Q: I heard you on the radio praising the benefits of coffee. You made an exception for French press coffee. I never understood why this would pose a problem.

A: Research during the past decade suggests that coffee drinkers are less likely to be diagnosed with heart failure (Circulation: Heart Failure online, June 26, 2012) or develop Type 2 diabetes (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 2010). Coffee consumption also seems to delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease (Journal of Alzheimer's Disease online, June 5, 2012) and may help to protect against prostate and uterine cancers. The problem with French press and other unfiltered coffees lies with blood lipids. Compounds from coffee can raise total cholesterol, triglycerides and bad LDL cholesterol (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, August 2012). The culprits are in oils trapped by filters, so people drinking filtered coffee should get the benefits without the higher cholesterol.

Q: Three times I have been forced by my insurance company to switch from Wellbutrin XL to generic bupropion. Each time, depression reared its ugly, gloomy head, and darkness descended again. Wellbutrin XL works, but the generic is a disaster for me. Where is the accountability? Generic drug makers should refund the money we waste on ineffective products.

A: Hundreds of others have reported similar problems with generic bupropion. Not only have they experienced a return of their depression, they also have reported side effects such as headaches, dizziness, nausea and insomnia.

Despite the Food and Drug Administration's claim that there are no problems with the generic antidepressant bupropion, there are substantial variations in resulting blood levels between the brand name and some generic formulations. We discovered that the FDA never required testing of one 300 mg long-acting formulation it approved. Dozens of other generic drugs also may pose problems.

www.peoplespharmacy.com Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon 300 W. 57th St. 15th Floor New York, N.Y. 10019 King Features Syndicate