Prednisone by Pharmacy blog

Question: I am 35 years old and have been taking Prednisone for 4 years now. My family doctor told me that I am starting menopause that might be induced by the Prednisone. Is this typical for long use of Prednisone to have early menopause? Can you give me some infromation on this?

Answer:

Menopause is caused by a decrease in estrogen.

Prednisone can cause bone loss or osteoporosis.  Prednisone can reduce the amount of calcium available to your body for bones as well as decrease estrogen production.   Premenopausal women on long-term prednisone therapy should have a bone densi . . .

Ask an Expert: Carmen Hadley RPh, CSPI, Pharmacy and Medications

Rituxan side effects
Question: I have had several doses of Rituxan as a maintenence for non hodgskins lymphoma, the last being in Dec.2007. I have developed a problem with shortness of breath, to the point of having to use oxygen. Could this be a side effect of the Rituxan?

Answer:

Rituxan is the brand name for rituximab. Rare reports of bronchiolitis obliterans or small airway scarring have occurred six months after rituximab therapy.  Pneumonitis or inflammation of the lung has been reported three months after rituximab therapy.   Your specific symptom of shortness of bre . . .

Ask an Expert: Carmen Hadley RPh, CSPI, Pharmacy and Medications

Hydrocortizone cream or ointment
Question: Should I use hydrocortizone in a cream or in an ointment?

Answer:

Creams and ointments contain different proportions of oil to water. An ointment is a topical preparation of a medication that contains water in an oil base. A cream is a topical preparation of a medication that contains either oil in a water base or water in an oil base (depending on the prepara . . .

Ask an Expert: Carmen Hadley RPh, CSPI, Pharmacy and Medications