My doctor told me firmly I should try to quit. The next year, he prescribed Chantix.

I filled the prescription, but in my mind I had no intention of quitting. The information with the pills said I did not have to stop smoking immediately; I could pick a stop date and start the meds and work up to that date.

I never picked a date because I didn’t think it would work. I would just have to tell my doctor and family that I’d tried again and failed. You can’t imagine my surprise when it started working!

After several weeks, the drug took away that absolute panic I felt when I thought I couldn’t have a cigarette. That panic is what kept me from quitting in the past.

I gradually started to lose interest in lighting up, or would light up and take two puffs and then put it out. I moved my smoking area outside and just never went out there to light up.

It has been more than two years. I do not smoke anymore. That is a downright miracle! So when you report the side effects, keep my story in mind. Chantix can help some people quit without causing suicidal thoughts or other bad side effects. I am still in shock that it worked for me!

Reply: Congratulations! Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do
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for your health.

Chantix does help people stop smoking. It has some potentially serious side effects, however. They include suicidal preoccupation, depression or panic, agitation, anger or violence, paranoia and hallucinations.

Q: I’ve had a cold and have been coughing and stuffed up for days. I have read that using nasal sprays can be addictive. Cough medicines are not helping much either. I would prefer some natural approaches that don’t cause rebound congestion. What can you suggest?

A: The usual ingredient in cough syrup, dextromethorphan, is no better than placebo for kids and only modestly effective for adults (Journal of Family Practice, October 2009). Natural alternatives that may provide some relief include tea made of thyme or ginger. Elderberry and Chinese herbs such as Andrographis or Astragalus also may be helpful.

Q: I have been treated for an overactive bladder by two urologists. I took several different prescription medications with no relief but many side effects.

I told my doctors that I have noticed that if I take two Advils at bedtime, I get through the night without going to the bathroom.

The urologists had never heard of this, but they said there should be no problem with two Advils daily. Do you agree?

A: A double-blind study in Urology (October 2008) determined that men with enlarged prostates had half as many nighttime bathroom trips when they took Celebrex. Advil and Celebrex are both NSAIDs. However, they could raise blood pressure, increase the risk of heart attack or cause stomach ulcers if taken long term.

Testimony: I burned my thumb on a pan of roasted veggies. I remembered your advice and reached for the tamari soy sauce. (I had a low-sodium variety.)

To my dismay, when I applied it to my thumb, it didn’t work to ease the pain as it has in the past. I was puzzled and tried it a few more times, but got no pain relief.

I looked in the cupboard and spotted Bragg Liquid Aminos (a substitute for soy sauce, also made from soy beans) and sprayed some on. I got instant relief, and I mean instant! I was back to my knitting in half an hour.

Reply: Thanks for the clue. Most readers have reported that soy sauce eases the pain of a burn, but it may require a certain amount of sodium. Bragg Liquid Aminos has 30 percent to 40 percent more sodium than low-sodium tamari. A serious burn should get medical attention, of course.

Testimony: I am a 39-year-old nurse who is experiencing drastic hair loss. I started taking atenolol for high blood pressure about four months ago. One month after beginning the med, I started slowly losing my hair.

I am sometimes afraid to brush my hair for fear that it will all come out. It comes out so easily. I worry about it every day, though I’m sure that the constant worry also contributes to even more hair loss.

I have asked the doctors that I work with, and their only advice is to start exercising and try to get off the atenolol altogether. I am going to take that advice, because my biggest fear is losing my hair.

Reply: No wonder you worry. Losing a lot of hair is not a pleasant experience.

As you have concluded, atenolol is probably the culprit. What’s more, there is considerable controversy about the effectiveness of atenolol for treating hypertension (The Lancet, Nov. 6, 2004).

A surprising number of medications can cause hair loss as a side effect. We have listed many in the Guide to Hair and Nail Care we are sending you. We also are including our Guide to Blood Pressure Treatment, with a number of scientifically supported nondrug approaches.

If diet, exercise and other natural approaches are not adequate for blood pressure control, there are other medicines for hypertension that may be less likely to cause hair loss.

Q: I have found that drinking Earl Grey tea for a few days seems to trigger nighttime leg cramps. I used to use special soap my sister brought back from France. Her friend in Paris swore that putting it under the sheets would eliminate the cramps, and I find it helps.

When the fragrance seemed to disappear, I started using a very fragrant body lotion. It relieved my leg cramps the same as soap. I think, for me, it’s a form of aromatherapy.

A: Your report is the first we have heard of soap under the sheets being a leg-cramp remedy in another country. We have heard from many readers in the U.S. who find this approach helpful.

Earl Grey tea can cause muscle cramps in susceptible people (The Lancet, April 27, 2002). This is because the flavor (oil of bergamot) can interfere with potassium moving in and out of muscle cells.

Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Write to them in care of their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com