Dr. Gott: Patient Seeks Alternative to Drugs Not Covered By Health Plan

By PETER GOTT, M.D. Newspaper Enterprise Association

Dear Dr. Gott: I read your column every day. I respect your opinion.

I am just about 71 years young and in excellent health. I am 5 feet 4 inches tall and weigh 132 pounds. Besides my housework, I do light exercise twice a week and some unscheduled walking two or three times a week (mostly in the malls, shopping or looking).

Last October I had a bone density test for osteoporosis. This test showed that I had a bone density of -2.2 SD. In December 2004, my doctor prescribed Fosamax at 70 milligrams once a week. The first week, I started to have a severe reaction to this pill — bone, muscle and joint pains all day long. I needed help just to get out of bed and dress myself. After three weeks, my doctor than put me on one 5 mg Actonel each day. The reaction to this pill is not severe.

These two pills are not covered by my drug plan and are very expensive. I had a discussion with the head of the provincial drug plan. She explained to me that these drugs are quite expensive and there seems to be only limited evidence that they do any measurable good for osteoporosis, therefore they are not covered under the drug plan. However, there is a drug called Didrocal that is of the same family of drugs and is covered by the drug plan. She also suggested that increased calcium and vitamin D along with good calcium- enriched food in the diet was, in most cases, just as effective as Fosamax and Actonel.

My question to you is this: In your opinion, would Didrocal be just as effective as Fosamax and Actonel, along with calcium, vitamin D and good calcium eating habits, to try and prevent slipping from osteopenia to osteoporosis?

Dear Reader: I am not familiar with this Canadian medication, so I suggest that you follow up with your family doctor. Meanwhile, I’ll do some research!

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Osteoporosis.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Dear Dr. Gott: My rectum itches, especially at night. I took pinworm medicine. It stopped for about a week and then started again. I waited a couple of week and took another dose. Same thing happened. Is there anything else I can do? Please help.

Dear Reader: I doubt that your anal itching is caused by pinworms, unless you have identified such worms exiting from your body. I suggest that you visit your primary care physician for an exam. Perhaps your annoying symptom is caused by something as simple as hemorrhoids.

Write Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave. 4th floor, New York, NY 10016