Medscape's Ask the Experts allows you to ask members of a panel of leading experts for advice or information. You also have the opportunity to share your own views and insights by clicking the "Discuss this" link at the top of each response.

• Do Blood Transfusions Affect the INR? Whether or not the international normalized ratio (INR) will be "preserved" depends on the type of blood transfusion given.
  Ask the Experts, November 2009
• Is Red Yeast Rice Effective in Lowering Lipid Levels? A recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine has prompted clinicians to seek more information about this controversial supplement.
  Ask the Experts, November 2009
• Timing of Carotid Endarterectomy for Patients With Symptomatic High-Grade Stenosis Expert Mark Alberts, MD discusses the timing of CEA in patients with high-grade stenosis.
  Ask the Experts, October 2009
• What Risks Are Associated With High-Dose Rosuvastatin? Although some clinicians prescribe off-label, high-dose rosuvastatin, such dosing may place patients at higher risk for myopathy and renal toxicity.
  Ask the Experts, October 2009
• Do Statins Reduce a Patient's Hormone Levels? Using statins to lower cholesterol levels may benefit certain patients, but is endogenous hormone production decreased in the process?
  Ask the Experts, September 2009
• How Should We Manage Drug Interactions Between Clopidogrel and Proton-Pump Inhibitors? Patients taking clopidogrel often receive PPIs prophylactically to reduce GI bleeding risk. Recent evidence of a drug interaction suggests that this coadministration may not be safe for all patients.
  Ask the Experts, September 2009
• Does Coenzyme Q10 Relieve Statin-Induced Myopathy? Does coenzyme Q10 alleviate muscle tenderness or spasm associated with statin therapy?
  Ask the Experts, September 2009
• Can Nitroglycerin Be Given to a Patient Who Has Taken Sildenafil? Men with coronary disease have an increased prevalence of erectile dysfunction, but potentially serious drug interactions must be considered.
  Ask the Experts, June 2009
• Should Healthcare Workers Colonized With MRSA Avoid Patients? Several factors determine whether treatment or work restriction is necessary for the healthcare worker colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
  Ask the Experts, June 2009
• Should Insulin Therapy Be Adjusted for a Cardiac Stress Test? Several factors should be considered when a patient may require emergent surgery.
  Ask the Experts, May 2009
• Stenting Brain Vessels to Treat Stroke Are stents ready for prime-time stroke treatment?
  Ask the Experts, April 2009
• Triple Rule-out CTA in the Emergency Department Is triple rule-out CTA the best diagnostic modality for distinguishing the cause of chest pain in the emergency department?
  Ask the Experts, April 2009
• Is Gardasil® Recommended for Young Women Already Exposed to HPV? Many clinicians are uncertain as to whether they should recommend Gardasil vaccination to young women who have already tested positive for human papillomavirus or who have had an abnormal Pap test.
  Ask the Experts, April 2009
• Does Hypertension Cause Headaches? Robert L. Rogers, MD, discusses the causal relationship (or lack thereof) between two of the most common maladies of patients presenting to the emergency department: hypertension and headache.
  Ask the Experts, March 2009
• What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Bundles to Prevent Infection in the ICU? Bundles seem to be everywhere. Read our expert's tips on implementing bundles in the ICU.
  Ask the Experts, March 2009
• How Low Is Too Low for Suppressing the Lipid Profile With Statins? Target levels of LDL cholesterol keep going down, but should we use higher doses of statins to achieve those goals?
  Ask the Experts, March 2009
• Does Cigarette Smoking Require Special Warfarin Dosing in Patients With Weight Extremes? Limited information is available regarding the effect of cigarette smoking on warfarin requirements.
  Ask the Experts, March 2009
• What Antibiotic Covers Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) Infection? Is piperacillin/tazobactam adequate, or should you add a penicillinase-resistant penicillin?
  Ask the Experts, February 2009
• When Is Skin Testing for Penicillin Allergy Indicated? Many patients report penicillin allergies, but who is really allergic, and who needs skin testing?
  Ask the Experts, January 2009
• Is It Safe To Order Drugs From Overseas Pharmacies? Alert your patients to the dangers of Internet and overseas pharmacies.
  Ask the Experts, December 2008

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