Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Pregnancy

Posted on July 4, 2008 by Drugs Expert

Birth Outcomes in Pregnant Women Taking Fluoxetine

Many women are taking the drug fluoxetine (prozac) either when they fall pregnant or while they are trying for pregnancy. There is some research into the outcomes of pregnancies in women who are using this common anti-depressant. There are two concerns with regard to pregnancy and Prozac – firstly whether its use in the first trimester is associated with any risk to the developing fetus – is there an increased risk of congenital abnormalities? Secondly, does it affect the outcome of the pregnancy or the subsequent development of the fetus.

Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Are We There Yet? Family Vacations with Autistic Children

Posted on July 3, 2008 by Drugs Expert

Although planning a family vacation with children may make any parents pull out his or her hair, it can be a rewarding experience for everyone in the end. It is no different if you have an autistic child in the family.

The important thing to remember is that you need to be prepared for whatever life throws your way. To an autistic child, vacations can be scary and confusing, or they can be a great learning experience, leaving behind wonderful memories the entire family can enjoy.

First, choose your location based on your autistic child’s needs. For example, if he or she is sensitive to sound, an amusement park is probably not the best idea.

Quieter vacations are possible at small beaches and by going camping. Overall, you should be able to find a location that everyone in the family enjoys.

Once there, plan out your days accordingly. For example, you may want to see attractions very early or late in the day to avoid crowds. You also might want to consider taking your vacation during the off-season, if you children’s school work will not be disrupted. These gives your autistic child more comfort if he or she is nervous in crowded situations, and provides you with piece of mind.

When choosing a location, also note how far it is from you home. How will you get there? If you have to deal with an airport, remember that security may have to touch your child and be prepared for this.

Vacationing With Autistic ChildChoose a location and activities that everyone can enjoy, but also that provide learning and social interaction opportunities for your autistic child. For example, a child that does not like touch sensations may enjoy the soft sands of a beach, and the waves can provide a very different kind of feeling for him or her.

Being outside, a beach is also a great place for your child to yell without disrupting others. Children who are normally non-responsive may benefit from a museum , where they can ask questions and you can ask questions of them.

Remember that most people on vacation at the location you choose will have never dealt with autism before. Try to be understanding of their ignorance-but also stick up for your child if he or she is being treated unfairly. Know your child’s constitutional laws, and also be willing to compromise.

For example, if a restaurant is reluctant to serve you after your child caused a scene there last night, explain the situation and ask if it would be possible to take your food to go, even if this is normally not done. T

ry not to be rude to people; staring often happens, but instead of snide comments or mean looks, ignore them as much as possible and focus on having a good time with your family

Posted in Parenting Skills, Quality Time With Kids | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Child is Diagnosed With Diabetes

Posted on July 2, 2008 by Drugs Expert

The diagnosis of diabetes in a child can lead to a variety of emotions in the child, siblings or the adults in the family including anger, sadness, and guilt. These feelings are completely normal.

Most children are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes which means there are going to be a lot of adaptations to make on a daily basis including what foods are eaten, the daily physical activity level, and how they manage caring for their disease like giving shots and taking other medications, monitoring blood glucose level, getting enough sleep and caring for their body.

Children with diabetes can lead normal lives and can be healthy as long as they and those who care for them learn how to manage the disease. An older child can even learn how to do much of his or her diabetic care by herself or himself, with education about the disease and by gaining confidence in their ability to handle things.

It is important for kids to know that they are not alone and that there are other kids who also have diabetes. A child has a lot to learn about diabetes and how to live with it. When a child receives the diagnosis of diabetes it affects the entire family.

Managing diabetes is a daily matter that never goes away. When the child goes to school others will need to be told that the child has diabetes such as teachers.

A child with diabetes can lead a full and healthy life when they follow the treatment plan designed by the pediatrician.

Diabetes will bring a lot of changes to the child’s life but it doesn’t have to take over the life completely. There is more to the child than the disease. As the child gets older the child can take on more responsibility for managing the disease.

Childhood DiabetesYour child’s life include administering insulin shots, blood tests, meal plans, counting carbohydrates, and learning how to recognize symptoms of low or high blood sugar and what to do about it.

The sad fact is that it is not easy for a child or a child’s family members to deal with diabetes. Approximately 35 to 75% of children diagnosed with diabetes do not follow the meal plans designed for them by registered dieticians or their doctors. As many as 80% do not give the insulin correctly or on time.

As many as 70% of them do not record the blood glucose levels. Even though foot care is crucial for diabetics as many as 52% of children or their parents do not take time to get adequate foot care and a shocking 81% do not exercise enough.

There are many reasons why children and their parents slack off when it comes to managing diabetes, a too busy lifestyle, complacency about the possible complications of the disease or lack of education concerning how to manage the disease and avoid complications that can occur.

There are many events that occur in the life of a child that can become complicated by the presence of diabetes including birthday parties, school lunches, sleepovers, and going off to college.

Your child’s doctor can lead you to community resources of diabetic support than can help your family to adjust to life with diabetes and how to help your child manage the disease and cope with all of the events in his or her life which may present special challenges for the diabetic child.

Posted in General Health Concerns, Just For Kids | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Acne is Not Just for Teenagers

Posted on July 1, 2008 by Drugs Expert

Acne Not Just for TeenagersMany people experience acne when they are in their teenage years, however some people don’t realize that acne can be prevalent when they are in there 20’s, 30’s or even as senior citizens. Acne is not just for teenagers, here are some reasons why acne can show up on your face at anytime.

Acne’s root cause is due to a hormonal imbalance that overproduces sebum. Sebum is an oily substance found in most hair follicles. Hair follicle glands produce sebum. Many hair follicles that produce too much sebum can become clogged. Bacteria feed off the sebum and infects the follicle causing a pimple.

Acne is not just for teenagers because a shift or hormonal imbalance can cause overproduction of sebum at any time. Many women that become pregnant, experience acne due to their hormones. Other times during the life cycle that acne can be prevalent is menopause and during senior years.

While most types of acne are easily treatable, many people are amazed when they find out that acne has reared its ugly head. Many women choose to take prescription medications that control their hormones to lessen the prevalence of acne.

Birth control pills are one medication that has been proven to less the extent of acne. The birth control pill requires a prescription and you should consult with your dermatologist for a correct diagnosis and whether you are a good candidate for the birth control pill to work.

So if you are past your teenage years and find yourself with acne, check out the above tips on why acne is not just for teenagers. Clearskin A Acne Cream could help – visit Native Remedies for more information.

Posted in Beauty & Fitness | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cure For Yeast Infection During Pregnancy

Posted on June 30, 2008 by Drugs Expert

Yeast infection or Candida leads to the release of toxins in the bloodstream that can affect digestive, nervous, respiratory, endocrinal, urinary and reproductive organs in the body.

High-sugar diets, smoking, food allergies and intolerances, diabetes and pregnancy are considered to be the most prominent causes of Candida. While dietary changes are the most important part of any Candida treatment, oral and topical drugs are used for relief from inflammation and itching caused by the infection.

Vaginal yeast infection is one of the typical conditions that pregnant women face. Although yeast infections are common with women, especially pregnant women, doctors find it difficult to explain why it is so. The normal suggestion is that pregnancy by itself reduces immunity to a point where microorganisms like Candida albicans are allowed to grow.

There is a vast majority of women who gather information from not so reliable sources and tend to self-medicate. Self medication during pregnancy is never advisable as there is a child developing within you.

Women should be aware that all vaginal infections during pregnancy are not yeast infections. It is imperative to get the condition evaluated before taking any type of medicine.

Yeast Infection During PregnancyYeast infection on its own is not known to affect the baby. But pregnancy can limit the choice of drugs available for treatment. Yeast infection treatment for a pregnant is different from normal treatment for yeast infections due to the concerns about the fetus. For example:

- Certain drugs used for treating vaginal Candida are easily absorbed through the blood stream and can cause harm to the fetus.
– A yeast infection in early pregnancy should be attended with the shortest possible treatment to avoid complications.
– Very old drugs like Mycostatin do not have a good success rate and may prolong treatment. Drugs like Diflucan, although highly successful, can interfere with normal embryonic development.
– Some of the topical medications expose the fetus to risks if used during the first trimester.

If vaginal Candida symptoms surface during early pregnancy, the treatment should be completed within the earliest possible time. An herbal treatment, Gentian violet, is preferred over other treatments in early pregnancy to avoid exposing the baby to any risk.

Vaginal yeast infections are likely to recur during pregnancy despite a Candida cure in early pregnancy. If it is present during childbirth there is a strong possibility of it passing on to the neonate as oral thrush. The signs of thrush in newborns are reflected as white patches on the tongue.

Any excessive itching or redness in the vaginal area any time during pregnancy should be discussed with your doctor. Your doctor is the right person to tell if it is yeast infection or something else and will help in avoiding unnecessary medication.

After all, it is not only your health that is at stake. You may also look for alternative therapies like homeopathy and home remedies that are totally safe and will not do any harm to the baby developing inside you.

References:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Candida-and-Pregnancy&id=318720

http://www.yeastinfectionresource.com/webcast_transcript.asp?b=yeastinfectionresource&f=gyno&c=gyno_pregyeast&pg=2

Posted in Moms-To-Be | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Drugs, Antibiotics, Prescription Creams… What’s safe?

Posted on June 29, 2008 by Drugs Expert

Ideally, the time to research safe medication during pregnancy is before you are pregnant. Of course, planning isn’t always exact, but it can help you avoid using harmful medications.

Even after a prescription ends, some medications will stay in the body for a while longer. This is important to know since the greatest risk to a baby is during the first month or two when his or her organs are still forming.

Many women are uncertain what acne treatments are pregnancy safe. This page provides an overview of safe medication during pregnancy, but it is not meant to replace your doctor. Please discuss all medications with your doctor before using them.
Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

Childhood Sleep Disorders

Posted on June 29, 2008 by Drugs Expert

Some rare sleep disorders only affect young children, while there are some disorders that are truly equal opportunity offenders. If your child seems to have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep it may simply be that he or she doesn’t want to miss any of the fun and resents having to take time out to sleep.

On the other hand, when it is obvious that your child truly wants to get some sleep, but just can’t seem to get any quality sleep at all, then there is a chance that your child may be suffering from a sleep disorder. If your child’s sleep disorder is considered rare then it may be a little more difficult to find proper treatment for your child.

Rest assured, however, that there are plenty of sleep experts who have spent a lot of time researching childhood sleep disorders – no matter how rare – and therefore there is someone out there who knows how to treat your child effectively.

Sleep disorders among children are often a product of a behavioral issue. The child is not compelled to get to sleep at a proper hour or is not disciplined when he or she continually gets out of bed and plays instead of sleeping.

When this behavior becomes acceptable, it is probable that bad sleeping habits will form and develop into a sleeping disorder commonly referred to by experts as Behavioral Insomnia in Children. This is not rare, and is treated relatively easily with a little discipline from parents.

If the child has parents who enforce a proper bedtime and adequate sleep for the child, however, other sleep problems that arise may merit medical intervention. When a child stops breathing for short periods of time, or breathes at sporadic intervals during sleep, this is a rare sleep disorder that should be treated quickly.

Childhood Sleep DisordersIf a child awakens night after night screaming in terror, this goes beyond mere childhood nightmares and needs to be evaluated by a doctor or sleep specialist. The goal is to allow a child to get a good night’s sleep so he or she can rest and grow like other children. Without a full night’s sleep, some children have a hard time learning or even staying physically well.

Parents should be advised that not all treatments for rare sleep disorders are pleasant. Some children may have to stay a night in laboratory for a sleep study, and although most institutions attempt to make the room as pleasant as possible there is still the chance that the child will be scared of a different environment.

Some rare sleep disorders merit breathing machines and other implementations, and while these tactics are important and designed to make sure the child breathes normally through the night, they can still be frightening for children.

For these reasons, parents must work hard to make sure that the child is informed throughout the entire process (as much as the child can understand depending on age) and the parents stay present whenever possible during evaluations and treatments.

Posted in General Health Concerns, Just For Kids | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Safe Medications During Pregnancy

Posted on June 28, 2008 by Drugs Expert

When you are pregnant, it is important to understand that everything you take into your body passes from your blood to baby’s blood; therefore, it is best to avoid all over-the-counter medicines especially in the first eight weeks of pregnancy (ten weeks after your last menstrual period). This period is particularly important because it is during the first eight weeks are when your baby’s heart, lung and brain systems are being formed. Remember that no medication is safe for 100 percent of the people, however there are times when the benefits of a medication far outweigh any risks.

If you were taking prescription medications before you became pregnant, please ask your health care provider about the safety of continuing these medications as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. Your health care provider will weigh the benefit to you and the risk to your baby when making his or her recommendation about a particular medication. With some medications, the risk of not taking them may be more serious than the potential risk associated with taking them.

Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

Pregnant or Not? How To Know

Posted on June 28, 2008 by Drugs Expert

Medical Author: Melissa Stoppler, M.D.
Medical Editor: Barbara K. Hecht, Ph.D.

To learn whether you are pregnant or not, a pregnancy test may provide you with the answer. This test can be done in the privacy of your home using one of several available test kits. Or the test can be performed in your doctor’s office or clinic. Home pregnancy tests are always done on urine while those in a doctor’s office or clinic may be done on urine or blood.

All pregnancy tests are based upon measurement of the same hormone — human chorionic gonadotrophin or hCG — which is only present in a woman when she is pregnant. This hormone is made after the egg is fertilized and its levels rise rapidly in early pregnancy. It acts to support progesterone, a hormone necessary to maintain the pregnancy.

Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Leave a comment

The list of some safe drugs

Posted on June 27, 2008 by Drugs Expert

While some medications are considered safe to take during pregnancy, the effects of other medications on your unborn baby are unknown. Therefore, it is very important to pay special attention to medications you take while you are pregnant, especially during the first trimester, a crucial time of development for your baby.

If you were taking prescription medications before you became pregnant, please ask your health care provider about the safety of continuing these medications as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. Your health care provider will weigh the benefit to you and the risk to your baby when making his or her recommendation about a particular medication. With some medications, the risk of not taking them may be more serious than the potential risk associated with taking them.

If you are prescribed any new medication, please inform your health care provider that you are pregnant. Be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of the newly prescribed medication with your health care provider before taking the medication.

Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | 1 Comment