Ask Dr. H | Stick with Norvasc
Question: I have been taking Norvasc for high blood pressure for a number of years, but my dentist recently urged me to change to a different medicine because he said it can cause bone loss in my jaw. Do you agree?
Mitchell Hecht is a physician specializing in internal medicine. Send questions to him at: "Ask Dr. H.," Box 767787, Atlanta, Ga. 30076.
Answer: No. Your dentist's suggestion has to do with wanting to reduce your risk of a rare bone-loss condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). It's a rare condition linked to the use of bone-building drugs like Zometa, Aredia and Fosamax - particularly the intravenous forms. But Norvasc use has nothing to do with ONJ.
A tortuous colon can impede colonoscopy
Question: I am a 53-year-old healthy female who recently underwent a colonoscopy three years after the initial test revealed several polyps. But the doctor was able to examine only the lower third of my colon because he said it was too tortuous to pass the colonoscope. I immediately received a barium enema. Why did my colon change in three years to such a degree?Answer: A tortuous colon can either be a normal anatomical variation or an acquired condition leading to a colon of abnormal length. Chronic constipation is the leading cause of an acquired tortuous colon.
This doesn't develop overnight, so I suspect that you probably had it three years ago. While the condition won't reverse itself, it may still be possible to try a colonoscopy at your next visit. Bowel wall perforation is the biggest worry here.
A double-contrast barium enema is not as sensitive in detecting small polyps and colon wall lesions, and it won't allow the doctor to be able to remove a polyp or tissue for biopsy.
Mitchell Hecht is a physician specializing in internal medicine. Send questions to him at: "Ask Dr. H.," Box 767787, Atlanta, Ga. 30076.
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