Q: I am 28 years old, and I underwent treatment for arthritis last year. The doctor had prescribed the following medicines: Sazo En 1000, 500; T. Etoshine 60; T.Nucoxia 120,90; T.Pampure 20; T.Deonxit; C.Carvic; and T.Omez. Before my treatment started, the doctor warned me of the side effects of some of these medicines. He said that 5 out of 10 people become impotent, and advised me to get married three years after stopping the medicines or else my child could be born abnormal. I am planning to get married at the end of this year. Are there any tests to show that there are no side effects left in my body? Should I wait for another year before I get married?

A:Arthritis is not a diagnosis, but a symptom (just like cough, fever etc). Hence, unless you give the diagnosis, I am unable to comment on the rationality of the medication. However, I can give you information on the brands:

• Sazo En contains sulphasalazine. It is given to patients of rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to other medicines. In some patients, it can reduce sperm count, but that does not mean that males of reproductive age are prohibited from using it.
• Etoshine contains etoricoxib - an NSAID pain-killer. The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved the medicine on safety concerns. Etoshine and Nucoxia are same; hence cannot be taken at the same time.
• Panpure contains pantoprazole used to suppress acidity.
• Omez contains omeprazole. The two products (Panpure and Omez) cannot be used concurrently since their action is same.
• Deanxit is a combination of two medicines called flupenthixol and melitracen. It is used in severe psychiatric disorders. There is no mention of any psychitaric disorder in your case.
• Carvic contains omega 3 fatty acids, B-12, alphalipoic acid, and some minerals. It is an irrational combination and is not approved in any advanced country. The brand Carvic does not appear on the national and international data bank of quality products.

I do not know who told you that taking these drugs leads to impotency in 5 out of 10 patients. This information is incorrect. There is a big difference between impotency and infertility. It is true that in very few cases, the sperm count in males can go down with the use of Sazo En, but it does not lead to impotency. Moreover, the effect is temporary and goes away the moment medicine is withdrawn.