tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27343451337752729112012-02-16T04:30:17.293-05:00A pediatric pharmacist and mom of two young children speaks out about vaccines, prescription medication and over the counter (OTC) medicine for infants, children and adolescentsCatherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.comBlogger731100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-15713346239297265202011-05-18T09:15:00.010-04:002011-05-18T10:19:15.975-04:00

"Run for your eyes!" my daughter cried as I sprinted back into the house from the playground last Monday. Normally that line would tickle me; my daughter's friend thought that was the actual line and introduced us to it. I wasn't laughing this time, because it was true; I had to run to save my eyes.My seasonal allergies had been pretty much under control until last Monday when I sat outside to

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-89042765784998614332011-02-16T02:35:00.003-05:002011-02-16T03:25:37.438-05:00

Having knowledge about common childhood infections does not mean that I always know when to bring my children in to the pediatrician when they have signs and symptoms of colds. In fact, there have been a few times when I knew the cause was viral and there would be nothing for the pediatrician to offer, but I made an appointment anyway. I needed to prove to myself that that was the case and

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-38184370410146952032010-06-02T17:28:00.008-04:002010-06-02T23:38:10.115-04:00

Not too long ago, I blogged about my son's decaying teeth from breast milk. We just finished a series of visits to remove the decay and then place crowns on his four front teeth. He was a champ overall, despite waterfalls of tears. However, every morning he has been asking, "No doctor? No doctor?" The poor boy has suffered through immunizations, local anesthetic injections, drilling, and

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-27242734284553434562010-05-01T13:02:00.003-04:002010-05-07T12:26:44.311-04:00

A voluntary recall of certain children's over-the-counter liquid medicines has been issued by the McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit of Johnson & Johnson. These products include Tylenol Infants' Drops, Children's Tylenol Suspensions, Infants' Motrin Drops, Children's Zyrtec Liquid in bottles, and Children's Benadryl Allergy liquids in bottles. "Manufacturing deficiencies" may affect affect the

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-4129537226880504292010-04-17T12:34:00.004-04:002010-04-17T13:01:42.800-04:00

Both of my children needed to take antibiotics for their Strep infections a couple of weeks ago. My 4 year-old daughter did not like the appearance or taste of cefdinir (OMNICEF) suspension and my 23 month-old son was suspicious about the cold, pink liquid known as amoxicillin suspension. In fact, my son actually sprayed out the first dose in its entirety. Funny, but these two antibiotics are

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-30174233864581968782010-03-31T11:56:00.003-04:002010-03-31T12:12:42.645-04:00

Of course, while we're worried about my toddler catching the strep, I'm the one who falls. The night my daughter was diagnosed with Scarlet Fever, I felt cold, achy, and my throat bothered me. Maybe it was psychosomatic. Too bad I was feeling the same way the next day. My worst fear is having another ear infection like the one I had last summer. I described it on another blog and thought you

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-91312722668052917412010-03-30T10:12:00.005-04:002010-03-30T11:02:48.243-04:00

It started with a low-grade temperature, sneezes, and general fatigue on Thursday. She did mention a sore throat (which made me think Strep throat right away). I kept my daughter home from preschool. Each time I measured her axillary (under armpit) temperature it was normal, but her tactile temperature felt much warmer. She even looked flushed. In the afternoon, it actually was 98.9 degrees F (at

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-63017186756769322122010-03-20T07:33:00.005-04:002010-03-20T08:09:49.725-04:00

Today wraps up National Poison Prevention Week, but educating families about poison prevention is a passion that I can and will sport all year round. I love surprising parents and kids about how much some medicines look like candy, how some cleaners look like drinks, and how children can access child-proof items. Yesterday, I went into my daughter's preschool class of four and five year-olds. I

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-56548480383505518852010-03-11T02:49:00.003-05:002010-03-11T03:16:14.039-05:00

I let my daughter run hand-in-hand with her friend from the library to the playground under the supervision of the friend's nanny. In the meantime, I was getting her jacket from the car. As soon as I turned my back, I heard a cry. I ran to her with my son in my arms. She was holding up her arm and I saw a spot of blood. The nanny said it was just a bruise, but I wanted to be sure. I took her back

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-48160134664514645862010-02-20T04:59:00.005-05:002010-02-20T06:30:15.194-05:00

Not all Maalox products are interchangeable. Most parents think of antacids (for heartburn) when they hear the name Maalox, but Maalox Total Relief contains an anti-diarrheal agent. Recently, the FDA warned consumers to avoid Maalox mix-ups because the active ingredient in Maalox Total Relief, bismuth subsalicylate (related to aspirin), can cause serious side effects if it is taken by children

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-1999362014388592002010-02-18T09:42:00.006-05:002010-02-18T10:19:51.174-05:00

My 21-month son had a cold for about 2 weeks. I know my mother-in-law wagged her finger at me (even over the phone) when I told her we didn't visit our pediatrician. I didn't even call him. No, no medications either for his runny nose or cough (I presumed from postnasal drip). Yes, we did have a few rough nights, but I wasn't worried because he was drooling so much. Teething. It really wasn't fun

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-38629185978478502152010-02-04T03:22:00.005-05:002010-02-06T07:53:00.396-05:00

Something I never thought about until I had to appeal to the health insurance company: schedule annual physicals at least 366 days after your last one if you want to avoid insurance claim nuisances. My daughter had her physical on 12/16/08 and her next one exactly a year later on 12/16/09. Maybe I should have taken it as a sign when it turned out that the appointment was never actually placed on

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-74525538724170204942010-01-31T02:26:00.007-05:002010-02-04T04:33:45.481-05:00

The decision to wean your child from the breast can either be an easy one or a hard one with strong emotions attached. Breastfeeding exclusively (without supplementation) is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for at least "the first 6 months of a baby's life and support should be given for breastfeeding for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by mother and child."

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-14600054162323252372010-01-26T04:14:00.004-05:002010-01-26T05:24:49.164-05:00

At my last doctor's visit, I asked for a new prescription for hydrochlorothiazide. Expecting my doctor to pull out her prescription pad like she always does, she surprised me with her iPod Touch. After a few questions and some brushes on the screen, the gadget emitted a sound to indicate that the prescription had been sent to my pharmacy. New decade, new technology for the practice? E-prescribing

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-60844232505690081382010-01-05T19:49:00.001-05:002010-01-06T12:30:33.221-05:00

I am a firm believer of prepping the kids about doctor's visits and "pokeys". I explain everything to my 4 year-old daughter, sometimes too much, but she seems to get it. Maybe I should have taken it as a sign that she cried a bit when she got her DTaP, IPV, and PPD test just a couple of weeks ago. Removing the bandage? That was another fight in itself. Anyway, as we got closer to her next

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-733534274284703152009-12-21T13:50:00.005-05:002009-12-21T19:52:20.736-05:00

I became a pharmacist long before I became interested in baking. In fact, my first batch of chocolate chip cookies were too salty. The second and future batches were too hard and oddly shaped. I did master oatmeal-craisin cookies, which made it into my repertoire of baked goods. Soon this list expanded to banana bread and chocolate cake from scratch. Recently, I made pumpkin bread, pumpkin pound

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-37199025040499286252009-12-19T05:50:00.003-05:002009-12-19T06:47:18.198-05:00

I took my 4-year-old daughter for her physical the day after her birthday. Since she will be entering kindergarten next year, she needed some vaccines (MMR, varicella, DTaP, and IPV) and a PPD (purified protein derivative) skin test for tuberculosis (TB). I was prepared to bring her back to the office in 2 days (usually 48-72 hours after being placed) to have her forearm read, but was told by the

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-15876590223025869772009-12-08T00:52:00.005-05:002009-12-08T01:19:17.735-05:00

I'm talking about medicine bottles. I just saw a blurb in a recent issue of Fairfield Parent about the new MedSafe, "a first-of-its-kind electronic lockbox...to help parents safely and conveniently store prescription medications and keep their children safe." It holds up to 15 (standard) bottles of prescription medicine. (Bottles for liquid medicine would probably change that number.) Good to

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-57200510092154589922009-12-05T07:33:00.003-05:002009-12-05T07:44:44.225-05:00

Well, my son is almost 19-months and he still isn't walking. He is one heck of a scoocher, though, and he just started crawling at about 17 months. Although the pediatrician has stated that he will pick up walking at his own pace, I decided to start up once weekly physical therapy for him again through Connecticut's Birth to Three system (early intervention). In a matter of days, he has picked up

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-24568464306750630742009-11-22T03:28:00.006-05:002009-11-22T04:34:42.066-05:00

Rather than getting caught up and frustrated about the availability (or lack) of the different flu vaccines, why not channel that energy into finding fun ways to teach your child how to stay healthy? Here is a cute song and video by the Jimmies called "Do the Elephant." If you have Satellite Radio, you may have heard it on Kids Place Live.Click here for a handwashing Video for Children (13-minute

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-3743145905440176722009-11-17T03:02:00.007-05:002009-11-17T03:49:04.000-05:00

I remember not too long ago, a friend of mine was complaining that the pharmacist asked her too many questions when she was getting her prescription filled. "What were you asked?" I wondered aloud. It turns out she was prompted to provide information about her weight, whether she was pregnant or breastfeeding, what other medications had she taken in the past, and what other medications is she on

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-65007865337720745152009-11-07T07:26:00.003-05:002009-11-07T08:13:50.404-05:00

I have already received the e-mail below twice from two different moms, and it is undoubtedly being spread like a cold virus from mom to mom. The email was meant to be helpful, but the information is not accurate. It is not always easy to tell which is which. It is also unknown where the content is from. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a good FAQ about cold vs. flu (and a good

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-89850886067883973602009-10-27T05:03:00.005-04:002009-10-27T05:30:35.468-04:00

It's understandable that parents are concerned about the H1N1 flu virus, but it is not safe to purchase products offered for sale over the internet (or in stores) that claim to diagnose, prevent, or otherwise act against this virus. These products (shampoo that protects against the virus, dietary supplement to protect infants and young children from contracting the virus, a "new" supplement that

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-3917246685440113742009-10-24T06:08:00.004-04:002009-10-24T07:20:04.084-04:00

How did I get interested in pharmacy? I didn't know I was going to be a pharmacist until I attended a college fair in Chinatown and went to the first booth listed alphabetically. There, a tall, friendly Dean and an Asian upperclassman (who actually finished pharmacy school and went to medical school) told me fascinating things about the profession of pharmacy. I applied to Albany College of

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-85275858951776469892009-10-11T05:04:00.007-04:002009-10-11T06:01:09.342-04:00

It is inevitable. Every time I put my daughter into a new aquarium of preschoolers (camp, play group, school), she gets a cold. I know better than to send her to school, or swim lessons in the summer, if she has had a fever overnight, or is lethargic and just not herself. This time, she just woke up over the weekend congested and she sneezed out a lot of clear "gook," but nothing else was

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-86003813939677811072009-09-30T13:22:00.003-04:002009-09-30T13:36:50.720-04:00

These are good quick (about 2.5 minutes, or less) consumer update videos from the FDA. For more information, go to www.fda.gov/consumer.FDA 101: Product Recalls (video) - This explains why products get recalled by the FDA.Avoiding Drug Interactions (video) - Foods are ok to mix, but medications and herbs may not be.Avoiding Medication Mistakes (video) - Wonderful tips on how to avoid medication

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-17578204397723354802009-09-26T07:52:00.003-04:002009-09-26T08:19:04.044-04:00

Did you buy TYLENOL brand infant's or children's products between April 2008 and June 2008? Certain lots are being recalled by the company, McNeil, because when they examined the bulk raw material, they found that one of the inactive ingredients did not meet internal testing requirements. A type of gram-negative bacteria, B. cepacia, was found and isolated in this portion of raw material. NOTE:

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-63533164988121860012009-09-23T04:36:00.006-04:002009-09-23T10:10:19.198-04:00

What's that white stuff on his tongue? Looks like cottage cheese. I can't brush it off. Wait, he's bleeding somewhere. Did he bite his tongue? His lip? Ah, the telltale signs of oral thrush (yeast infection in the mouth). He has no other symptoms and his eating habits have not changed. Breastfed babies commonly acquire oral thrush. Other risk factors include breastfeeding, use of antibiotics or

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-18343490892459039192009-09-16T10:21:00.001-04:002009-09-16T10:22:57.254-04:00

Everyone is at risk for getting seasonal (aka regular) influenza (flu), but some people (including parents and children, working adults, those aged 50 and up, and those with chronic illnesses) have a greater risk and should try to get the seasonal “flu shot” every year. Vaccination typically starts in the fall and continues until spring; I already got mine when I was at my doctor’s last week. If

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-23077598938800867512009-09-10T01:02:00.003-04:002009-09-10T01:17:25.961-04:00

We have been to the beach multiple times this summer. The kids love to make their own mud, so I thought it might be useful to prefill a water bottle with sea water so that they could play while I set up the blankets. Unfortunately, the bottle fell out of the beach bag and into the trunk. Of course, I had forgotten about it. I was so thirsty yesterday that I just took a guzzle and sprayed it right

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-74964426454066709732009-09-05T03:44:00.001-04:002009-09-05T03:46:26.632-04:00

This week, the CDC released a new guidance to help minimize the spread of any flu virus in child care and early childhood programs during the 2009 and 2010 season. This toolkit contains resources for providers and parents, including action steps for parents to protect your child from the flu, action steps for parents of children at higher risk for flu complications; action steps for parents if

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-19154820213852216532009-09-04T01:47:00.004-04:002009-09-04T02:17:05.302-04:00

There is some good information in this Parent's Guide to Kids' Vaccines, including benefits and risks, types of vaccines, steps to take when your child is vaccinated, and some commonly used vaccines. Adverse reactions, or other problems, suspected to be caused by vaccines should be discussed with your child's health care provider and reported to the Vaccine Adverse Reaction Reporting System (

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-56806367790675800242009-08-22T05:33:00.002-04:002009-08-22T05:50:52.094-04:00

One of the biggest challenges when dealing with drug therapy and children is finding the right dose of the medicine, especially if there aren't any dosage recommendations from the manufacturer that are FDA-approved. Another challenge is delivering the medicine to the child, especially a young child who cannot swallow solid dosage forms. Oftentimes, tablets are crushed or capsules are opened to

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-77060595630725007032009-08-16T02:49:00.000-04:002009-08-17T14:56:07.790-04:00

My daughter knows vaccinations as "pokeys" and so we introduced that term to my toddler son, who was due for his measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and varicella (chicken pox) vaccines on last Friday. He accepted the two shots in each thigh with some discontent, but was easily distracted from his pain. He has really thick thighs at close to 32 pounds. One might wonder, shouldn't he have gotten them in

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-88164075051155595162009-08-13T06:44:00.002-04:002009-08-17T14:32:08.097-04:00

I have a 40-pound preschooler, but she's been steady at this weight for almost a year. She is also very tall for her age. Still, I need to make sure she eats right and stays active so that she does not become a statistic quoted by the CDC: 1 in 7 children ages 2 to 4 years is obese. Obese preschoolers are at risk for developing diabetes, high cholesterol, and asthma later in life. Don't wait on

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-55541952911826249112009-08-09T14:35:00.001-04:002009-08-17T14:38:15.903-04:00

I never thought twice about the laws surrounding breastfeeding in public. It was never an issue in New York, but I probably should have checked in Connecticut before I nursed my son in front of the dentist while my daughter was getting her teeth cleaned or while she was playing soccer on the field. Is it still considered indecency even if I use a hooter hider (yes, this is the real name for a

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-46101865007773602192009-08-09T08:00:00.000-04:002009-08-17T14:43:05.559-04:00

We've come a long way with vaccinations. Although most of the diseases (for example, polio) prevented by vaccines are no longer common in the United States, we still need to vaccinate our children to avoid outbreaks. Kids that are not fully vaccinated can become very sick and spread the disease to a community very quickly. As a parent, it is ok to have questions and concerns about vaccines. The

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-76828679731115115022009-08-02T05:25:00.005-04:002009-08-02T06:08:00.500-04:00

Just started giving your child a new medication and (s)he has developed hives, difficulty breathing, fever, swelling of the lips or eyes, an itchy rash, or anaphylaxis? Chances are your child has been exposed to this medication (or an ingredient of this medication) in the past. Note that sometimes it is the inactive ingredient (for example, the dye, preservative, filler of the tablet) that is the

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-16502969459518293552009-07-17T06:39:00.003-04:002009-07-21T07:58:47.095-04:00

Many parents give herbal supplements to their children in hopes of trying something natural. What's the harm? It's just an herb, right? It's not that I don't think herbal supplements work. I hesitate to recommend them because I don't really know what all of the ingredients are in a product or how much of each is in it. Sometimes they work too well, or worse, they interact with Western medicine in

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-50664946056392020682009-06-27T03:35:00.004-04:002009-06-27T20:18:18.385-04:00

Having and caring for your own children really has put things into perspective for me. Although I have shared many tricks with parents on how to give medicine to your children, I've had to be really creative with my own. Fortunately, the only medicines my daughter took as an infant were famotidine suspension for her reflux, which resolved before she turned 1, and one course of amoxicillin for

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-86643230177086018522009-06-23T01:54:00.004-04:002009-06-23T04:23:26.732-04:00

My son had a fever Sunday night that lasted until yesterday afternoon. He was cranky, lethargic, and woke up every hour. His rectal temperature was 99.8 degrees F at 10 pm, 101.8 at 3 am on Monday, 101.9 at 9 am, and 98.9 at 3 pm. He had a lot of mucus coming out of his nose and mouth, but other than that no other symptoms. His appetite was decreased, but was still willing to drink. The mom in me

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-1967374974243171652009-06-16T16:49:00.002-04:002009-06-16T16:52:21.828-04:00

I just switched to daily disposable contacts last week, but this is good information from the FDA for all contact lens wearers. A video is also available on their site.

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-46783426159246396972009-06-16T12:40:00.002-04:002009-06-16T12:45:54.182-04:00

I have never used or recommended this product. This just in from the FDA:Loss of Sense of Smell with Intranasal Cold Remedies Containing ZincJune 16, 2009FDA is alerting consumers that Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size, a discontinued product that consumers may still have in their homes, have all been associated with long lasting or

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-29349111527840964412009-06-15T04:33:00.005-04:002009-06-15T12:02:47.591-04:00

Just because a medicine is over-the-counter does not mean it is safe from overdosing! In fact, it is important to read the label for the active ingredient(s), strength of the ingredient(s), age recommendations, directions for use, and inactive ingredients (especially if you have known allergies to make sure cross-allergies do not occur). Other important information include warnings for use when

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-83403309989582298112009-06-09T08:16:00.004-04:002009-06-09T08:42:02.742-04:00

There are some products that just aren't the same when they are the store brand, such as toilet paper, aluminum foil, and markers, so I try not to buy them. Generic, or store brand, medications, however, I trust. The FDA vouches that they are as safe and effective as the brand name versions. I buy generic whenever it is available. Many practitioners and patients may find that biological products

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-48363868029660390912009-06-04T14:53:00.003-04:002009-06-04T15:11:37.725-04:00

I came across some interesting posts from the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the CDC this past week and wanted to share some links:- Breastfeeding benefits babies AND moms, but you already knew that. What you may not have known is that it can help reduce the risk of heart disease, a heart attack, or stroke by 10% in postmenopausal women. Learn more at hhs.gov.- From the CDC are

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-69655782115964286932009-05-27T20:46:00.002-04:002009-05-27T22:30:41.304-04:00

I was asked this question by a mom when she saw me looking at my options for insect repellent (bug spray) at a local pharmacy. She also recently moved to CT from NYC. Now that we live in the suburbs and are surrounded by wooded areas we have to worry about tick bites, in addition to mosquito bites. The mom was concerned about the safety of putting DEET on her infant. I reassured her that it is

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-9112448850944084752009-05-11T20:22:00.006-04:002009-05-12T14:13:41.126-04:00

Ahhh, today was the first day that I woke up with minimal sneezing and eyes that didn't itch or look bloodshot. It has been torture for the past couple of weeks, but I survived with over-the-counter (OTC) cetirizine (Zyrtec) 10 mg that I took by mouth once a day and OTC ketotifen (Zatitor) eye drops twice daily. They don't make me symptom-free, but they definitely dampen my misery. I even started

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-67405429364715623392009-05-04T16:02:00.009-04:002009-05-05T15:50:36.605-04:00

I first taught my daughter to sneeze into the crook of her arm about a year ago so that she would not spread her germs when she played with the toys at summer camp or held hands with her buddies. I also sent her with a pack of tissues in her pocket. She did not have a fever at any point and she played and ate normally, thus I knew it was a common cold and not the flu. The CDC has been very

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-85668130342844638812009-04-23T09:33:00.003-04:002009-04-23T09:56:44.204-04:00

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will agree to let 17 year-olds buy Plan B (aka "the morning after pills" or emergency contraception) over-the-counter if the drug company files an application, or request, for this age group. The treatment is not just one pill, but two that must be taken within 72 hours for it to be at most 89% effective in preventing a pregnancy. Of note, it does not

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-79452275069562617072009-04-20T10:17:00.005-04:002009-04-21T15:48:58.706-04:00

My blogs have been focused on caring for kids, but I realized last week that I need to take care of myself, too. After being accepted as a new patient, I was allowed to schedule an appointment with an internist. I was only going to ask about my eczema; she was booked for physical exams through 2010. In the end, I got a mini-physical and my blood pressures were 150/90, 156/80, 140/80. My baseline

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-754985328537960302009-04-16T11:22:00.005-04:002009-04-16T11:56:31.357-04:00

Ever feel annoyed because everyone seems to be asking the same questions about your child's medicines, and your anxiety level is already high because your child is so sick? Can you even remember everything right now?Do you have an index card or document listing all of the medicines (prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal) medicines that your child is on? Are all the doses and number of times

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-86324206083067571822009-04-13T15:09:00.005-04:002009-04-13T16:11:08.982-04:00

I was disappointed to learn that my own mother thinks that pharmacists do not have to make any decisions as part of their job. That pharmacists would not take the time to ask a patient why they are taking a particular medication. That doctors would never call a pharmacist to ask about a particular drug. In essence, they just read the prescription, fill it, and dispense it. After a long and heated

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-34582568798815007792009-04-10T09:06:00.004-04:002009-04-10T10:00:47.134-04:00

"Lice" - the 4 letter word that makes me itch just looking at it. The FDA just approved a new prescription product, benzyl alcohol lotion, 5% (Sciele Pharma, Inc.) for the treatment of head lice (pediculosis capitis) in children 6 months and older. Benzyl alcohol is not a pesticide. The lotion, in the consistency of hair conditioner, will likely require two 10-minute treatments, one week apart.

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-73133635092315672322009-04-06T16:00:00.001-04:002009-04-09T09:43:56.381-04:00

What's another name for Tylenol? Acetaminophen.Motrin? Ibuprofen. Advil is another brand/trade name.My husband made fun of me the other day, saying I will always call a drug by it's generic name no matter what. The truth is, that's how I was trained, and after working in the hospital setting for 10 years, I can't help it. What's the difference? The generic (official) name just refers to the drug

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-47970332091652639102009-03-28T04:00:00.001-04:002009-04-10T10:01:24.186-04:00

Petroleum jelly (white petrolatum, USP 100%) is a simple product with many uses, mainly as a skin protectant. You can find it as an active ingredient (it is also an inactive ingredient in many ointments) in tubs (3.75 to 13 ounces), tubes, scented (baby fresh or lavender) or not, store brand or Vaseline brand. Store brand is just as good as the Vaseline brand and is usually priced lower (unless

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-5006248915597796132009-03-16T14:39:00.003-04:002009-03-16T14:58:23.573-04:00

Yes, this is one of my favorite topics to talk about. In my home, I have made sure that the shampoos and detergents are out of my kids' reach. The closet door to the rest of the cleaning supplies is locked. I moved the medicines out of my top vanity drawer and placed them on a high shelf that I can barely reach myself. Of course, I checked to make sure none of them are expired. By the way, if you

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-70062403462048293522009-03-11T15:10:00.019-04:002009-03-11T18:34:22.718-04:00

As tempting as it may be, do not tell children that medicine is candy to trick them into taking it. While you are busy with something else, your child may be opening the bottle and popping the "candy" or feeding it to a younger sibling. Maybe you can see the imprints on the "candy," but to a young child, the letters and numbers are meaningless. To them the pills look like the candy they like, so

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-59452925673173236572009-03-09T08:04:00.004-04:002009-03-09T20:51:36.725-04:00

I was doing last minute research for my manuscript on the newer rotavirus vaccine and stumbled upon this "product approval information" on the FDA's web site. I'm not sure if these emails were intended to be posted, but here they are. I had to chuckle. What's the point, you ask? Well, not everything posted on the internet is useful and please preview before you post online. Enjoy!

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-61467078833775575042009-03-07T05:14:00.004-05:002009-03-07T05:32:08.656-05:00

This is one of the few times when having a food allergy works in your favor - not getting salmonella! Since my husband has a known peanut allergy, we have never stocked food with peanuts or peanut-butter. Well, my daughter just recently tested negative for a peanut allergy using peanut butter from a major brand. She actually did well and liked it then, but she doesn't anymore. She says "it's too

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-63012680697028277172009-02-17T08:44:00.005-05:002009-02-17T09:07:16.246-05:00

At his 6-month well-baby visit, my son received all of his routine vaccinations except for the H. influenzae, type b (Hib) vaccine because of a delay in shipment. I was told to return the following week for the shot. Yes, I brought him back, but I wonder how many children end up missing their doses because of this little inconvenience? Even worse, how many children never even received their first

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-77491871576354505472009-02-13T04:17:00.005-05:002009-02-13T19:46:00.147-05:00

Many recent scientific studies have concluded that there is no association between the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and autism. Yesterday, the special court experts (Special Masters) ruled that there is no causal link between the MMR vaccine and autism and that thimerosal-containing vaccines (very few of these left on the market) do not contribute to causing immune dysfunction, further

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-53007985199570344712009-01-28T14:53:00.004-05:002009-01-28T15:20:54.701-05:00

My daughter asks for her daily dose of fluoride chewable tablet on a regular basis. She is only 3, mind you.  Get this, not only does she chew it like she's supposed to, she asks for water so that she can swish and swallow afterwards. If I give her apple juice, she'll question me, "take it with apple juice?" I guess I passed down my pharmacist gene to her! While I have been in the habit of

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-73976602697166785672009-01-13T15:25:00.002-05:002009-01-13T15:47:26.267-05:00

The FDA continues to review clinical trial data to assess the possible association of mood and behavioral adverse effects related to medicines that affect the leukotriene pathway (montelukast [Singulair], zafirlukast [Accolate], and zileuton [Zyflo]). These medicines may also be used for allergic rhinitis and to prevent exercise-induced asthma. No conclusion has been reached, yet, but this update

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-44902352993467605142009-01-02T05:02:00.004-05:002009-01-02T06:18:18.737-05:00

I'm taking my 3 year-old daughter to an allergist today to be tested for shrimp, fish, nuts, and peanuts. She has had fish without a problem, but since there is a strong family history of food allergies to peanuts, beans, fish, and nuts it will be more of a precaution. Her first skin test at 12 months was for beans, fish, shrimp (her eye became swollen after eating a Japanese shrimp chip), and

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-90396324382532047872008-11-12T17:04:00.002-05:002008-11-12T18:01:07.876-05:00

Check those 1 ounce plastic bottles of Mylicon Gas Relief Dye Free Drops (over-the-counter) where you keep your children's medicines, especially if they were bought after October 5, 2008.  The FDA and the manufacturer (Johnson & Johnson - Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Company) sent out a recall notification. The lot numbers to look for are SMF007 and SMF008. If you have bottles matching these

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-39585132208955370252008-11-07T09:35:00.004-05:002008-11-07T10:04:44.854-05:00

I started pumping breast milk again now that my son is starting solids and I need some liquid gold to mix with the rice cereal. I am almost certain that the pump is repeatedly saying to me, "what a bore, what a bore, what a bore..." in a New York accent. It can be a mindless task, but I find things to keep me occupied for the 10 minutes. While I'm on the subject, have you ever worried about

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-65821086672322746672008-11-06T09:40:00.004-05:002008-11-07T09:35:31.453-05:00

My 35 month-old daughter told me a few weeks ago that she doesn't need the stool anymore when she washes her hands. This morning, she grabbed my son's rice cereal from the kitchen counter - I had placed it all the way towards the back last night. Ok, time to make sure all the medicine, even empty bottles or devices, are out of her reach. She's 39 inches and can reach much higher than that. Oh yes

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-47278947558717433972008-11-05T08:02:00.005-05:002008-11-05T16:42:04.110-05:00

My kids are getting the flu vaccine today. My son is also getting his routine 6-month immunizations during this visit. Even though his thighs are like ham hocks, he will not be a happy camper. I might give him some acetaminophen (Tylenol) before his appointment to take some of the pain away. What about other side effects of vaccines?  Other than the local heat, swelling, redness, and fever,

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-61117342873475069272008-10-31T06:05:00.005-04:002008-11-01T19:12:52.012-04:00

As I'm sitting and eating my daughter's trick-or-treat candy, I can remember how upset I was when I heard someone tell my daughter that the chewable acetaminophen tablets were candy so that she would take it.  Many candies look like the medicine that you may have in your home. For example, green m&m's look like green iron pills that many adults take every day. When left unattended, children may

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-39131268026230083902008-10-29T15:51:00.012-04:002008-10-29T17:52:48.767-04:00

If  your child was off, or on lower dosages, of asthma controller medicines over the summer, have they been resumed, yet? A review of kids' health insurance data presented earlier this week at an American College of Chest Physicians meeting (Chest 2008) found that the peak months for emergency room visits and hospitalizations are October and November, while medication use peaked in December.  

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-35335060548429296642008-10-28T02:39:00.006-04:002008-10-28T13:44:08.269-04:00

With the frequent weather changes, I'm preparing myself for colds in one, if not both, of my children.  Kids get 6-10 colds a year, according to the NIH.  This was definitely true when my daughter was an infant.  Yes, I had many nights of interrupted sleep because of her colds, but I never gave her any OTC cough or cold medicines.   No antihistamines to help her fall asleep, either.  Instead, I

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2734345133775272911.post-50262871665297415492008-10-24T05:28:00.004-04:002008-10-25T15:51:51.407-04:00

If you are pregnant or have children less than 6 months of age at home, consider getting your flu shot soon! You can get it at your doctor's office or go to a flu clinic (a pharmacy near you may offer it). I received mine this week from my local Rite Aid Pharmacy and paid $30. Another place to try is your employee health office; it may be offered for free or charge a nominal fee of $10 for

Catherine Tom-Revzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06755228750670024104noreply@blogger.com1