Posts Tagged ‘pregnancy’

Topamax, Link By Studies To More Birth Defects

Friday, September 9th, 2011

Patients are cautioned of abruptly stopping their Topamax medication as it may lead to Topamax withdrawal side effects, after more and more studies link Topamax, the brand name of Topiramate, to more birth defects. The health of their babies could be compromised should pregnant women take Topamax despite its being the drug of choice in effectively reducing the frequency and intensity of epileptic seizures and migraines.

 

Pregnant women who are taking Topamax are putting their babies at high risk of developing birth defects, studies say. Compared to infants who are exposed to other antiepileptic drugs, infants exposed to Topamax during the first trimester of pregnancy have twice the risk of developing cleft lip and cleft palate based on the data from the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. Infants exposed to Topamax are 11 times more likely to develop cleft lip or cleft palate, and 14 times more likely to develop genital defects like hypospadias, compared to the general population, stated another study published on the Journal Neurology in 2008. A genital birth defect among male infants wherein their urethras are misplaced is known as Hypospadias. In infants with Hypospadias, their urethra is located on the underside of the penis instead of at the end of the penis.

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reclassified Topamax from Pregnant Category C to D since its approval in 1996 for the treatment of epilepsy. This means there is positive human evidence that Topamax has the potential to cause significant harm to a fetus when taken during pregnancy. Aside from treating epilepsy, the FDA also indicated the antiepileptic drug for the prevention of migraine headaches in 2004. In view of these serious malformations that may affect their newborns, the FDA recommended for all women of childbearing age to consider alternative medications that have a lower risk of birth defects than Topamax.

 

Doctors should be consulted first before pregnant women or those still planning to get pregnant decide to stop taking the medication because they could suffer from withdrawal symptoms. The benefits of getting treated with Topamax should outweigh the dangers it poses to an infant because of the seriousness of the Topamax side effects, and that is what both patient and doctor should keep in mind.

 

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Paxil Must Be Gradually Stopped To Avoid Withdrawal Syndrome

Monday, September 5th, 2011

Paxil is a member of a group of antidepressants called Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI. Like all of the drugs in the SSRI group, Paxil cannot be stopped right away; a patient must take several steps before discontinuing the drug. A Paxil settlement is being sought after by individuals who claim that the drug causes several side effects and birth defects which led them to want to discontinue taking the medication.

 

If you would like to stop using Paxil you must first consult with your doctor. Your doctor may place you on another antidepressant or give you a smaller dosage of the drug. An important note is that to stop taking Paxil your dosage will first be decreased slowly since Paxil is known to have withdrawal syndrome amongst its users. Withdrawal syndrome, which is also known as discontinuation syndrome, occurs when a person suddenly stops taking or reduces the dosage of some types of medications, the risk of a discontinuation syndrome occurring to a patient increases with dosage and length of use of Paxil.

 

A medical panel met in Phoenix, Arizona in 1997 and concluded: “SSRI discontinuation symptoms… may emerge when an SSRI is abruptly discontinued, when doses are missed, and less frequently, during dosage reduction. In addition, the symptoms are not attributable to any other cause and can be reversed when the original agent is reinstituted, or one that is pharmacologically similar is substituted. SSRI discontinuation symptoms, in most cases, may be minimized by slowly tapering antidepressant therapy, but there have been several case reports where symptoms occurred consistently even through repeated attempts to taper therapy. Physical symptoms include problems with balance, gastrointestinal and flu-like symptoms, and sensory and sleep disturbances. Psychological symptoms include anxiety and/or agitation, crying spells, irritability and aggressiveness.”

 

Paxil like many drugs in the SSRI group cannot be stopped sudden because of danger of withdrawal syndrome, if you would like to stop using Paxil consult with your doctor first. If you believe that you have been injured in anyway because of the use of Paxil then seeking legal action could be your next logical step. For more information on any potential legal action you may take, visit with a Paxil lawyer as soon as possible, most lawyers will give you a free consultation and many will not charge you unless your case receives compensation by the courts.

 

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Birth Defects Traced To Zoloft

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

A study which reported that pregnant women taking medication, including antidepressants, have increased in number is a cause for worry with Zoloft associated to the increase in birth defects to infants born to mothers taking the antidepressant during their pregnancy. According to researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health, there is a 60 percent increase in the number of women taking medication during their first trimester as compared to 30 years ago.   

  The birth defects could result to permanent injury or even death to the infants as they could either be a minor or life-threatening problem. For the past 10 years, proof associating Zoloft, manufactured by Pfizer, and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) to birth defects have increased.   

Zoloft (Sertraline) could treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, making it one of the most prescribed drugs in the world. It helps maintain mental balance by increasing the amount of natural substance in the brain called serotonin.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert in the prescription of the drug after several studies suggested that infants born to mothers who took Zoloft or other SSRIs after the 20th week of their pregnancy were six times more likely to have persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) as compared to infants whose mothers did not take antidepressants during their pregnancy. PPHN causes newborns to have increased pressure in the blood vessels in their lungs resulting to not enough oxygen into their bloodstream.   

Aside from neonatal PPHN, other birth defects reportedly associated with Zoloft are septal heart defects wherein the baby has a hole in the heart and omphalocele, a condition wherein some parts of the baby’s intestines are found outside the abdominal wall. And the list of birth defects does not stop there as studies now include cranial skull defects, spina bifida, anal atresia and limb reduction defects. These birth effects require prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support, and tube feeding.   

Some problems such as respiratory distress, cyanosis, apnea, seizures, temperature instability, feeding difficulty, vomiting, hypoglycemia, hypotonia, hypertonia, hyperreflexia, tremor, jitteriness, irritability, and constant crying could occur during the baby’s delivery. These defects are listed as probably due to either a direct toxic effect of the medication or a drug withdrawal syndrome on the Zoloft drug insert.

Because there are no adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women, FDA classified Zoloft as a Pregnancy category C drug. The benefits of using SSRIs during pregnancy should be weighed against the potential risks it poses, according to the DFA which also recommended a thorough discussion between doctors and patients.

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Keeping Fit During Your Pregnancy Days

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Let’s get straight to the truth shall we? There are a lot of people looking for a fat loss solution, and the major problem is that most of them are just not getting anywhere in their search. Most people search day and night, for weeks on end to no prevail, and there are a load of people going through what we call the yoyo effect. This is something that you do not want to go through, which means that you want to find the answer to your questions.

You know what that means don’t you? If you don’t, it means that if you have an event that you need to go to in the morning, you are out of luck, but if you were to plan ahead, and you have an event that you want to look good for in a few months, then you will be able to achieve your goal weight. If you are pregnant, you should know that you should find the perfect pregnancy workout.

When you are pregnant, you should know that you should not be doing too much in the way of exercise. Most people think that it is okay to keep with your workout routine in the first term of your pregnancy, but this part of your new baby’s life is the most important, and it is the part where you child is vulnerable. This is why you will find some doctors recommending that you sit back and take it easy.

You should not work out too much in your pregnancy, but this does not mean that you should not work out at all. Now obviously, you should know that running or jogging is out of the question, especially if you are in the 7 months of pregnancy, it will only be a little uncomfortable. This is why you should find other great ways to keep fit and your body moving. Slight movements are the perfect solution to keeping in shape; you will find that all you need to build muscle and maintain your body is a little slight movement every now and again.

The best thing that you can do, to stay fit, is a walk. That is right, if you want to keep you body in tip top shape, even during your pregnancy, you should always take walks. Whatever you do, do not take you belly out for a run, because it will only be a little uncomfortable, not to mention you will shake your baby around more than he or she needs to be.

If you really want to get back into shape, you should really hope that the nine month pass quickly, because it is then, and only then you are allowed to go back to gym. In fact, you should wait for six weeks after you have given birth before going at it again.

One other thing that you may want to remember is that, if you want to get your stomach back, you need to wrap your tummy with a post pregnancy wrap, in order to put everything back where it was before, and tighten up that midsection again.

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Getting Ready To Welcome A New Baby

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

When you learn that a new baby is on the way, you may be filled with excitement as well as a little fear. It can be overwhelming to think about everything you need to do to get ready for your new addition. The following tips and suggestions may help ease your mind a little bit.

The mother-to-be needs to see a doctor as soon as she believes she is pregnant so that she can begin to take prenatal vitamins. The expectant mother’s doctor can give her tips to help her take the best care of herself and her unborn baby as possible.

Shopping for maternity wear can be a lot of fun as there are many stylish clothes to choose from to help the expectant mom look her best. Many women go through a phase where they just feel fat, rather than pregnant. Buying some new maternity clothes may help that feeling pass. Judging by all the attention pregnant celebrities receive, it is very fashionable to have a baby bump!

Backaches and sore feet are common complaints from pregnant women. If you want to use a massager on your back or feet, be sure to ask your doctor first if it is safe. Some massagers are not meant to be used if you are pregnant. Having someone rub mom’s back or feet may help her feel more comfortable.

You will also need to buy supplies for the new baby. You will of course need lots of diapers on hand as well as baby clothes and blankets. The baby will also need somewhere to sleep. A relatively new item now on the market is convertible baby furniture. It is a crib that you can convert to a daybed or toddler bed as the child grows. Some even have rails that can be changed a third time to a full size bed. If this is your last child, a convertible crib may be a great idea for you. However, if this is your first baby and you plan to have more children, you may want to purchase a traditional crib so that you can use it again.

If this is not your first baby, keep in mind that your older child or children may be confused about what is going on. They may not totally understand what being a big brother or sister means. Make sure you give them plenty of attention and do your best to prepare them for the new addition.

Your baby’s due date may feel like it is never going to arrive, but you can stay busy preparing for your new addition. It won’t be long until your new baby is snuggled in your arms.

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Weight Loss After A Pregnancy.

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Many women gain quite a bit of weight during a pregnancy, some women more than others due to their metabolism and any health problems. It is normal for a woman to gain approximately 25 to 35 pounds and loose 12 to 14 pounds during the birth. Leaving the new mother with approximately 12 to 21 pounds of extra weight after the pregnancy and birth.

Many women ask if it is possible to lose weigth they gained during the pregnancy and therefore regain the figure they had before. The answer to this question is normally yes, in exception to rare cases. In most cases the new mother is capable of regaining their previous figure in a space of 8 to 12 months.

The most important thing to do to loose the extra weight gained is not to rush into any ‘miracle diets’ to try to loose the weight quickly, especially if you are breast feeding. The best thing to do is concentrate on eating a complete and healthy diet and to do some daily exercise. Most new mothers make their own exercise plans that do not interfere with the new baby. Doing exercises of approximately 10 minutes a couple of times a day will help you to regain your figure.

It is very important to maintain a healthy diet as your body has been put under a lot of pressure and has used up a lot of your stored energy. Maintaining a healthy diet will not affect you if you are breastfeeding as the quality of your milk does not falter. If you are breastfeeding you will find that it is a lot easier to loose excess weight during the first couple of months after the birth.

There is a program called ‘rebuild your vision‘. It is an eye exercise program aimed at improving vision. While it has little to do with weight loss, taking care of your eyes is important.

Before starting any diets and if you are breastfeeding, it is recommended to speak to your doctor. Many women can create a low anemia after the birth and therefore may need more iron in their diet. Speak to your doctor and find out what is best for you in this new situation to be able to stay healthy and energetic but also to be able to loose the weight you want without damaging yourself.

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