DR. ELLIE CANNON: With my new blood pressure pills, have I completely lost my appetite and should I be worried?

I was recently given a blood pressure pill called amlodipine. Suddenly I feel full whether I eat or not. I completely lost my appetite. Personally, I’m very happy with it because I’m overweight and therefore no longer tempted to snack. But this is very strange. Should I be worried?

Medications often have side effects, and it is not always clear who gets them and to what extent. Often they can be mild and go away within a week or so.

Amlodipine is a commonly used blood pressure pill, but changes in appetite or feeling full are not listed as known side effects.

It is known to cause digestive problems such as constipation, heartburn, nausea and abdominal pain, all of which can affect your appetite or how your stomach feels.

With a new problem like this, perfectly timed to start medication, I’ll typically give it two to four weeks to clear up.

Amlodipine is a commonly used blood pressure pill, but changes in appetite or satiety are not listed as known side effects, says Dr. ellie

But the constant feeling of fullness should be investigated if it persists. Fortunately, when it comes to pills, there is a wide variety of other blood pressure medications that the doctor can offer.

And our appetite can change for many reasons, such as nervousness, stress and other physical health issues.

But feeling full when you eat can be a worrying sign that the stomach is under pressure and filling up too quickly, for example if there is a tumour. It could be a problem in the stomach or something pressing on the stomach from another abdominal organ. Therefore, it should be checked by a doctor.

I have a rash under my breasts that hurts and prevents me from wearing a bra. My doctor said I had something called intertrigo and gave me a special shot for it. However, it doesn’t seem to make any difference. can you help

Intertrigo is a type of rash that usually occurs in areas of skin-to-skin contact, usually in areas such as under the breasts, armpits or groin.

It can also occur in the folds of the skin of the abdomen in taller people and in the neck folds in babies. Fungal and yeast infections thrive in these areas because it is hot and humid and air cannot circulate properly. It tends to be painful, with itching or a burning sensation a common complaint.

The first step in treating it is to somehow limit skin-to-skin contact and reduce the heat and humidity in those areas.

The area under the breast should be thoroughly dried after washing and kept as cool as possible with light clothing.

A protective cream may be helpful. This is usually a thick white cream, often used as a nappy cream, and is available at regular pharmacies.

Antifungal creams are also often used with anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation, such as a mild steroid cream. Antifungal and steroid creams are sold in pharmacies.

If it is very bad despite treatment, it may be worth taking antifungal tablets while continuing to use barrier creams. It will be given on medical prescription.

Sometimes intertrigo is also infected with bacteria, so another line of treatment may be to take a cotton swab from the sore skin and treat it with an appropriate antibiotic.

Intertrigo is worse in people with type 2 diabetes or those who regularly take steroid pills or immunosuppressants. If this is the case, only stronger treatment from your GP can help.

For the past few months, I’ve felt like I’ve been overcome by extreme exhaustion that seems to come out of nowhere. This usually happens around 5pm and I have to go to bed by 9pm. I am a woman, 49 years old and in good health. I am also very active. What can cause it?

There are some common and obvious causes that can happen to a 49-year-old woman to leave her inexplicably exhausted. The first would be menopause.

When female hormones shift, and especially estrogen levels drop, women can feel incredibly tired – unlike anything they’ve experienced before. It can also be exacerbated by the more strenuous periods of perimenopause – the transitional phase before menopause when hormones fluctuate – which can lead to iron deficiency, also known as anaemia. Fatigue is a symptom of this.

It can also happen if you don’t get enough iron in your diet – which can be a problem for vegans. Certain forms of deficiency in another vitamin called B12 also occur in an autoimmune condition called pernicious anemia, which means the body does not absorb B12. Anemia, of whatever cause, can be detected with a simple blood test.

Another common cause of fatigue in your mid-40s is an underactive thyroid.

It affects about 1 in 50 people and occurs when the thyroid gland in the front of the neck does not produce enough of the hormone thyroxine, which is responsible for maintaining metabolism.

Other symptoms of thyroid hormone deficiency include constipation, weight gain, muscle pain and hair loss.

Extreme or prolonged exhaustion can also occur after viral infections such as Covid.

We don’t hit adults, so why should we hit our children?

I was disappointed to see that last week the government rejected a call to ban the smacking of children. In England it therefore remains legal to hit a child if it is a “reasonable punishment”.

This is not the case in Scotland and Wales. I know a lot of people think it’s okay to hit a child, and a lot of older adults have an “I’ve been hit and I’ll be okay” attitude. Others think teenagers are unruly because they lack discipline.

I reject all these arguments. Studies show that spanking has long-term psychological consequences for many children. Above all, what lesson are we teaching our children when we use physical violence to resolve disputes?

As Sir Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said last week: “It cannot be right that it is illegal in this country to hit an adult, but that a child does not enjoy the same protection.”

About two-thirds of Britons agree with me, according to government polls. I would be interested to know how true this number is.

• What do you think? Email me at: DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk

Players must speak

You might be surprised to learn that gambling addiction is one of the most common mental health problems I see in middle-aged people.

Studies estimate that approximately two million people are at risk because it is such an easily acquired habit. So this week I’m working with the charity GambleAware to get people to think before they place a bet and to talk to loved ones about gambling habits.

One of the most disturbing statistics I’ve learned is that three-quarters of those who worry that a loved one has an addiction don’t talk to them about it. It is difficult, but it is vital. Don’t start a conversation by blaming them for losing money. Instead, talk about how much you care about her and your concerns.

GPs have information through local support groups or seek advice from the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133).