GRAEDONS | People's Pharmacy Take aspirin to avert heart attack, stroke

Q. I keep reading about taking aspirin on a daily basis to cut my risk of a heart attack. Now the experts are saying this daily dose of aspirin also will help cut my chance of developing breast cancer.
How much aspirin does it take to do this? Some sources recommend a low-dose aspirin, and others say you need at least one tablet daily.
A. The heart-protective effects of aspirin were discovered in the 1950s. Yet, even after all this time, there is controversy over the proper dose.
James Dalen, M.D., recently reviewed the most important clinical trials involving aspirin. He concluded that 160 mg (half a regular tablet or two 81 mg aspirins) is the most appropriate daily dose for preventing heart attacks and strokes (American Journal of Medicine, March 2006). The optimal dose for preventing cancer has not yet been determined.
Even low doses of aspirin can cause stomach irritation or ulcers in sensitive individuals. That's why your doctor should supervise any long-term aspirin regimen.
Q. I am a 25-year-old female looking for answers regarding a major decrease in libido. I have read that birth control pills can affect libido, and I understand that many women on the pill are experiencing the same problem I am.
I have been taking birth control pills for at least five years. I have been in a serious relationship for four years, and my decreased libido has been hard on our relationship. I feel bad!
I know that it is not him. I have tried switching to two different birth control pills, but I've had no success. What can you recommend?
A. An article in The Journal of Sexual Medicine (January 2006) confirms that many women on oral contraceptives experience diminished interest in sexual activity as well as reduced arousal and enjoyment. This may be linked to lower levels of testosterone. Hormone replacement therapy may have a similar impact.
Your physician might be able to suggest a different form of contraception. She might also want to check your testosterone levels.
We are sending you our Guides to Female Sexuality and Treating Sexual Dysfunction with more information on testosterone and other approaches to restore libido.
Q. My doctor told me to take half a tablet of Lipitor a day. In a magazine ad, it said not to cut tablets but didn't say why. Do you know why Lipitor shouldn't be broken?
A. Some pills have special coatings or time-release formulations that would make splitting them dangerous. Cutting such a tablet would make its absorption unpredictable.
This is not the case with Lipitor, however. Researchers at Veterans Affairs and Kaiser Permanente in California determined that splitting atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor) and simvastatin (Zocor) was an effective way to lower costs without compromising cholesterol control. The study was published in The Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy (November/December 2002).
XIn their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
& copy; 2006 King Features Syndicate Inc.