Ask the Doctor

How do I stop my friend’s addiction to diclofenac use? Dear Doctor;My 32-year-old friend has been taking diclofenac both injection and tabs regylarly fir the lasr three years. It all started when it was prescribed for relieving toothache but eventually got addicted to it. He has no other problems like blood pressure, asthma or diabetes. He wants to get rid of it? How can my friend’s addiction be managed? BrianDear Brain, Diclofenac is a painkiller drug and does not cause addiction. Being a NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), it relieves pain effectively. Use can lead to nausea, vomiting and burning pain in abdomen. Kidney damage and peptic ulcer is another risk of long term diclofenac use. Your friend may be taking diclofenac on experiencing even mild pain anywhere in the body, which should be discouraged considering the adverse effects. But, technically speaking, it does not cause addiction where one has a strong craving to use it. He should simply avoid taking diclofenac unless there is severe pain. My baby is over releasing salivaDear Doctor;My baby is one year old but has just recently picked up on releasing excessive saliva. He had not been doing so since he was born. Could there be some problem with her glands now considering that she doesn’t seem to have any fever or colds? Claire, Nyamirambo.Dear Claire, Usually, babies start drooling about three months of age. When they start chewing foods, salivary glands are stimulated. But they are unable to swallow the saliva because that mechanism is not yet developed, hence the excess salivation. Similar to other milestones, this is variable. An older baby can develop excess salivation because of commencement of dentition. Babies tend to chew objects, which adds on to the salivation. Saliva is beneficial, it helps to expel germs from the mouth, helps in cleaning the mouth. It contains enzyme which aids in digestion of starch. Disadvantage is the constant wetness can lead to skin irritation and if excess, infections around the mouth. So far as your baby has no other problem, don’t worry, just keep him dry. However, if he has red and or swollen gums, cries while chewing, check with a dentist to exclude infection.How do I increase sexual desire?Dear Doctor;I am a 32-year-old man married for the last two years and right from the onset of marriage I have had no desire for sex. I have consulted psychiatrists and I am under medication for anxiety and depression but it is of no use. How can I increase my desire for sex? Alexis.Dear Alexis, Sex is a natural desire in individuals for procreation, which is determined by hormones. Physical and mental stress, depression, excess work and any illness are some of the common reasons for reduced sex drive at a younger age. Alcohol increases sex drive transiently. But its use over a long time affects the desire as well as performance. Antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs also diminish libido in an individual. Loss of libido can be due to neuropathy caused by diabetes or hormonal disorder such as hypothyroidism, low testosterone levels, etc. Best way to improve libido is to correct the lifestyle. Nutritious balanced diet taken at regular times, regular physical exercise, avoiding stress, alcohol and abusive drugs, complete relaxation, all help to improve libido. It is better to get investigations done for diabetes and hormonal disorders. That will ensure that a remediable disorder is treated.Is there a cure for rheumatic arthritis?Dear Doctor;I experience severe pain in my palms, knees, fingers, shoulders etc. I have a year old baby and am not even able to hold him up in my arms for long. The doctor has told me that I am suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Is there any permanent cure for rheumatoid arthritis? Anonymous.Dear Anonymous, I am sorry for your condition but unfortunately medical science has no permanent cure for rheumatoid arthritis. But you can prevent further stiffness and disability and maintain flexibility of your limbs. Regular exercises of the hands and arms, hot compression, are some of the measures that help to obtain this purpose. Use pain killers sparingly only when there is severe pain. Because using pain killers continuously can lead to peptic ulcer and kidney damage.