MEDICATIONS: MEDICATIONS — USING THE CORRECT DOSING DEVICE

MEDICATIONS: MEDICATIONS — USING THE CORRECT DOSING DEVICE

Liquid Medications

Many children's medications come in liquid form because they are easier to swallow than pills. But they must be used correctly. Too often parents misread the directions, giving children several times the recommended dosage. This can be very dangerous, especially if given over a period of several days. Read the instructions carefully. Call your pediatrician if you are not sure how much, how often or for how long to give medications to your child.

When giving your child a liquid medication, do not use standard tableware tablespoons and teaspoons because they usually are not accurate. Instead, use one of the measuring devices listed below. (Many children's medications come with one. If not, ask your pharmacist for the appropriate dosing device). These can help you give the right amount of medication to your child.

Syringes and Oral Droppers
These can be very helpful when giving medication to an infant. Simply squirt the medication between your child's tongue and the side of her mouth. This makes it easier for her to swallow. Avoid squirting the medicine into the back of your child's throat — she is more likely to gag and spit the medication out. If you have a syringe that has a plastic cap, throw the cap into the trash so that it does not fall off in your child's mouth, causing a choking hazard. You do not need to re-cap the syringe.

Dosing Spoons
These can be useful for older children who will open their mouths and "drink" from the spoon.

Medication Cups
These often come as caps on liquid cold and flu medications. Make sure to use the cup that comes with the medication — do not mix and match cups to other products.

MEDICATIONS: MENOPAUSE AND HORMONES

What Is Menopause?

Menopause is a normal change in a woman's life when her period stops. That's why some people call menopause "the change of life" or "the change." During menopause a woman's body slowly produces less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This often happens between the ages of 45 and 55 years old. A woman has reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months in a row.

How do hormones help with menopause?

· Reduce hot flashes

· Treat vaginal dryness

· Slow bone loss

· Who should not take hormone therapy for menopause?

· Women who...

· Think they are pregnant

· Have problems with vaginal bleeding

· Have had certain kinds of cancers

· Have had a stroke or heart attack in the past year

· Have had blood clots

· Have liver disease

What Is Hormone Therapy for Menopause?

Hormone therapy for menopause also has been called hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Lower hormone levels in menopause may lead to hot flashes, vaginal dryness and thin bones. To help with these problems, women are often given estrogen or estrogen with progestin (another hormone). Like all medicines, hormone therapy has risks and benefits. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about hormones. If you decide to use hormones, use them at the lowest dose that helps. Also use them for the shortest time that you need them.

What Are the Symptoms of Menopause?

Every woman's period will stop at menopause. Some women may not have any other symptoms at all. As you near menopause, you may have:

· Changes in your period — time between periods or flow may be different

· Hot flashes ("hot flushes") — getting warm in the face, neck and chest

· Night sweats and sleeping problems that lead to feeling tired, stressed or tense

· Vaginal changes — the vagina may become dry and thin, and sex may be painful

· Thinning of your bones, which may lead to loss of height and bone breaks (osteoporosis)

Who Needs Treatment for Symptoms of Menopause?

For some women, many of these changes will go away over time without treatment.

Some women will choose treatment for their symptoms and to prevent bone loss. If you choose treatment, estrogen alone or estrogen with progestin (for a woman who still has her uterus or womb) can be used.

What Are the Benefits From Using Hormones for Menopause?

Hormone therapy is the most effective FDA-approved medicine for relief of hot flashes, night sweats or vaginal dryness.

Hormones may reduce your chances of getting thin, weak bones (osteoporosis) that break easily.

What Are the Risks of Using Hormones?

For some women, hormone therapy may increase their chances of getting blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer and gall bladder disease. For a woman with a uterus, estrogen increases her chance of getting endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine lining). Adding progestin lowers this risk.

Should I Use Estrogen Just to Prevent Thin Bones?

You can, but there also are other medicines and things you can do to help your bones.

Should I Use Hormone Therapy to Protect the Heart or Prevent Strokes?

No, do not use hormone therapy to prevent heart attacks or strokes.

Should I Use Hormone Therapy to Prevent Memory Loss or Alzheimer's Disease?

No, do not use hormone therapy to prevent memory loss or Alzheimer's disease.

Do Hormones Protect Against Aging and Wrinkles or Increase My Sex Drive?

Studies have not shown that hormone therapy prevents aging and wrinkles or increases sex drive.

How Long Should I Use Hormones for Menopause?

You should talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Again, hormones should be used at the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time. (For example, check if you still need them every three to six months.)

Does It Make a Difference What Form of Hormones I Use for Menopause?

The risks and benefits may be the same for all hormone products for menopause, such as pills, patches, vaginal creams, gels and rings.

Are Herbs and Other "Natural" Products Useful in Treating Symptoms of Menopause?

At this time, we do not know if herbs or other "natural" products are helpful or safe. Studies are being done to learn about the benefits and risks.

What Can I Do to Improve My Health Whether I Am Using Hormones or Not?

· Be active and get more exercise

· Don't smoke

· Eat right and control your weight

· Talk with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist and have regular check ups

· Discuss bone health; ask if you should take calcium and vitamin D

· Have your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked

· Have a breast exam and a breast X-ray (mammogram)

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