DEAR DR. ROACH: I wonder if we can trust the health guidelines coming from government agencies. How will doctors make recommendations if the guidelines may not be scientifically rigorous?

— T.D.

ANSWER: For many decades, the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and other governmental bodies have been based on sound science with some of the best experts in the world collaborating to give trustworthy advice. There have been some lapses and changes in the understanding of the science so that recommendations change to keep up with the latest research.

With recent and dramatic changes in funding, personnel and philosophy, it’s more important than ever for practicing physicians to look at all the available evidence. However, it is unreasonable to expect a busy practitioner to read all the primary literature in all the areas of medicine. Fortunately, there are abundant resources to help.

Scientific societies, like the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, have stepped up to fill a void in trustworthy information. Other countries, especially Canada and European countries, have similar panels to evaluate and summarize the primary evidence and provide recommendations.

The World Health Organization has many resources as well. When there is a broad consensus, these guidelines are most likely to represent the true state of scientific understanding.

The University of Minnesota spearheads a project to create a comprehensive database that helps inform clinicians about vaccine science to help counter rampant misinformation (which can be found at CIDRAP.UMN.edu/vaccine-integrity-project).

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 71 and have been using zolpidem nightly for over 20 years. I started using it because of nightmares or panic about things around 2 a.m. Every time I try to quit, I have a miserable attempt at sleeping and give up the effort. Is there another drug that can help ease me off zolpidem without the sleepless nights?

— T.Y.

ANSWER: Zolpidem (Ambien) is a very effective sleep medication, but it has several potential problems, especially for a person in their 70s. I am very concerned about falls as I have personally seen too many people begin a downward spiral after a fall with an injury.

ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.