DEAR DR. ROACH: Could you offer any general advice on how patients should weigh the risks versus benefits when they are prescribed a drug that lists many potentially serious side effects? I once had a specialist suggest that I do a trial of a drug for a noncardiac issue, but my cardiologist ...

Dear Annie: My daughter-in-law and I have never had a good relationship, but we tolerate each other because of my son. I have tried to be a good mother-in-law. I never visit unannounced. When my DIL had surgery for breast cancer, I took her to her appointments, and I was even the one to go ...

Dear Annie: My best friend, "Claire," has been dating her boyfriend, "Jay," for three years. I really liked him when they first started dating, but lately, she's been confiding in me about some things that are making me a little nervous. For example: Jay goes through her phone, gets angry when ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 70-year-old man and have been taking finasteride for hair loss for about five years. I realized while reading your recent column that I have the sexual side effects the letter-writer described. I had been unable to obtain a satisfactory erection even when taking 150 mg of ...

Dear Annie: My best friend, "Sarah," and I have been close since college, but lately, our friendship feels one-sided. She's going through a rough time; she broke up with her boyfriend, she hates her job and she's been struggling with anxiety. I've been there for her every step of the way, ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband had left knee replacement surgery three weeks ago. He has had continuous unrelenting pain since. He was initially on hydrocodone with acetaminophen alternating with tramadol. This barely touched the pain. We were referred to a pain specialist who prescribed ...