AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.
Question I hear ads for weight loss medication that block cortisol and would like to know how they work and are they safe. What about other drug interaction. I am on several medications.
Answer Dear Nancy
I would advise you to ignore such ads as there is no scientific proof that the products advertised block the action of cortisol. If they did it could cause severe problems- we need cortisol and there is no real evidence that elevated cortisol levels are really associted with obesity, anyway.
The igredients of these products appear to be relatievely innocuous but as you probably are aware, herbal and natural remedies can interact badly with conventional drugs. If you could tell me what drugs you take and the names of products that you are considering I may be able to advise. However, my advice would be save your money.
Regards
Dr Alan Galbraith
NB I am not against herbal/natural remedies and have included some of the well recognised ones in my textbook on conventional drugs.
