Does the Covid shot cause my brother’s migraines? DR. ELLIE CANNON answers

My brother, 57, has suffered regularly from aura migraines since he got his first Covid jab, which left him blind in both eyes for 20 minutes. However, no one has ever officially recorded their symptoms as a side effect of the vaccine. Do you think it is possible that there are many more people who have suffered side effects from vaccines that we don’t know about because their symptoms have not been recorded?

Dr. Ellie Cannon replies: All medications, from chemotherapy to antidepressants, can cause side effects. For a small and unlucky group, these can be catastrophic.

Earlier this month I wrote that despite safety concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine, I believe the jab was a success because it helped us emerge from the pandemic.

However, I am aware that a very small – but not insignificant – number of people experienced debilitating side effects after taking it.

I know people personally and professionally who have had side effects from Covid vaccines.

But I don’t think there was anything uniquely dangerous about this shot – every drug carries risks.

Drugs are only considered safe for mass use if the number of people experiencing side effects is small enough to balance the benefits for everyone.

Every month I deal with people who suffer from side effects of medications that have been lifesaving for others.

For this reason, it is important that any symptoms that occur after taking a medication are reported to health officials.

If there are sufficiently serious side effects associated with a drug, an investigation can be initiated and the drug can be removed from the market.

In Great Britain, this is usually done through the Yellow Card system, an online system where patients and doctors can report side effects of medicines. The program is administered by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. However, I do agree that we are probably under-reporting side effects of vaccines and other medicines, because many people – and doctors – do not register symptoms via the schedule.

To ensure patient safety, it is crucial that we all report side effects of medications in a timely manner.

Since I had my gallbladder removed several years ago, I have noticed that when I want to pee, I have to poop. I am generally in good health and am 77 years old. Is this a normal consequence or should I seek further advice?

Dr. Ellie answers: Removing the gallbladder can cause intestinal problems.

It is believed that as many as one-fifth of people who have their gallbladder removed develop diarrhea.

In most cases this is just a temporary symptom, but for some it can become a long-term problem.

The gallbladder is a sac that contains bile, a substance that breaks down fat from food. Without a gallbladder, bile ends up directly in the intestine. Bile can then act as a laxative, softening the stool.

For people with persistent diarrhea after gallbladder surgery, there are drugs called cholestyramine, which remove bile acids and relieve symptoms.

Even if the symptoms are mild, it may be worth making an appointment with your GP, as a change in bowel habits can sometimes be a sign of bowel cancer. This is unlikely if the change occurred during surgery or has been present for many years. But it may be worth asking a GP for stool tests that screen for colon cancer.

I regularly wake up with severe leg pain that lasts for many hours. This pain is always below my knees. I walk at least 10,000 steps a day and the only medication I take is Viagra. What could be the cause of my pain?

Dr. Ellie answers: Muscle pain is a relatively common side effect of Viagra, an erectile dysfunction pill.

This side effect – also called myalgia – may be the cause of your suffering because the lower legs have large muscles.

However, other possible causes include circulation problems. Veins and arteries function less well with age and due to health problems such as smoking. Pain in the legs due to circulatory problems usually occurs at night, but can also occur while walking. Pain in the legs can be a sign of problems with the spine, especially spinal stenosis. This can cause irritation or compression of the nerves that run to the legs, causing pain, tingling and a feeling of heaviness. However, it is usually worse while walking and standing than while lying down.

Ultimately, the only way to know if a drug is causing a symptom is to stop taking it. You could do this as a trial to see if the situation improves. If you need to switch, Levitra is an alternative to Viagra, which does not include myalgia as a listed side effect.

ADHD is not just for young people

The number of diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has skyrocketed over the past decade, with a sevenfold increase in drug prescriptions.

While this is partly due to increased awareness of the condition, it has meant that we as GPs are seeing a flood of young adults seeking help. Last week, however, I was interested in the story of a colleague who discovered in her late 60s that she had ADHD, and that treatment had been a revelation.

While so much is said about young people with the condition, I wondered about older adults and how they are affected by it.

Have you suffered from symptoms of ADHD, such as poor concentration, impulsiveness, restlessness and the feeling of being distracted behind the wheel of a car?

Have you heard a lot about the condition, do you suspect you have it or were you diagnosed later in life? I’d like to hear from you, so write to me at the address on this page.

Do you have a question for Dr. Ellie Cannon? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk

Dr. Cannon cannot enter into personal correspondence and her responses must be placed in a general context.