People’s Pharmacy: OK to have daughter’s thyroid checked

Q. I have just begun treatment for hypothyroidism, and for the first time in more than 20 years I feel like I am emerging from a fog. I was diagnosed with depression and attention-deficit disorder for years. My mental clarity and concentration were terrible.

Since starting on Synthroid, I feel like a new person. My question is about my daughter. She is 17 and has some of the same symptoms. Is she too young to have her thyroid tested? I would hate for her to go through life feeling like I did.

A. Thyroid problems can run in families, so it makes sense to have her thyroid function checked. Depression has many causes and is not always recognized as a symptom of insufficient thyroid hormone.

Lack of concentration and even clumsiness can be symptoms of thyroid disorder, along with more classic symptoms such as fatigue, constipation, hair loss, weight gain and cold intolerance.

We are sending you our Guide to Thyroid Hormones, which describes symptoms of thyroid imbalance and treatment options as well as how to interpret lab results. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (58 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. T-4, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It also can be downloaded for $2 from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. I read your article on suppressing sex drive in men. Are the same options effective for women?

My new girlfriend has an extremely high sex drive (yes, I am blessed), but we’d like to hold off until we know that we have a real future together. Your advice will be appreciated.

A. Many prescription drugs lower libido as a side effect. Antidepressants such as Prozac or Zoloft can do this, but such medications carry other risks.

The hormone progesterone is notorious for reducing sexual desire, but it, too, has numerous side effects including blood clots, breast tenderness, headaches, dizziness and depression. One alternative is chaste tree berry extract (Vitex agnus-castus). This herb has mild progesteronelike effects and is reputed to reduce libido. There is no clinical research to support this claim, however.

Q. I recently read your answer to the person with smelly feet. I’d like to tell you what worked for me for 30 years. I was a waitress and had to wear solid shoes and nylons for long hours. My feet ached and smelled so bad, I couldn’t stand them. I tried everything. Finally, Campho-Phenique worked wonders. It may help someone else.

A. Campho-Phenique contains camphor and phenol as main ingredients along with eucalyptus oil. It is primarily used for relieving minor skin irritations, cuts, scrapes and insect bites. Perhaps the antibacterial and antifungal nature of these old-fashioned ingredients helped clear up a lingering infection responsible for foot odor.

Q. I have tried many statin drugs for high cholesterol but had muscle pain with all of them. Two years ago my doctor prescribed cholestyramine. It is in powder form, and I take one packet a day in juice or water. It is terrific and has lowered my cholesterol with no muscle pain.

A. Cholestyramine was a common prescription drug for high cholesterol long before the statins were invented. It binds to bile acids in the digestive tract, which leads to lowering of cholesterol. Side effects may include constipation, flatulence and digestive upset.