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Antibiotics: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

I’m currently taking two different types of antibiotics to treat an infected cat bite (ah the joys of working with animals). Here’s a fun fact: the doctor told me that eighty percent of cat bites end up infected. I guess I’ve been lucky so far — I’ve only had two bites get bad. Antibiotics come from two basic places: molds and bacteria. They work in one of two ways: by killing bacteria outright or by stopping their ability to reproduce (so they die out). Different antibiotics work against different types of bacteria — so taking one type of antibiotics for … Continue reading →

Antibiotics and Side Effects

I’m about halfway through my ten days of antibiotics after a recent cat bite (from my work at the cats-only boarding facility) got infected. When I picked up my prescriptions — two different antibiotics for one little cat bite, sheesh — the pharmacist warned me that I might experience some photosensitivity. Did I ever! The first few days were rough, and I relied heavily on my prescription sunglasses and long sleeved shirts. The drive home from work in the afternoon was enough to leave me with the beginnings of a sunburn. Thankfully, the photosensitivity has eased off as I’ve gotten … Continue reading →

Go with Your Gut

If there is even the teeny-tiniest, itty-bittiest chance that strep throat or ear infections are going around my daughter’s school, there is a 96 percent chance that she will be leveled with one or both. It has happened. More than once. In fact, last year my daughter stunned not one, not two, but three pediatricians at our local clinic by contracting strep throat and hand-foot-and-mouth disease–at the same time. The days of having the doctor on speed dial and calling the second my daughter’s temperature inched above 100 are long gone. I now embrace a more reasonable and measured approach … Continue reading →

Five Ways to Save Money on Prescription Medication

Even with insurance that covers prescriptions, medication can be expensive. Here are some tips to help you save a little money on your prescriptions! Money saving tip number one: Go generic! Many name brand medications are now available in a generic form. Generic medications are tested for safety and ability to treat diseases the same way name brand medications are. They work the same… for a LOT less. For example: my name brand Zoloft used to cost around $90 per month (without insurance). The generic version cost less than half that when I first made the switch. If you do … Continue reading →

Know Your Child’s Medicine

No parent likes to give medicine to their baby. It is often an awkward and messy process, especially when you have a baby who is young enough to still have a gag reflex. But there usually comes a time when some medication is needed, whether through prescription or over the counter. Here is what you need to know about giving medicine correctly and ensuring the safety of your baby. I remember back when my middle child needed some fever reducer for strep throat (which I believe that she actually caught on her well visit appointment). I called the pediatrician office … Continue reading →

Help Prevent Medication Mix-Ups

There are lots of medications on the market — name brand prescriptions, generic equivalents, and over-the-counter remedies. A recent study from the United States Pharmacopeia, there are more than a thousand drugs that have names that are similar to others. Similar names creates a potential for confusion — the wrong drug (with a similar name) being substituted for the right one. Look at these sound-alikes for example: Were you prescribed Actos (for type 2 diabetes) or Actonel (for osteoporosis)? Were you prescribed Celexa (for depression) or Celebrex (for arthritis)? Were you prescribed Heparin (a blood thinner) or HESpan (to thicken … Continue reading →

In the Last Thirty Years of Prescription Medications…

I have to admit — I’m spoiled by modern technology and comforts. It’s hard to imagine what life was like without prescription medications… but just three decades ago, they were far less advanced than they are now. According to the National Institutes of Health, just thirty years ago very little was known about predicting drug interactions and/or serious side effects. Doctors, researchers, and pharmacists had no way to anticipate these problems until drugs started clinical studies — or were widely used by consumers in some cases. Potential toxicity was determined by the effects of a medication on animals — if … Continue reading →

Adult Drugs in Childrens’ Bodies

Medicines that work well for adults may not be safe or effective for children or teens. It may not be safe to assume that your doctor is prescribing a drug that has been tested and declared safe for your child. Here are some questions you can ask to help make sure your child is getting the right medications. Why are you prescribing this drug? Some doctors think parents expect to go home with drugs every time. Studies have shown that sometimes drugs just aren’t needed. Ear infections, for example, often go away just as quickly without antibiotics! Will a “wait … Continue reading →

Too Many Babies Take Reflux Drugs

A recent study was done where doctors and researchers looked at 44 infants who were thought of by their parents as having reflux issues. Interestingly, only 8 of those babies actually fit the diagnostic criteria for having GERD. However, all but two were on anti-reflux medication. The study was prompted by a pediatric gastroenterologist who was receiving increasingly more referrals for spitting up issues. It is known that approximately 70% of babies spit up, up to four times per day. The doctor also points out that second hand ciagarette smoke, gas, constipation, and colic are much more common causes of … Continue reading →

Acidophilus

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Health confession time: I have trouble with dairy products. When I was a baby, I was seriously lactose intolerant; though I’ve grown out of it to some extent, I still have trouble from time to time. My aunt — who is a nurse — came to my rescue one day when she recommended I take acidophilus. Now when I do have a lactose problem, the acidophilus makes a HUGE difference in the duration and severity of the reaction. Acidophilus is one type of good bacteria in the human digestive system. There are more than four hundred different good bacteria; they … Continue reading →