Q. My doctor prescribed testosterone four years ago, and my hormone levels are now normal. I know that there were concerns about heart problems, but my blood pressure (BP) is 115/76, pulse is 70, and my annual electrocardiogram is normal.

If doctors treat women with hormone replacement therapy, why not men who are suffering from declining testosterone? I think the reasons are more theological than scientific.

A. The Food and Drug Administration is about to change its official prescribing information for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Instead of discouraging doctors from prescribing this hormone for men with “low T,” the FDA is loosening its labeling rules based on research.

The agency used to warn that testosterone increased the risk for heart attacks, strokes or death. That was eliminated in February 2025 because a study called TRAVERSE revealed no “adverse cardiovascular outcomes” (New England Journal of Medicine, July 13, 2023).

That study did reveal a modest increase in blood pressure (0.3 mm). Since your heart rate, BP and electrocardiogram are normal, you should be fine. Have your physician monitor your prostate health periodically with a PSA blood test.

Q. I have a hard time falling asleep without an over-the-counter sleeping pill. Diphenhydramine makes me anxious and restless at the same time the drowsiness hits.

It’s a very uncomfortable experience to be falling asleep at the same time my mind is racing and my body is restless. Is there something safer? Could magnesium be helpful?

A. We have heard from a number of readers that a magnesium supplement taken about an hour before bedtime might be beneficial. One reader shared this experience: “A sleep doctor recommended oral magnesium. What a relief it has been! I don’t know how I could get along without it.”

Another reader reported: “My doctor suggested magnesium glycinate. It was life-changing. I take a 240-milligram capsule about one to two hours before going to bed.”

A review of the scientific literature concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prove magnesium works for insomnia (BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, April 17, 2021). The scientists conclude: “Given that oral magnesium is very cheap and widely available, the authors found no evidence preventing the recommendation of oral magnesium supplementation for insomnia symptoms in older adults.”

To learn more about many other strategies to deal with insomnia, you may wish to download our “eGuide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep.” This online resource can be found under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. People with kidney problems should avoid magnesium supplements to prevent further damage.

Q. I have been taking Xyzal every day for two years to fight allergies in Texas. I recently ran out and didn’t have time to get to the store for more. After two days, I started to itch badly. At first, I thought I was having an allergic reaction to something. I even went to the doctor, who didn’t have a good answer.

I finally started taking Xyzal again, and my symptoms went away. The FDA really needs to warn people about this type of side effect. It is absolutely miserable.

A. We notified the FDA that antihistamines such as Zyrtec (cetirizine) and Xyzal (levocetirizine) may trigger withdrawal itching when stopped suddenly. The agency put a warning in the prescribing information but does not require it on the over-the-counter packaging.

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.”