Q Adderall suddenly stopped working for me and others. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 54 and this medication has changed my life by improving my concentration and mood.
Then it just stopped working. It feels like a sugar pill. I read posts on Reddit and an article in the New York Times that others were having the same problem. I thought maybe it was a problem with generics. Neither my doctor nor my pharmacist received that feedback. When I called another pharmacist, she said she was aware of the problem.
It seems that all of these Adderall problems coincided with the deficiency, so there may be a connection. This is very frustrating.
A. The shortage of Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts) has been ongoing since fall 2022. Other readers have also complained that generic Adderall does not work as expected.
One person wrote: “It’s like I’m taking NOTHING. My professional life is suffering. My relationship at home is suffering. My dogs don’t even want to be near me. I really don’t know what to do.”
The Food and Drug Administration expects the shortage to ease soon, but when we checked their website, we found that the drug is “currently still in short supply.”
Unfortunately, many other medicines are also in short supply. Neither the FDA nor any other health organization is able to solve this problem. It is an ongoing scandal.
Q My husband was diagnosed with prediabetes years ago. He was intrigued by the possibilities of a continuous glucose monitor, but was reluctant to pursue it when he learned about the cost and the lack of coverage from insurance.
Why won’t insurers cover the cost of something that could prevent many people from developing diabetes? I can’t ignore the fact that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic would be much more expensive than a CGM if he were to develop diabetes.
A. Insurance companies are a bit shortsighted when it comes to prevention vs. treatment. If using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) could help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in people with prediabetes, it would promote health and save money. This technology gives the wearer real-time feedback on how meals affect blood sugar.
Coming soon will be an over-the-counter CGM called Stelo from Dexcom. Such monitors can help people figure out which foods raise their blood sugar. People react differently to foods like rye bread or ice cream.
To learn more about how to prevent prediabetes from developing into type 2 diabetes, read our “Preventing and Treating Diabetes eGuide.” This online resource can be found under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
Q I’ve read that herpes zoster is a risk factor for dementia. And what about herpes simplex? Like zoster, it’s the “gift that keeps on giving.” I would suspect it carries similar risks.
At 75, I have had both diseases. I have had shingles three or four times over the years, but not since I got the Zostavax and later Shingrix vaccine. After battling herpes for 50 years, I am doing well taking valacyclovir daily. It prevents outbreaks.
Does being infected with these two herpes viruses for years before vaccination and prophylaxis put me at an even higher risk of developing dementia?
A. There is growing evidence that herpes viruses are associated with an increased risk of dementia (Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, March 12, 2024). The shingles vaccine appears to offer some protection, and antiviral drugs such as valacyclovir may also have some benefit (Neurotherapeutics, April 2018). You may want to listen to our free podcast on this topic. It’s “Show 1394: Viruses, Vaccines, and Alzheimer’s Disease.”
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In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write them at King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them through their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their latest book is “The Biggest Mistakes Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”
(c) 2024 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
