Certain medications can cause bad breath

Q. Can medications cause bad breath? My husband takes pills for heart trouble, high blood pressure and diabetes. His breath is really bad, and mouthwash or breath fresheners don't seem to help.
A. According to a recent review in the British Medical Journal (Sept. 23, 2006), some drugs may indeed contribute to halitosis. Medications that cause dry mouth can create conditions that foster odor-causing germs. Oral infections are often the source of bad breath, so he should see his dentist.
If bacteria in the stomach (Helicobacter pylori) are the problem, antibiotic treatment can help. Diabetes that is out of control can create a distinctive breath odor. Heart medicines containing nitrates (nitroglycerin and related drugs) are occasionally linked to bad breath, but such drugs are crucial and must not be discontinued.
Q. My mom has just entered the "doughnut hole." For October, November and December, her prescription-drug bill increased to 800 per month.
This has been the biggest boondoggle ever put over on seniors. Even though she got some benefit earlier this year, she has to keep paying the insurance premiums out of her Social Security (only 305 per month).
The cost of drugs has increased by at least 20 percent. Congress should be run out of town for approving such an awful plan.
This month I officially became a senior myself. My health is pretty good, but I worry about the future for her and for myself.
A. Your mom's situation is not unusual. Many senior citizens have fallen into the "doughnut hole" of Medicare Part D. The assistance offered by the federal government for prescription drugs dries up when the total bill reaches 2,250. Some have seen their monthly drug expense go from under 100 to more than 500 per month.
Some people with exceptionally costly medicines will rack up more than 5,100 in total for their drugs before the end of the year. They will come out of the doughnut hole and get significant help with further medication costs.
Others will not emerge from the doughnut hole before the year ends. Plans start over in January. In the meantime, some people might want to consider buying medicines from Canada.
Q. I found some Levaquin 500 mg tabs in the back of my medicine chest. I was looking for something to help with my chronic back pain. What is Levaquin for, and how should it be taken? I have forgotten all the information on it.
A. Levaquin is an antibiotic. It will not help your aching back. With antibiotics, all the pills should be taken when they are prescribed. They should not be saved.
In 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.Peoples-Pharmacy.com.
& copy; 2006 King Features Syndicate Inc.