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Prioritize Exercise
Prioritize Exercise
Just 20 minutes of exercise can energize you, help boost your mood, and even improve your sleep. Take a brisk walk, ride your bike, work in the garden -- find a way to move your body every day so you’re in good shape to take care of your child. |
Don’t Skimp on Sleep
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Prioritize Exercise Just 20 minutes of exercise can energize you, help boost your mood, and even improve your sleep. Take a brisk walk, ride your bike, work in the garden -- find a way to move your body every day so you’re in good shape to take care of your child. woman sleeping 6 / 11 Don’t Skimp on Sleep Exhaustion makes stress worse. Good sleep is key for your health and the energy you need to care for your child. Your goal should be 8 hours a night. Prep yourself for good shut-eye by cutting off caffeine early in the day, turning off screens an hour before bed, and sticking to a bedtime schedule as best you can. If worries about your child are keeping you up at night, talk to your doctor about how to get the rest you need. |
Don’t Skimp on Sleep
Don’t Skimp on Sleep
Exhaustion makes stress worse. Good sleep is key for your health and the energy you need to care for your child. Your goal should be 8 hours a night. Prep yourself for good shut-eye by cutting off caffeine early in the day, turning off screens an hour before bed, and sticking to a bedtime schedule as best you can. If worries about your child are keeping you up at night, talk to your doctor about how to get the rest you need. |
Eat Well
Eat Well
It’s easy to pick up bad eating habits when you’re so focused on your child. But without the right nutrition, you’ll end up feeling run down. Start with simple changes. Instead of raiding the hospital’s vending machine, carry healthy snacks with you, like baby carrots, trail mix, or granola bars. To avoid eating out, say yes when friends or neighbors offer to cook meals for you. If you need help rethinking your diet, talk to your doctor or a dietitian. Friends talking 7 / 11 Be Smart About Stress When mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion build up without relief, it can lead to what’s called “caregiver burnout.” Watch for the signs: trouble with your sleep or appetite, feeling very anxious or irritable, or a “checked out,” empty feeling. It may be hard to notice these changes in yourself, so ask family or friends to let you know if they |
Be Smart About Stress
Be Smart About Stress
When mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion build up without relief, it can lead to what’s called “caregiver burnout.” Watch for the signs: trouble with your sleep or appetite, feeling very anxious or irritable, or a “checked out,” empty feeling. It may be hard to notice these changes in yourself, so ask family or friends to let you know if they think you’re getting burned out. Take them seriously if they bring it up. |
Be Smart About Stress
Be Smart About Stress
When mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion build up without relief, it can lead to what’s called “caregiver burnout.” Watch for the signs: trouble with your sleep or appetite, feeling very anxious or irritable, or a “checked out,” empty feeling. It may be hard to notice these changes in yourself, so ask family or friends to let you know if they think you’re getting burned out. Take them seriously if they bring it up. meditation 8 / 11 Find Your Calm Relaxation techniques send a powerful message to a stressed body and mind. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing are all good ways to feel calm. Keep a journal, even if it’s just to write down the things you’re thankful for each day. If spirituality is part of your life, praying or talking to a spiritual leader can help center |
Find Your Calm
Find Your Calm
Relaxation techniques send a powerful message to a stressed body and mind. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing are all good ways to feel calm. Keep a journal, even if it’s just to write down the things you’re thankful for each day. If spirituality is part of your life, praying or talking to a spiritual leader can help center your thoughts and handle stress. Mom and daughter 9 / 11 Look for Laughs When it comes to stress, laughter really can be some of the best medicine. A good laugh can help with blood flow, relax your muscles, and flood your body with chemicals that make you feel good. Cracking up with your child is even better -- you’ll both benefit from the release of a good giggle. Up Next What Can We Do About Chemo Side Effects? . |
Look for Laughs
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Find Your Calm Look for Laughs When it comes to stress, laughter really can be some of the best medicine. A good laugh can help with blood flow, relax your muscles, and flood your body with chemicals that make you feel good. Cracking up with your child is even better -- you’ll both benefit from the release of a good giggle. |
What Medicines Can Make You Tired
What Medicines Can Make You Tired?
In this Article Medications That Cause Fatigue What You Can Do You expect to feel tired if you take a sleeping pill, but other kinds of medications can cause fatigue, too. It’s one of the most common side effects of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. When medicines make you tired, it is often because they affect chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters. Your nerves use them to carry messages to each other. Some of them control how awake or sleepy you feel. Medications That Cause Fatigue Some of the most common drugs that can make you tired are: Allergy medications (antihistamines), such as diphenhydramine, brompheniramine (Bromfed, Dimetapp), hydroxyzine (Vistaril, Atarax), and meclizine (Antivert). Some of these antihistamines are in sleeping pills, too. Antidepressants. One type of antidepressant called tricyclics can make you feel tired and sleepy. Some are more likely to do that than others, like amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip), doxepin (Silenor, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil, Tofranil PM), and trimipramine (Surmontil). Anxiety medications. Benzodiazepines like alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan) can make you feel drowsy or weak for a few hours to several days, depending on which one you take. Blood pressure medications. Beta-blockers, like atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor), metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL), and propranolol hydrochloride (Inderal), to name a few. They work by slowing down your heart, which can make you tired. Cancer treatment. Different types of cancer treatment can make you very tired by changing protein and hormones levels in your body. As they kill cancer cells, they also damage or destroy some normal cells. Then your body has to spend extra energy to fix or clean up the cells. Gut medications. Drugs that control nausea, keep you from throwing up, or treat diarrhea can make you sleepy. Muscle relaxants. Most muscle relaxants don’t work on your muscles directly. Instead, they work on the nerves in your brain and spine to make the muscles relax. Their effects on your nervous system can make you tired. Some common muscle relaxants are carisoprodol (Soma) and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril). Opioid pain medications. Opioids act like the chemicals your body makes to control pain, called endorphins. Common ones are morphine, oxymorphone (Opana, Opana ER), oxycodone (OxyContin, OxyIR), fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora), oxycodone and aspirin (Percodan), oxycodone and acetaminophen (Percocet, Roxicet), and hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin). 1 2 View All |
Some Things Don’t Mix Well
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
pill box 1 / 16 Some Things Don’t Mix Well You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from. |
Pharmacy and Medication Tips
Pharmacy and Medication Tips
All medications sold in the U.S. can be divided into two categories: • Prescription drugs that require a prescription to be sold •Nonprescription or over-the-counter drugs that do not require a prescription from a doctor Prescription drugs are generally more potent than those sold over-the-counter (OTC) and may have more serious side effects if inappropriately used. Therefore, these medications are only sold under a doctor's direction. These directions are written on a prescription by your doctor, then double-checked, packaged, and sold to you by a pharmacist. Your pharmacist will also counsel you on how to use your medication and the drug's potential side effects. You should use only one pharmacy to fill your prescriptions. That way, you will have a single, complete source for all of your medications. The pharmacist will be more likely to pick up potential interactions among them and contact your doctor if needed. This applies to OTC as well as prescription drugs. When you fill your prescription at the pharmacy, make sure to do the following: •Your pharmacist must have the same information as your doctor regarding your medications and past reactions you have had (again, no reaction is too trivial to bring up). •If there are children in the home, make sure to ask for child-resistant lids. •If no children are in the household, your pharmacist may be able to provide you with easier opening lids. If you have children visiting, put the medication out of their reach. •If the medication is a liquid, get a measuring device with the prescription -- usually a measuring teaspoon or a medical syringe. Don't trust the volume of your home teaspoon or your ability to guess. •Find out how the medication should be stored. Most people leave their medications in their bathroom medicine cabinet. This is arguably the worst place in the house for pills, because the humidity in a bathroom can make them break down more easily. Other drugs need to be refrigerated. Find out about yours before you leave the drug store. •Before you leave the pharmacy, also check to make sure the medication you are given matches your doctor's prescription. Look at the directions for taking the medication. Do these match what the doctor told you? Ask the pharmacist any questions you have. •If you accidentally use a medication or a substance not meant for you, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 or call 911. Keep these numbers handy in case of an emergency. |
Some Things Don’t Mix Well
Some Things Don’t Mix Well
You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from. Halved grapefruit 2 / 16 Grapefruit This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor |
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
Milk
This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from |
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
pill box 4 / 16 Some Things Don’t Mix Well You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from. Halved grapefruit 4 / 16 Grapefruit This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor). glass milk 4 / 16 Milk This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from. black licorice 4 / 16 Licorice Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs. |
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
pill box 5 / 16 Some Things Don’t Mix Well You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from. Halved grapefruit 5 / 16 Grapefruit This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor). glass milk 5 / 16 Milk This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from. black licorice 5 / 16 Licorice Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs. dark chocolate 5 / 16 Chocolate Dark chocolate in particular can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidem tartrate (Ambien). It also can boost the power of some stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate (Ritalin). And if you take an MAO inhibitor, used to treat depression, it can make your blood pressure dangerously high. |
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
Iron Supplement
This can lower the effects of levothyroxine (Synthroid), a medicine that gives you thyroid hormone when your body doesn’t make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism). If you take this medication and a multivitamin, check to see if the vitamin has iron in it. If you need an iron supplement, ask your doctor about taking it and your medication at different times. |
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
pill box 7 / 16 Some Things Don’t Mix Well You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from. Halved grapefruit 7 / 16 Grapefruit This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor). glass milk 7 / 16 Milk This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from. black licorice 7 / 16 Licorice Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs. dark chocolate 7 / 16 Chocolate Dark chocolate in particular can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidem tartrate (Ambien). It also can boost the power of some stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate (Ritalin). And if you take an MAO inhibitor, used to treat depression, it can make your blood pressure dangerously high. iron supplement pills 7 / 16 Iron Supplement This can lower the effects of levothyroxine (Synthroid), a medicine that gives you thyroid hormone when your body doesn’t make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism). If you take this medication and a multivitamin, check to see if the vitamin has iron in it. If you need an iron supplement, ask your doctor about taking it and your medication at different times. Pill bottle 7 / 16 Alcohol This makes certain drugs less effective or even useless, including some blood pressure and heart medicines. It also can make others stronger than they should be or cause dangerous side effects. |
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
pill box 8 / 16 Some Things Don’t Mix Well You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from. Halved grapefruit 8 / 16 Grapefruit This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor). glass milk 8 / 16 Milk This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from. black licorice 8 / 16 Licorice Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs. dark chocolate 8 / 16 Chocolate Dark chocolate in particular can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidem tartrate (Ambien). It also can boost the power of some stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate (Ritalin). And if you take an MAO inhibitor, used to treat depression, it can make your blood pressure dangerously high. iron supplement pills 8 / 16 Iron Supplement This can lower the effects of levothyroxine (Synthroid), a medicine that gives you thyroid hormone when your body doesn’t make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism). If you take this medication and a multivitamin, check to see if the vitamin has iron in it. If you need an iron supplement, ask your doctor about taking it and your medication at different times. Pill bottle 8 / 16 Alcohol This makes certain drugs less effective or even useless, including some blood pressure and heart medicines. It also can make others stronger than they should be or cause dangerous side effects. drinking coffee 8 / 16 Coffee It can weaken antipsychotic drugs like lithium and clozapine, but boost the effects -- and side effects -- of others. Those include aspirin, epinephrine (used to treat serious allergic reactions), and albuterol (taken by inhaler for breathing problems). It can also make it harder for your body to take in and use iron |
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
16
Coffee It can weaken antipsychotic drugs like lithium and clozapine, but boost the effects -- and side effects -- of others. Those include aspirin, epinephrine (used to treat serious allergic reactions), and albuterol (taken by inhaler for breathing problems). It can also make it harder for your body to take in and use iron. Doctor and patient 9 / 16 Antihistamines These help with the sneezing and runny nose caused by allergies, but some of them can make medication for high blood pressure less effective and raise your heart rate. Talk to your doctor about other ways to manage your allergies if you take blood pressure medicine |
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
pill box 10 / 16 Some Things Don’t Mix Well You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from. Halved grapefruit 10 / 16 Grapefruit This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor). glass milk 10 / 16 Milk This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from. black licorice 10 / 16 Licorice Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs. dark chocolate 10 / 16 Chocolate Dark chocolate in particular can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidem tartrate (Ambien). It also can boost the power of some stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate (Ritalin). And if you take an MAO inhibitor, used to treat depression, it can make your blood pressure dangerously high. iron supplement pills 10 / 16 Iron Supplement This can lower the effects of levothyroxine (Synthroid), a medicine that gives you thyroid hormone when your body doesn’t make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism). If you take this medication and a multivitamin, check to see if the vitamin has iron in it. If you need an iron supplement, ask your doctor about taking it and your medication at different times. Pill bottle 10 / 16 Alcohol This makes certain drugs less effective or even useless, including some blood pressure and heart medicines. It also can make others stronger than they should be or cause dangerous side effects. drinking coffee 10 / 16 Coffee It can weaken antipsychotic drugs like lithium and clozapine, but boost the effects -- and side effects -- of others. Those include aspirin, epinephrine (used to treat serious allergic reactions), and albuterol (taken by inhaler for breathing problems). It can also make it harder for your body to take in and use iron. Doctor and patient 10 / 16 Antihistamines These help with the sneezing and runny nose caused by allergies, but some of them can make medication for high blood pressure less effective and raise your heart rate. Talk to your doctor about other ways to manage your allergies if you take blood pressure medicine. Reading drug label 10 / 16 Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs) These control seizures in people who have epilepsy. But AEDs can make birth control pills less able to prevent pregnancy, and early research shows they may make other drugs stronger and cause potentially serious side effects. |
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
pill box 11 / 16 Some Things Don’t Mix Well You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from. Halved grapefruit 11 / 16 Grapefruit This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor). glass milk 11 / 16 Milk This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from. black licorice 11 / 16 Licorice Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs. dark chocolate 11 / 16 Chocolate Dark chocolate in particular can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidem tartrate (Ambien). It also can boost the power of some stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate (Ritalin). And if you take an MAO inhibitor, used to treat depression, it can make your blood pressure dangerously high. iron supplement pills 11 / 16 Iron Supplement This can lower the effects of levothyroxine (Synthroid), a medicine that gives you thyroid hormone when your body doesn’t make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism). If you take this medication and a multivitamin, check to see if the vitamin has iron in it. If you need an iron supplement, ask your doctor about taking it and your medication at different times. Pill bottle 11 / 16 Alcohol This makes certain drugs less effective or even useless, including some blood pressure and heart medicines. It also can make others stronger than they should be or cause dangerous side effects. drinking coffee 11 / 16 Coffee It can weaken antipsychotic drugs like lithium and clozapine, but boost the effects -- and side effects -- of others. Those include aspirin, epinephrine (used to treat serious allergic reactions), and albuterol (taken by inhaler for breathing problems). It can also make it harder for your body to take in and use iron. Doctor and patient 11 / 16 Antihistamines These help with the sneezing and runny nose caused by allergies, but some of them can make medication for high blood pressure less effective and raise your heart rate. Talk to your doctor about other ways to manage your allergies if you take blood pressure medicine. Reading drug label 11 / 16 Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs) These control seizures in people who have epilepsy. But AEDs can make birth control pills less able to prevent pregnancy, and early research shows they may make other drugs stronger and cause potentially serious side effects. broccoli 11 / 16 Vitamin K If you take the drug warfarin -- used to treat and prevent blood clots -- be aware of how much vitamin K you take in. It can make the blood thinner less effective and put you at higher risk of a dangerous blood clot. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, parsley, and spinach are some of the most common foods high in vitamin K. Try to eat the same amount of these foods every day so the level of warfarin in your blood stays the same. |
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
Things That Can Affect Your Medication
pill box 12 / 16 Some Things Don’t Mix Well You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from. Halved grapefruit 12 / 16 Grapefruit This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor). glass milk 12 / 16 Milk This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from. black licorice 12 / 16 Licorice Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs. dark chocolate 12 / 16 Chocolate Dark chocolate in particular can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidem tartrate (Ambien). It also can boost the power of some stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate (Ritalin). And if you take an MAO inhibitor, used to treat depression, it can make your blood pressure dangerously high. iron supplement pills 12 / 16 Iron Supplement This can lower the effects of levothyroxine (Synthroid), a medicine that gives you thyroid hormone when your body doesn’t make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism). If you take this medication and a multivitamin, check to see if the vitamin has iron in it. If you need an iron supplement, ask your doctor about taking it and your medication at different times. Pill bottle 12 / 16 Alcohol This makes certain drugs less effective or even useless, including some blood pressure and heart medicines. It also can make others stronger than they should be or cause dangerous side effects. drinking coffee 12 / 16 Coffee It can weaken antipsychotic drugs like lithium and clozapine, but boost the effects -- and side effects -- of others. Those include aspirin, epinephrine (used to treat serious allergic reactions), and albuterol (taken by inhaler for breathing problems). It can also make it harder for your body to take in and use iron. Doctor and patient 12 / 16 Antihistamines These help with the sneezing and runny nose caused by allergies, but some of them can make medication for high blood pressure less effective and raise your heart rate. Talk to your doctor about other ways to manage your allergies if you take blood pressure medicine. Reading drug label 12 / 16 Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs) These control seizures in people who have epilepsy. But AEDs can make birth control pills less able to prevent pregnancy, and early research shows they may make other drugs stronger and cause potentially serious side effects. broccoli 12 / 16 Vitamin K If you take the drug warfarin -- used to treat and prevent blood clots -- be aware of how much vitamin K you take in. It can make the blood thinner less effective and put you at higher risk of a dangerous blood clot. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, parsley, and spinach are some of the most common foods high in vitamin K. Try to eat the same amount of these foods every day so the level of warfarin in your blood stays the same. ginseng root tea 12 / 16 Ginseng This can lower the effects of warfarin, too. And it can make you more likely to have internal bleeding if you take the blood thinners heparin or aspirin, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen. If you take MAO inhibitors, ginseng can cause headaches, sleep problems, hyperactivity, and nervousness. |
St. John's Wort
Sometimes used to help people with depression, this herbal remedy isn’t a proven treatment for that or any other health condition. It can make your liver release enzymes (things that boost certain chemical reactions in your body) that can weaken some medications. Those include cholesterol drugs like lovastatin (Altoprev and Mevacor), the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil (Viagra), and digoxin (Lanoxin), used to treat certain heart conditions |
Ginkgo Biloba
Some people use this herb to help with or prevent high blood pressure, dementia, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and other conditions, but there’s no research that shows it does any of that. It can weaken the effect of drugs used to control seizures, including carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, and Tegretol), and valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote, and Stavzor). |
Take as Directed
Only about 50% of medication is taken as it’s prescribed. People often take less than they need, take it at random times, or leave big gaps between doses -- all of which can weaken the effects. Make sure you understand your treatment plan and follow your doctor’s instructions. |
Stretch Marks Are Scars
If your skin is stretched farther than it’s used to in a short period of time -- during pregnancy or a childhood growth spurt, for example -- the elastic fibers in your skin can tear. Those damaged areas make long, thin scars called stretch marks. They can show up as pink, red, or purple streaks. |
Where You Get Them
You won’t get stretch marks on your face, hands, or feet, but they can be almost anywhere else. They’re most likely to be where your body stores fat, like your belly, hips, thighs, breasts, and buttocks. You also might notice them on your lower back or the backs of your arms. Genetics may play a role in stretch marks. For example, if your mother got them on her thighs during pregnancy, you may be more likely to have them there |
Stretch Marks: Causes and Treatment
Stretch Marks: Causes and Treatment
fingers by stretch marks close up 3 / 16 Stretch Marks Are Scars If your skin is stretched farther than it’s used to in a short period of time -- during pregnancy or a childhood growth spurt, for example -- the elastic fibers in your skin can tear. Those damaged areas make long, thin scars called stretch marks. They can show up as pink, red, or purple streaks. hip with stretch marks close up 3 / 16 Where You Get Them You won’t get stretch marks on your face, hands, or feet, but they can be almost anywhere else. They’re most likely to be where your body stores fat, like your belly, hips, thighs, breasts, and buttocks. You also might notice them on your lower back or the backs of your arms. Genetics may play a role in stretch marks. For example, if your mother got them on her thighs during pregnancy, you may be more likely to have them there. stretch marks on teens back 3 / 16 Anyone Can Get Them An estimated 50% to 90% of women have them, but men can get them, too. It’s also common for teen girls (breasts, thighs, hips, or buttocks) and boys (lower backs or hips) to get stretch marks during growth spurts |
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Anyone Can Get Them An estimated 50% to 90% of women have them, but men can get them, too. It’s also common for teen girls (breasts, thighs, hips, or buttocks) and boys (lower backs or hips) to get stretch marks during growth spurts. senior couple at the beach 4 / 16 They Don’t Go Away Like any other scars, stretch marks are permanent. But in time, they usually fade and become a little lighter than the rest of your skin -- they may look white or silvery. If you feel self-conscious about them, remember, more than half of adults have them. |
Cause: Weight Gain
You can get stretch marks when you’re young and your body is changing quickly. The more weight you gain and the faster you gain it, the more likely you are to have stretch marks. Putting on lots of muscle mass quickly, as bodybuilders sometimes do, can also cause them |
Cause: Pregnancy
They’re most common during and after your sixth month. Your body expands as your baby grows, but that might not be the only reason for stretch marks. Changes in your hormones during pregnancy can affect your skin and make it more likely to “tear.” |
Cause: Pregnancy
They’re most common during and after your sixth month. Your body expands as your baby grows, but that might not be the only reason for stretch marks. Changes in your hormones during pregnancy can affect your skin and make it more likely to “tear.” birth control pills close up 7 / 16 Cause: Medication Some drugs can cause weight gain, swelling, bloating, or other physical changes that stretch your skin and lead to stretch marks. Hormones (like birth control pills) and corticosteroids (which ease inflamed areas of your body) are two that can do this. If you take a medication and are concerned about stretch marks, talk to your doctor about things you can do about them |
Cause: Medical Conditions
Any health condition that leads to weight gain, sudden growth, or skin problems may cause stretch marks. Some medical conditions lead to physical changes that can bring them on. For example, problems with your adrenal glands, like Cushing’s disease and rare conditions like Marfan and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (which affect the tissues that connect body parts), can make you more likely to get them |
Can You Prevent Them?
Experts think genetics play a role in stretch marks, but if your parents had them, that doesn’t mean you will, too. One of the best ways to prevent them is to keep your weight steady. Drinking plenty of water may help prevent damage when your skin stretches. And foods that keep your skin healthy may cut your odds, too. Eat foods rich in zinc, like nuts and fish, and ones with vitamins A, C, and D, like citrus, milk, and sweet potatoes. |
See a Dermatologist
A board-certified skin specialist is the best person to talk with about skin issues, including stretch marks. She can tell you about the best treatments for your skin type, and ways to lower your odds of getting more. Be sure to tell her all the medications you take (including vitamins and over-the-counter drugs) and if you’ve had any other health problems |
What May Help: Retinol Products
Retinol, which comes from vitamin A, may help make stretch marks less obvious. It makes your skin cells shed, or “turn over,” faster and may make new skin grow faster, too. The catch: You have to start using it soon after stretch marks show up, and then use it regularly for it to work. And the type of retinol that’s been shown to work (tretinoin) is only available by prescription. Talk to your dermatologist about whether you should try it |
What May Help: Laser Therapy
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery says laser or light therapy can make stretch marks less noticeable -- light triggers skin changes that help stretch marks blend in. Research shows they’re most effective for medium-tone skin. Laser treatments can be expensive, and it can take 20 sessions to see results. If you go the laser route, see a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who has worked with your skin tone |
What May Help: Self-Tanning Products
These lotions and sprays can darken your stretch marks and make your all-over skin tone look more even. That can make them less obvious, especially if they’re white or very light in color. You may have to try different products and shades before you find one that works best for you |
Not Likely to Help: Exfoliating
Ads for exfoliating treatments may claim that they make stretch marks less noticeable. Scrubs, buffs, and microdermabrasion (this removes the top layer of skin with a tool) can make your skin smoother. But there’s no proof that any of these treatments actually help -- and some dermatologists think microdermabrasion may make stretch marks worse |
Not Likely to Help: Exfoliating
Ads for exfoliating treatments may claim that they make stretch marks less noticeable. Scrubs, buffs, and microdermabrasion (this removes the top layer of skin with a tool) can make your skin smoother. But there’s no proof that any of these treatments actually help -- and some dermatologists think microdermabrasion may make stretch marks worse. rubbing moisturizer on belly 15 / 16 Not Likely to Help: Most Lotions and Creams Many skin products claim to fade stretch marks. But there’s little evidence that over-the-counter products can fix the torn elastic fibers that cause them. And experts don’t know if rubbing oils or cocoa butter products will prevent stretch marks during pregnancy, either. They may make your stretching skin less itchy, though, which can make you more comfortable |
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