Q. It’s puzzling to me that, during the day, I can eat anything, and I never get heartburn. However, about two to three hours after eating dinner (not overeating), I start to get heartburn. So, I reach for my Rolaids. Two or three usually work and my heartburn is gone. This routine is repeated almost every day and has been for over two years. Is that a problem?
A. A lot depends on your diet. If you are eating a high-carbohydrate meal at dinner, it may be triggering heartburn (Digestive Diseases and Sciences, August 2006). You might try cutting the carbs so you’d need less antacid.
There are various Rolaids formulations. Many contain a combination of calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide, but the dose varies. Too much calcium carbonate over a long period of time has been linked to an increase in heart disease (Annals of Internal Medicine, April 2024).
Our “eGuide to Overcoming Digestive Disorders” could help you discover several additional solutions to your symptoms. This online resource is located under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Persistent symptoms merit a conversation with your primary care provider.
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Q. Our old dog has bad arthritis in his knees. The veterinarian prescribed carprofen, which I understand is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug a little like ibuprofen. It seems to help him hobble around a bit better, which is what we were hoping for. He can go up and down stairs now.
I am curious about one thing, though. The vet requires that we get a blood test periodically. We were told that kidney problems were a potential risk with carprofen and that we needed to monitor him for any red flags. If that is true for dogs, why don’t people need blood tests when they take similar drugs?
A. What a great question! We think that is actually a very good idea. Kidney damage is hard to detect in the early stages unless you do a blood test. People who take NSAIDs such as celecoxib, ibuprofen, meloxicam and naproxen should probably ask a physician to request such tests periodically.