Q: In the beginning of the pandemic, my physician prescribed Voltaren gel for arthritis in my thumbs and wrists. I used it for 3 weeks, and it actually helped.
Then sooner or later our cat was not proper, appearing listless and never consuming. We took her to the vet and found her creatinine was over 3 and her blood urea nitrogen (BUN) over 100. She was close to demise.
The yr earlier than, all her blood work was regular. The vets couldn’t perceive the way it might change a lot in lower than a yr.
She spent 5 days within the hospital and needed to get common subcutaneous fluid infusions for six months. Her kidney operate finally got here again to regular, however all this care value about $4,000.
What occurred was Voltaren gel residue received on her fur from my pores and skin after I petted her. Then she would groom herself, which meant she was getting the drug. I discovered an article about this in a veterinary journal, however our vets had by no means heard of it. Now that Voltaren Arthritis Topical Gel is obtainable over-the-counter, your readers with pets may need to know this.
A: Thanks for sharing your story. We’re relieved to listen to your cat has recovered. Cats are very delicate to NSAIDs like ibuprofen, naproxen or diclofenac (Voltaren). What’s extra, our veterinary consultants warn that each canine and cats can get into hassle in the event that they lick sure topical medicines, like hormones, corticosteroids or minoxidil, off their house owners’ pores and skin.
To maintain your cat protected, you may need to think about different methods to handle your arthritis ache in addition to topical NSAIDs. In our eGuide to Options for Arthritis we talk about a number of house treatments together with herbs corresponding to ashwagandha, boswellia, turmeric, ginger, stinging nettle, MSM and SAMe. This on-line useful resource could also be discovered below the Well being eGuides tab at PeoplesPharmacy.com.
Q: Earlier this yr you wrote about granuloma annulare (GA). I didn’t know what it was, however I’ve skilled many pores and skin situations over time.
I discover that utilizing Selsun Blue shampoo with selenium sulfide 1 p.c as a bodywash is absolutely useful. It alleviates itching instantly and dries out rashes. Ultimately, the pores and skin drawback goes away.
The pores and skin is our largest organ. It sweats out, expels and displays what goes into the physique, so consuming proper can be necessary.
A: We’ve not discovered any analysis indicating that granuloma annulare would reply to Selsun Blue. The ingredient on this dandruff shampoo (selenium sulfide) might assist ease the itching and scaling of seborrheic dermatitis. Different readers have used it to deal with rosacea, eczema and jock itch.
Medical doctors don’t know what causes GA. These spherical, raised, reddish areas usually are not contagious.
Some folks inform us that Vagisil with resorcinol for vaginal yeast infections can be useful for GA. Dermatologists don’t have a regular therapy, however pentoxifylline, a drug for peripheral artery illness, exhibits some promise (Journal of Dermatological Remedy, June 2021).
You’re proper that eating regimen might play a job. Typically GA is related to diabetes. As well as, Japanese docs reported success in a affected person who adopted a strict lipid-lowering eating regimen (Dermatology Sensible & Conceptual, Jan. 31, 2014).
Contact the Graedons at peoplespharmacy.com.