The Side Effects of Seroquel in Children

January 12th, 2012

Seroquel is an antipsychotic medication prescribed to treat mental illnesses, including depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Seroquel is only FDA-approved for use in patients age 18 and older, but one of its off-label uses is to treat mental illness in children and adolescents. This is a fairly common practice in the medical field. Although it is not FDA-approved for children, many of its effects in the younger population are known, and the benefits of taking Seroquel to treat mental illness outweigh the risks in some children and adolescents. It is not known precisely how Seroquel works to treat mental illnesses, but it is believed to affect brain receptors.

  1. Suicidal Thoughts

    • Seroquel and other antidepressants are known to increase the odds of suicidal thoughts and actions in children, teens and young adults. If a patient taking Seroquel presents suicidal behaviors or tendencies, a doctor should be contacted immediately.

    Worsening Mood

    • In rare cases, children and young adults taking Seroquel may begin to exhibit worsening symptoms of depression, including aggressive behavior, agitation, impulsiveness, panic attacks, anxiety attacks and hallucinations. Any changes or worsening of a patient's original symptoms should be reported to a doctor.

    Neurological Effects

    • Some neurological effects of Seroquel could indicate potential complications in some patients. Trembling, confusion, difficulty speaking or concentrating, difficulty swallowing, uncontrolled muscle spasms or movements, seizures, memory loss, facial twitching, numbness or tingling and chronic headaches or dizziness should be reported to a doctor.

    Other Serious Side Effects

    • Other serious side effects possibly developed by children and young adults taking Seroquel include irregular or rapid heartbeat, fever or other flu-like symptoms, muscle pain or weakness, swelling of the feet, hands and legs, increased saliva or drooling and changes to the menstrual cycle. Such symptoms should all be reported to a doctor.

    Less Serious Side Effects

    • Sore throat, nasal congestion, constipation, dry mouth, upset stomach or vomiting, fatigue, weakness or weight gain are all known side effects of Seroquel, but these are not considered cause for concern.

Resources

  • Seroquel facts

Solarium Effects

January 3rd, 2012

One may think of a solarium as being a sunspace or greenhouse, or a room in a house where there are many windows with lots of sunlight; this is accurate. However, suntan beds are also considered solariums. There are known risks to using solariums.

  1. Medications

    • If you are taking certain medications that make your skin sensitive to light or photosensitive, this increases the likelihood that you are going to be burnt when in a solarium. Anti-depressants, high blood pressure medication, anti-inflammatory drugs or drugs that suppress the immune system, antibiotics and medicines that are used topically for skin problems can make your skin more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, and result in burning and damage to your skin.

    The Risks

    • If you use a suntan bed or solarium just once, your chances of suffering from the deadliest - albeit rarest - form of cancer called melanoma increases by 22 percent, according to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. UVB, or ultraviolet, rays in solariums are much stronger than the rays that come from the sun. You are exposing yourself to high levels of radiation. In fact, the rays can be five times as strong as the noonday sun.

      Solariums also emit UVA radiation. Both UVA and UVB rays cause skin cancer. Some solariums have been designed to emit more UV. The higher the level of UV radiation in the solarium, the faster the tanning process. Those who use sun beds or solariums increase their risk of getting melanoma significantly. The risk is even higher if you use a solarium before the age of 35. The risk is then increased by 75 percent. The risk of getting squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is also linked to solarium use.

    Eye and Skin Conditions

    • Eye conditions, like cataracts, skin cancers and the suppression of the immune system can be the result of too much exposure to UV radiation, either from the sun or from artificial sources found in solariums. UV rays can also lead to premature aging.

    Age Restrictions

    • When you expose your skin to UV rays early in life, or in the first 18 years, this plays a critical role in whether or not you may eventually get skin cancer, explains Councilcare.nt.com. The 75 percent increase in melanoma among those who began using solariums as teenagers or in their early twenties suggests that age restrictions should be enforced regarding solarium usage.

The Best Ways to Lose Weight & Gain Energy

November 23rd, 2011
The Best Ways to Lose Weight & Gain Energy

One of the greatest benefits of losing weight is gaining a higher level of energy. When you lose weight, the body does not have to work as hard to maintain basic functions, freeing up that energy for other activities. There are a few factors to consider when losing weight to gain energy.

  1. Start With Exercise

    • Exercise produces energy and stamina in the body. According to an article published on the "Softpedia" website, regular exercise is one of the best ways to combat chronic fatigue or exhaustion Buy Paxil online no prescription. While it may be tempting to take a nap or rest when energy levels are low, exercise will boost energy levels more than any sedentary activity. Exercise is also a key factor in weight loss, which will also lead to more energy.

    Get the Right Amount of Sleep

    • According to an article published on the "Time Magazine" website, research shows that people who get 6.5 to 7.5 hours of sleep each night live longer, healthier lives. Sleeping less or even more than this can result in lower levels of energy (which can deter you from regular exercise) or health problems such as depression, obesity and eventually heart disease. Getting too much sleep can cause problems sleeping soundly through the night, while getting too little sleep will result in fatigue during the day.

    Eat Right

    • Foods that help you lose weight almost always help to boost energy levels. While convenient, this is certainly no coincidence. Eating healthy foods keeps you energized because they provide your body with the essential vitamins and nutrients you need to metabolize. Be sure to eat breakfast; it will give the body the boost it needs to jump-start the day and work to keep you full so you do not end up overeating during other meals.

      Great foods to eat for weight loss and energy gain include whole grains, such as oatmeal and fiber-rich breads; lean proteins, such as white meat chicken or turkey, fish, beans and nuts; fruits, such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, oranges and bananas; vegetables, such as all green vegetables, peppers and carrots; and dairy, such as milk, yogurt and low fat cheese.

      Be sure to incorporate all of these foods into a healthy diet to lose weight and stay energized. Try to avoid foods made with refined carbohydrates and sugars (such as white breads/pastas, candy, baked goods and sodas), since eating these foods will result in weight gain and loss of energy.

How to Monitor Children After Starting Prozac

November 22nd, 2011

Prozac is prescribed for children diagnosed with serious depression. The drug also is given to children who demonstrate early signs of what is considered obsessive-compulsive behavior in an adult. A parent needs to understand how to monitor children after starting Prozac. There are some potential significant side effects associated with Prozac use by children that can be avoided through early intervention.

Difficulty:
Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

  • Notebook
  • Pen or pencil
    • 1

      Starts a journal in which you track any changes in behavior or physical characteristics of a child taking Prozac. Commence making records in the journal before the child starts taking Prozac, if at all possible, so that you have a baseline of conduct and physical characteristics to work from in monitoring use of the medication.

    • 2

      Monitor the mood of a child on Prozac. Because the goal of the medication is to improve a child's mood-relieve her depression, for example-ideally you will see mood improvement. There are rare instances in which a child on Prozac will start to experience suicidal feelings. If you actually see a deterioration in the child's mood, seek medical attention immediately.

    • 3

      Pay attention to the child's appetite while on Prozac. Marked changes in appetite indicates the onset of more severe depression or other type of emotional or mental health issue. Prompt medical attention is necessary if a dietary change occurs.

    • 4

      Make note of a child's sleep habits and overall energy while on Prozac. Medications of this type can render a child a bit drowsy at different points during the day. However, more severe changes in sleep patterns are a sign that something possible is a awry in regard to the child's response to Prozac. A disturbance of this type also needs to be brought to the attention of a doctor.

    • 5

      Maintain a child's dosage of the medication. Never stop giving a child prescribed Prozac on your own volition. Altering or stopping a child's Prozac prescription causes serious problems in many instances. This underscores the need to seek prompt medical attention if there appear to be any issues. A doctor needs to closely supervise removing a child from Prozac.