didn’t use protection. What are my options?