Alcohol may worsen her depression
Dear Dr. Gott: My daughter takes Zoloft for depression and drinks alcohol simultaneously. What are the dangers of the combination?
Dear Reader: Zoloft is generally a safe treatment for depression, although in some patients it can cause nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, insomnia, weight loss, fatigue, sexual dysfunction in males, and other side effects.
The manufacturer warns that concomitant use of Zoloft and alcohol should be discouraged because the drug is metabolized by the liver (which can be damaged by chronic alcohol consumption); also, alcohol is a depressant.
If your daughter drinks occasionally or enjoys a glass or two of wine with dinner, I doubt that the Zoloft/alcohol combination will harm her.
On the other hand, if she has a drinking problem and consumes large quantities of alcohol, she is more likely to develop problems from Zoloft. Since an alcohol-damaged liver is less able to “clear” the Zoloft, she may experience more pronounced side effects from the drug. In addition, as I mentioned, alcohol may worsen depression. Remember, too, that alcohol and many other drugs don’t mix and should not be taken together.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Reports “Mental and Emotional Illness,” “Consumer Tips on Medicine” and “Mental/Substance Abuse.” Other readers who would like copies should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 for each report to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).
Dear Dr. Gott: I had a dislocated shoulder and a rotator cuff tear. My doctor says that surgery is the only means of repair but advised that I shouldn’t undergo the procedure until the shoulder bothers me more. Can arthroscopic repair be considered and would this be the preferred way to handle the problem?
Dear Reader: The rotator cuff consists of several tissues that stabilize the shoulder. When the cuff is injured or torn (by trauma such as dislocations), pain, stiffness and loss of motion develop. These symptoms can be quite disabling and practically impossible to cure unless the rotator cuff can be surgically repaired.
In the past, this operation was a serious undertaking. Today, however, thanks to a device called the arthroscope (a tube inserted into the shoulder, in this instance), the rotator cuff can be successfully restored by a new, efficient procedure. This operation, called arthroscopy, enables a surgeon to repair damaged tendons and joints through a small incision, without the need for major surgery and convalescence.
If your rotator cuff tear is severely limiting your activities and is a constant source of pain, I’d consider the operation. Follow your orthopedist’s advice.