Q. I was on a 14-day course of prednisone for vertigo. Once I stopped, I had terrible withdrawal symptoms that have persisted for more than 10 days.

Luckily, they are getting better, but I’m still shaky, weak, nauseated and lightheaded. I don’t feel like myself. I have no appetite, and I can’t function. How long will this go on?

A. Whenever health care providers prescribe prednisone, they should warn about side effects such as insomnia, irritability, fluid retention, high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose and low potassium. Even more important, they should discuss gradual tapering.

Two weeks of corticosteroid exposure with a drug like prednisone can result in adaptation. That is to say, the body reduces production of its own cortisol. This can be especially problematic if a person takes high doses or the drug is needed for a long time.

Withdrawal may require very small dosage reductions over a long period of time. Some people are especially susceptible to reactions such as fatigue, weakness, muscle and joint aches and pains, irritability, headaches, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite and brain fog.

Q. I was hospitalized for five days with the flu two years ago. They put me on Tamiflu. I also continued it at home.

The drug did nothing but make my symptoms worse, especially diarrhea. I would not take Tamiflu again because of the side effects.

A. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) can cause digestive distress, but not everyone has had such a negative experience. Another reader reported: “I had the flu several years ago, and the doctor prescribed Tamiflu on the second day. There were five pills, and it cost $100.

“I took one pill a day and felt so good by the third day that I stopped taking them. What a wonderful drug!”

Oseltamivir is not the only antiviral that can shorten the duration of the flu. All of them work best when taken as early as possible in the course of the infection. You can learn more about such drugs in our “eGuide to Colds, Coughs & the Flu.” This online resource is available under the Health eGuide tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. It also discusses non-drug approaches that may help ease symptoms.

Q. For years, my scalp was itchy with powdery flakes. I finally read about a possible fungal reason for this and tried Nizoral shampoo.

At first, I used it every time I washed my hair, about three times a week. Now I just need to use it every 10 days. It works! No more itching or flakes.

A. Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis both cause itching and flaking of the scalp or skin. They may be reactions to the disruption of the microbiome of the skin. An overgrowth of the yeast Malassezia globosa has been identified as a potential cause.

The active ingredient in Nizoral is the antifungal agent ketoconazole. It can help control both yeast and fungal infections. Thanks for sharing your success story.

Q. My doctor prescribed metformin for my Type 2 diabetes. After many years, my kidney function began to drop.

I was prescribed Farxiga instead to slow the kidney decline. My endocrinologist also added Rybelsus, which helped me lose about 25 pounds. My last A1c was 6.4.

A. There is evidence that Farxiga (dapagliflozin) can help protect kidney function (Clinical Nephrology, Nov. 14, 2025). Oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) is approved for treating diabetes, but it can also help people lose weight.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 300 W. 57th Street, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”