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Lil Community: What Medicine Can I Take While Trying to Conceive?

Lil Community — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:05:07 PST

A baby can turn your world upside down! This question was submitted by jkledge01 in the Ask Anything box.

Husband & I are working on starting a family and I am unsure of what OTC meds I can/cannot take. I would love the help!

Motherhood is a mind boggler! Before driving yourself crazy looking for answers, head over to the LilSugar Community and type your inquiry away in our Ask the Community Anything box.

Don't Let These Meds Dampen Your Sex Drive

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:00:13 PDT

Sometimes we're just not in the mood for sex, but a persistent lack of sexual desire is a bigger issue. Numerous factors can contribute to low libido, including common prescription drugs.

If you've been battling a weak libido, maybe your meds are to blame. To see which drugs can decrease a woman's sex drive,

Prescription Drugs' Expiration Dates, Explained

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:30:24 PDT

I've always wondered what exactly an expiration date means on a drug. Does it become less effective? Could it poison me? Obviously, there's a big difference in those two things, so I was glad to see this NPR story that sheds some light on drug expiration dates.

Just because a drug is past its expiration date doesn't necessarily mean you should toss it. Many states require drug labels to carry an expiration date just one year past the date of sale, but drug manufacturers often set dates two years later, based on testing.

The FDA's Ilisa Bernstein says there are no guarantees that drugs will be effective after the expiration date but that medications stored in a cool, dry place can last much longer. Does that mean we should focus on decoding drug names and drug interactions and not worry about the expiration dates?

If the drug is used to treat something commonplace, such as headaches or heartburn, you're probably safe using it past the date. But for medications your life depends on - particularly meds for severe allergic reactions such as EpiPens - you should not use them past the expiration date.

I Need Your Help: How Do I Tell My Vet I Want to Buy Meds Online?

PetSugar — Wed, 12 May 2010 12:20:54 PDT

It's important to bring pets to the doctor if they seem sick but what happens when it comes time to pay? Savvy consumers likely do some cost comparison and, while it's not a good idea to scrimp on a quality vet, what about two drastically different prices for the same medications? The following question was recently posed to me:

My kitty has had this persistent cough and I've taken her to the vet twice just this month, which is fine - I'll pay whatever fees to get her better. But here's the thing. My vet charged me 30 bucks for 15ml of Clavamox drops, and 22 dollars for 62.5mg pills when I came back the second time. On 1-800-petmeds, both medications are at least ten dollars cheaper!

Get the rest of the story when you

read more. I would have gone ahead and paid his rates anyway (I mean he's a very nice man and vets have to eat, too). But, at the same time, I'm just a college student and have to save however I can. So, on my next visit, I really just want to ask for a prescription and get her meds online instead, but I'm not quite sure how to approach the subject . . . I'm afraid I might offend him somehow? Should I just whisper to his receptionist? What is the etiquette for this? Can any of you help this PetSugar reader figure out how to broach this tough subject with the doctor's office? Please offer your great tips and suggestions in the comments below.

Which Meds Are Considered Safe During Pregnancy?

babysugar — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:30:05 PST

If mommy-to-be has nighttime sniffling, sneezing and coughing, she may not be able to take any over-the-counter cold medicine. Take our test to see if you know which meds are considered safe to take when mama's expecting.

Take the Quiz

Do You Closely Monitor Your Children's Meds?

LilSugar — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:00:53 PDT

Is it time to loosen the lids on pain medication bottles for kids? According to a new study, 25 percent of kids are not receiving sufficient pain meds after having common surgical procedures which could lead to dehydration and hospitalization. Moms and dads have heard so much about showing restraint when using children's cold medications that researchers suspect parents are withholding dosages out of fear of their repercussions. Those conducting the study looked at wee ones who had undergone the most common childhood surgery procedures – tonsil and adenoid removal – and found that with most lil ones unable to truly express their pain levels, parents believed that they don't need the elixirs. Do you hold off on giving your offspring pain medication unless it is an extreme situation?

Do You Flavor Your Child's Medications?

LilSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:00:18 PST

Does a spoonful of sugar really help the medicine go down? Any parent who has had a sick child on their hands knows how hard it is to force-feed them their medicine. Kenny Kramm, a father and future pharmacist, had this same issue with his children. When his second daughter was born with cerebral palsy and physically couldn't take her medicine due to its bitter taste, Kramm put his chemistry skills to work and created a method for flavoring the antidotes. Today, there are more than 42 flavors available at pharmacies around the world.

Do you flavor your tot's medication to make it go down more easily?

Source

True Tails: My Dog Has Lyme Disease!

PetSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:00:21 PDT

You may be wondering why I've been going a tad tick crazy on the site during the Dog Days of Summer. Well, there's a reason. Last week when chatting with a pal in NYC, she shared a scary story about her rescued Rottie mix, Jack.
While he's seen here in sleepier times, my friend woke up one morning a couple weeks ago to find him not only resting, but totally unable to get up. Obviously, she freaked out and called a friend with a car to help carry the dog to his doctor. The vet did some tests but initially asked if her pooch had spent anytime in the country. Countryside? Does Brooklyn count? To learn where and when he contracted the disease, and what's happening now

read more. Even though her pooch is always on his tick medication, it's not 100-percent guaranteed. Tracey was home visiting her parents in rural Massachusetts last Fall when she found a tick on her pooch. She removed it, and assumed all was well. Not so, as he was eventually diagnosed with Lyme Disease. It seems that he exhibited some of the symptoms I mentioned when not being able to walk . . . and it's true that this disease can be dormant in pets for months before owners can notice it. While he's now on medication and doing much better, I know my take-away lesson from this was to never overlook a possible illness – even though I sometimes overreact, it's better to be safe than sorry!

Dog Days of Summer: What Is Lyme Disease Anyway?

PetSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:00:46 PDT

I hope I didn't scare you with those tips on tweezing ticks! Keep in mind that the insects don't actually cause the disease, they merely harbor and transmit the bacteria that cause the disease. Unless you're an expert, or a super savvy ex-science major, the distinction may mean nothing to you. But since I took the time to understand the path from bug to infection, I knew I had to share my shocking finds with you. First off, the disease begins with a miniscule deer tick. This bug passes a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi into the bloodstream of a pet. However, in order for the deer tick to infect a dog with this bacterium, the tick must remain attached to the dog for about 48 hours. So spotting and quickly removing those pests can save a pet's life!

To learn my most surprising discovery,

read more. Did you know that symptoms of the disease usually don't occur until two to six months after the tick bite?! That means even though your Summer may hold more outdoor adventures, your pup could not become ill 'til it's practically wintertime. Some things to look for include very high fevers (over 103 degrees), swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, lethargy, shifting leg lameness, and inflamed joints. Sounds like something I'm not sure I could diagnose, so the best bet is to take your pooch to a vet if he exhibits any symptoms at all – let the professionals check for these in a physical, and perform a blood test to look for the bacteria! It's better to be safe than sorry! Source

Texting Tweens Medication Reminders

LilSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:00:09 PDT

Use your tween's texting obsession to your advantage. Parents who wish their kids independence, but need to remind them to take their meds can quit the nagging and turn to technology. When children are preoccupied with school, friends, dating and Hannah Montana, they tend to forget to take the pills and injections that regulate their asthma, diabetes and other ailments.

A recent CNN article on the experiment said:

Of necessity, parents start turning over more health responsibilities to their children at this age. It's also an age of angst, sometimes rebellion, and when youths may most hate feeling different from their friends because of medication, special diets or other therapy.

To see the specifics,

read more. Statistics show that a good number of tweens and teens are not adhering to treatment whether it be for social reasons or forgetfulness. So Ohio doctors are experimenting with text reminders. It said:

Participants say what time they want the reminder, and a clinic volunteer types out the messages -- words spelled out, no mimicking of kids' text lingo.

What do you think of this idea? Source