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Expert Advice on Health and Fitness

`Can the new fat blocking diet drug help me lose 10 stubborn pounds?'

NEW FAT-BLOCKING DIET DRUG

Q I have been taking a variety of steps to lose some weight for years, and I've almost gotten to where I want to be. I work out and watch my diet, but for some reason, I can't seem to get rid of these last few pounds to reach my target weight of 155. Can the new fat-blocking diet drug help me to lose 10 stubborn pounds so that I can feel good about myself again? S.M., Camden, N.J.

A You already should feel good about yourself because you have taken significant steps to live a healthier life. However, the new fat-blocking diet drug, Xenical, was not designed with you (and others like you) in mind--dieters who want to lose about 10 pounds. The drug that blocks much of the body's intake of fat, rather than--like most diet drugs--suppressing appetite, is recommended only for those people who are severely overweight (at least 20 percent above ideal body weight). Physicians say Xenical prevents enzymes in the intestines from breaking down fat into smaller molecules that can be absorbed into the body and thereby reduces overall fat intake by about 30 percent. In essence, the diet drug cuts a person's total calorie intake.

Obesity is considered a serious health problem in the U.S.--among young and old--and doctors say it contributes to such serious conditions as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.

In your case, continue to eat properly and stick to your exercise program. You not only will eventually get rid of those hard-to-lose pounds, but you'll experience other benefits associated with physical fitness and a well-balanced diet.

GENERIC DRUGS OR BRAND-NAME DRUGS?

Q I have questions about whether to use generic drugs or brand-name drugs. Generic drugs are usually cheaper than the brand-name drugs, and I want to know if that means generic drugs are not as good and are less effective. Should I always choose the generic drugs or does it depend on the medical condition? L.J., New Orleans

A The term generic implies less expensive, lower quality and a product that's not as effective as brandname products. But doctors say this is generally not the case with pharmaceuticals. Drugs are often known by a variety of names. When a drug is first discovered, it's given a chemical name, and when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the drug for general prescribing, it's given two additional names--a generic name and a brand name, identifying it as the property of a particular manufacturer.

Doctors say generic drugs, which must be the "therapeutic equivalent" of brand-name drugs, generally do as good a job as brand-name drugs, but at a much lower cost. So far, there is no data that indicate that an FDA-approved generic drug is inferior to the brand-name ones. Even so, some doctors choose to recommend brand-name drugs because some medical conditions require particularly careful dosing.

Talk with your physician to see if a generic drug is right for you. Not all prescribed drugs have an FDA-approved generic equivalent, but the FDA publishes a book, Approved Drug Products With Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (commonly called "the Orange Book"), that lists all FDA-approved medications and identifies generic drugs that the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent to brand-name drugs. If your doctor or pharmacist doesn't have access to the book, you can find answers to your questions at www.accessdata.fda.gov/ob/default.htm on the Web.

SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF ROSACEA

Q I'm a 38-year-old woman who, as far as I know, is not allergic to anything, but my face is often red and pimply. What could be the cause of my problem that's causing so much frustration? E.B., St. Paul, Minn.

A Your problem could be the condition known as rosacea, a skin disorder that's characterized by redness, tiny pimples and broken blood vessels that are usually on the central area of the face. Doctors say the cause isn't known and those with the disorder should avoid foods that cause blood vessels in the skin to dilate--spicy foods, alcohol, coffee and other forms of caffeine. Antibiotics and tetracyclines can improve the condition, so you should see a dermatologist.

# posted by Medical Information : 3:30 AM