Q) I know they say you should take the full prescription of antibiotics even if the pain goes away. However, I get so many side affects from antibiotics I'm not sure if I should keep taking them or not. What do you advise?

A.If the side affects of the antibiotics, or any medication for that matter, is not bothersome continue to take the medication until it is finished. However, if side effects become intolerable - that is severe diarrhea, vomiting & nausea, rashes and or swelling - discontinue the medication and phone your physician as soon as possible.

Q) I have always taken Tylenol with codeine as a pain killer whenever one was needed, with no harmful effect. Now all of a sudden I took it and got really sick to my stomach. Does this mean I can't take codeine any more, or can you react one time and not another?

A. One of the side effects of codeine is nausea. If you have not had any problems in the past the sick stomach may have been due to flu symptoms, something eaten earlier, etc. The best thing to do is try another dose later on, and if the symptoms occur again you probably need to change pain medications.

Q. I have taken penicillin all my life. Now, at age 55 I have developed an allergy to it. I didn't know you could get an allergy so late in life. Are the other antibiotics as good or am I in trouble now that I can't take penicillin?

A. Some people acquire allergies at different times in their lifetime. Yes, you may have developed an allergy, but do not be discouraged, penicillin is one of the first developed antibiotics. There are newer antibiotics available to you.

Q. Can you get too much Calcium? Many of my friends eat Rolaids and Tums like candy for the calcium benefits.

A. Too much of anything can cause problems. The usual dose of calcium is 500mgs- to 2000mgs daily. This dose is a sufficient calcium intake for adults to reduce bone loss associated with aging.