Joe Graedon

Durham

Co-Founder at The People's Pharmacy

Contributor at Seattle Times

Friend of Tom Ferguson, patient advocate, co-founder of http://t.co/I5juJL1U

Articles

Could a nicotine patch help delay cognitive decline?

1 week ago | spokesman.com | Joe Graedon |Teresa Graedon

Q. My brother is approaching 81 and is having difficulties with his memory. His doctor has prescribed donepezil. As far as I can tell, investigation on drugs that help with dementia and Alzheimer’s is inconclusive. I have been reading more and more about the nicotine patch. I have great respect for your opinion. What are your thoughts about the nicotine patch? Are there any clinical trials that might establish effectiveness? We have a family history.
The Hidden Cancer Costs of CT Scans

1 week ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Are doctors overusing Computed Tomography Imaging? CT or “CAT” scans were performed over 90 million times in 2023. That’s according to a study just published in JAMA Internal Medicine, April 14, 2025. The name CAT scan sounds innocuous, but in fact it represents ionizing radiation, similar to X-rays. According to these researchers, those CT scans will likely lead to more than 100,000 future cancers. Don’t get me wrong, though. There are times when such imaging is absolutely essential.
Hidden Hazards of MRIs

1 week ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Have you ever had an MRI to diagnose osteoarthritis of the hip or check for cancer or an aneurysm? MRI or magnetic resonance imaging is considered much safer than CT scans that require ionizing radiation. MRIs do not use ionizing radiation. They can be an effective way to detect problems, especially in soft tissue. Doctors may use them to diagnose a stroke or or joint problem. In 2015, experts estimated that 20 million MRIs were conducted in the U.S. each year.
Nicotine Patch for Alzheimer’s-Could Nicotine Help You Remember?

1 week ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon |Alzheimer’s disease

For decades researchers have considered nicotine a serious health problem. It is, after all, the addicting compound in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Humans have apparently been using tobacco as a drug for over 12,000 years (Nature Human Behavior, Feb. 2022). It has been smoked, snuffed and chewed. More recently, drug companies have created the nicotine patch. It is supposed to help people stop smoking. Could it also help people who are suffering from Alzheimer disease?
How to Eat Your Way to Lower Cholesterol

1 week ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Doctors frequently tell their patients with elevated cholesterol levels to change their diet. The problem is that people rarely get specific details about what to eat. They are told what not to eat. That usually boils down to avoiding saturated fat. Is there a better cholesterol-lowering diet plan? One reader found a food that seemed to help quite a bit. Could Golden Milk Lower Cholesterol? Q. I’ve been on statins for decades, experiencing side effects with every one I’ve tried.
End Leg Cramps At Night (Nocturnal Leg Cramps) Fast!

1 week ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Leg cramps are nasty whenever they occur. Leg cramps at night are even worse. That’s because they can strike without any notice. You can be fast asleep one moment and the next be writhing in agony. Sadly, neither health professionals nor the Food and Drug Administration have come up with effective treatments. Maybe that’s because nocturnal leg cramps have not been perceived as worthy of research dollars.
Some antidepressants sabotage post-op pain relief

2 weeks ago | spokesman.com | Joe Graedon |Teresa Graedon

Q.I recently had to have additional surgery after a total knee replacement. Nothing the hospital gave me for pain helped at all. My neighbor told me that after her surgery, she had the same experience. Her doctor told her that certain individuals on antidepressants have an issue with opioids not helping with pain. The research was done at Stanford in 2019. I’m only taking Tylenol, and I am still in a lot of pain. Why don’t surgeons know that antidepressants make opioids ineffective? A.
Tincture of Thyme Fended Off Cold

2 weeks ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Physicians don’t usually learn much in medical school about herbs, home remedies or even dietary supplements. As a result, they often tend to be skeptical of these unconventional approaches to healing. That’s appropriate in many situations, as the evidence to support the use of home remedies or even botanical medicines can be weak. Can Home Remedies or Botanical Treatments Be Helpful? Sometimes, though, doctors take the opportunity to learn something from their patients.
Do Antidepressants Prevent Pain Relief After Surgery?

2 weeks ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

Surgery can be quite painful. Thank goodness for anesthesia! Imagine what it would be like if you had to have an appendectomy or knee replacement surgery while wide awake. Ouch! Fortunately, you can sleep right through such operations. But once the surgery is over and you do wake up, you will need strong pain medicine. Some antidepressants prevent pain relief because they interfere with the analgesic effect. Do surgeons know about this drug interaction? How Do Antidepressants Prevent Pain Relief?
Online Prescribing: Convenience or Catastrophe?

2 weeks ago | peoplespharmacy.com | Joe Graedon

For over a century, patients received medicines after seeing a doctor. First, you had to call to make an appointment. That usually took several days, but eventually you would end up in an exam room. Then the doctor would listen to your story. Eventually there would be a physical examination. The physician would verify your blood pressure, listen to your lungs and heart, look in your ears and check your reflexes.