GRAEDONS | The People's Pharmacy Persistent music in head could be an ominous sound

Q. My mother suffers from constant music in her ears. Sometimes songs repeat themselves over and over again. What causes this? I know you addressed this once before, but I didn't need this information then. Can she take anything to rid herself of this annoyance?
A. Please have your mother see a neurologist. Readers have taken us to task for suggesting that hearing music could be an auditory hallucination. But we're not talking about simply getting a song stuck in your head.
Persistent sounds could be a symptom of a serious condition such as a brain tumor or Parkinson's disease. The doctor will also need to know what medicines she takes, because ringing and other sounds in the ears are sometimes a reaction to medication.
In response to a previous column on this topic, one reader wrote: "You might have saved a life. Singing in my head was the main symptom of my benign brain tumor. I almost died before it was correctly diagnosed."
Q. I am a very fit, athletic 26-year-old, maintaining a strict healthy diet and a workout schedule consisting of five to seven days per week of intense hard work. I feel better than ever. Before this, I was a heavy weightlifter and weighed 40 pounds more.
The problem is that my sex drive isn't what it used to be. I do get erections with my girlfriend, but not consistently, and it takes longer.
I never had this problem when I was lifting weights. I ate everything in sight and had an incredibly high libido level. Having an erection was the least of my worries. But I was in college, and my only stress was to look good and study.
Now that I'm working, I believe stress might be a big reason for the decrease in libido. I'm thinking about taking testosterone supplements to increase my sex drive and produce erections consistently. Are there any side effects?
A. Stress can certainly interfere with libido. But health problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure can also cause erection difficulties. You seem healthy, but you might want to schedule a checkup to make sure.
Testosterone might boost libido, but it can have side effects such as acne, prostate enlargement and male pattern baldness. It can also change blood cholesterol levels unfavorably.
If your own testosterone levels are low, testosterone might solve the problem. But it should be prescribed and overseen by an experienced physician who can determine the appropriate dose and monitor for problems.
We are sending you our guides to drugs that affect sexuality and treating sexual dysfunction for a more thorough discussion of testosterone and other therapies. Anyone who would like copies, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. YP-96, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, N.C. 27717-2027.
Q. My eyebrows and the surrounding areas are itchy and flaky. I've tried Vaseline and Eucerin, but they haven't helped. Do you have any suggestions?
A. Itchy flakes around the eyebrows or in the crease from nose to mouth are sometimes because of seborrheic dermatitis. This can also cause dandruff on the scalp. Ask your doctor if this is your problem.
A new prescription cleanser called Ovace is available for seborrheic dermatitis. It kills the yeast believed to be responsible for this condition. Doctors sometimes prescribe anti-fungal cream or lotion, or mild hydrocortisone cream.
XIn their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 888 Seventh Ave., New York, N.Y. 10019, or e-mail them at pharmacy@mindspring.com or via their Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.org.
& copy; 2003, King Features Syndicate Inc.