I'VE recently had a virus and the doctor suggested I take vitamin C with zinc but it hasn't helped. Is it a waste of time taking vitamins?

No, it's not a waste of time taking vitamin supplements, although you should get enough vitamin C through eating foods such as fruit and vegetables.

Vitamin C is an ascorbic acid and helps protect cells and keeps them healthy. It is a necessary for the maintenance of healthy connective tissue, which gives support and structure for other tissue and organs.

Adults need around 40mg of Vitamin C a day and you should be able to get that from foods such as peppers, sweet potatoes, oranges and kiwi fruit.

Ask your community pharmacist if you have any questions about vitamins

MY neighbour's son is on methadone. Does he have an addiction to drugs?

Methadone is used to ease withdrawal symptoms from heroin.

Methadone is an artificial opiate that replicates some of the effects of heroin on the brain.

The brain is tricked into thinking that it is receiving a dose of heroin, so you do not have severe withdrawal symptoms.

Methadone can be used as a withdrawal therapy, where the doses of medication are gradually reduced over time before the treatment is withdrawn.

It can also be used as a maintenance therapy, where a person receives regular doses of medication on a long-term basis.

Many people choose to have maintenance therapy for several months so that their health and general wellbeing can improve.

Once they are physically and psychologically stronger, they choose to withdraw from the treatment altogether.

WHAT is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is an infection that is passed to humans through a tick bite.

Ticks are common in forest and heath land and the Scottish Highlands has a particularly high population of ticks.

Lyme disease can be passed on when a tick attaches to your skin and feeds on your blood. Hikers, campers and dog walkers are at particular risk.

Some infected people have no symptoms at all.

However, the first sign is usually a pink or red spot at the site of the tick bite.

This appears between three and 30 days after biting, and expands steadily, often with an inflamed red border.

As the rash spreads, the previously affected skin may return to a more normal appearance forming an expanding 'bulls eye' with a flat border, which may become quite large if left untreated.

Other symptoms such as tiredness, headache, fever and aches and pains may also develop in the first few weeks of an infection.

In rare cases, there are more serous complications, which can affect the nervous system, joints, the heart and other tissues.

A medical professional will usually make the diagnosis based on your symptoms, such as the rash.

It is very important if you think you may have been bitten by a tick to share that.

You might also be asked if you have visited an area where catching the disease is possible.

Antibiotics are usually recommended for the treatment of early Lyme disease.

These are very effective for treating the infection, and can prevent serious complications developing.