Studies and observations of hundreds of pregnant women with asthma have demonstrated that most inhaled asthma medications are appropriate for patients to use while pregnant. The risks of uncontrolled asthma appear to be greater than the risks of necessary asthma medications. However, oral medications (pills) should be avoided unless necessary to control symptoms.

Uncontrolled asthma causes a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the mother’s blood. Since the fetus receives its oxygen from the mother’s blood, decreased oxygen in her blood can lead to decreased oxygen in the fetal blood. This, in turn, can lead to impaired fetal growth and survival, since a fetus requires a constant supply of oxygen for normal growth and development.

During pregnancy the maternal autoantibodies may cross the placental barrier, recognize the fetal platelets, and lead to their destruction. Therefore ITP in pregnant women can induce moderate to severe thrombocytopenia in the fetus or in the newborn. A very small percentage of infants born to mothers with ITP will have severe thrombocytopenia. However the overall risk of long-term complications for the newborn is low.

There are two kinds of asthma medicines: those that prevent attacks (controller medicines) and those that help when someone is already feeling symptoms of asthma (rescue medicines). There are many "prevention" medicines for children with asthma. Studies show these may be better to use than repeated use of rescue medicine.

Controller medications are for long-term control of persistent asthma. They help reduce the inflammation in the lungs that is behind asthma attacks. Controller medications should be taken every day whether someone is having symptoms or not. Controller medications include inhaled corticosteroids (the main type of medication), leukotriene inhibitors, methylxanthines, and cromolyn sodium. Rescue medications are taken after an asthma attack has begun. They stop the attack.

Many substances including alcohol, nicotine and drugs of abuse can have negative effects on the developing fetus because they are transferred to the fetus across the placenta. For example, nicotine has been connected with premature birth and low birth weight, as has the use of cocaine. Scientific studies have shown that babies born to marijuana users were shorter, weighed less and had smaller head sizes than babies born to women who did not use the drug.

Yes, it's important that a woman have her blood glucose levels in control BEFORE she becomes pregnant. Once the egg is fertilized and starts dividing specialized organs and tissues are formed and it's imperative that the mother's diabetes be in good control (as possible)

You may feel that your mood swings will affect the development of your baby. In fact medical research has shown that the normal emotions you feel during pregnancy, whether it's anger, depression, or sadness will have no effect on the health and growth of your baby.

Several classes of medicines affect the bladder muscle and the bladder outlet muscle. Sometimes these medicines are prescribed for conditions outside the urinary system and cause unwanted changes in bladder control. Classes of Drugs Which May Contribute to Incontinence

The affect of the interaction of other medications on blood sugar levels may depend on many factors, which include whether or not a patient is taken off normally used medications for some period of time while being hospitalized. Talk to your doctor or diabetes educator for more specific information on the medications you will be taking.

Some medications can affect performance and/or enjoyment during intercourse. Many narcotic pain relievers and cortisone medications can decrease sexual performance. Other common medication-related side effects are a decreased interest in sex, vaginal dryness, abnormal erections and delayed orgasms. If you sense that your medication is causing these side effects, try having sex in the morning before taking your first dose or in the evening before your last dose.

Yes. You need to be healthy for the baby to be healthy. Use of inhalers such as Ventolin, Asmacort, Proventil, or Flonase will help to keep the breathing passages open. If you are on an antihistamine such as Claritin, Zyrtec or Allegra, you may continue using it.

No. Asthma medications are NOT ADDICTIVE and you don't have to keep taking more medications to get the same effect. However, the opposite may be true. If your child's asthma is not well-controlled, they may need more medication in the future due to permanent damage to the lungs.

BioVent can safely be used together with your prescription medication and will not interact negatively with synthetic drugs. Depending on the severity of the asthma, BioVent can reduce or eliminate the need for the synthetic drugs and inhalers. It can also be safely used to complement conventional treatment of asthma.

You should use the nebulizer as your doctor has ordered. Many times, the doctor will state to use the medications “X” number of times a day or “as needed.” Generally, the “as needed” term means when you are short of breath, wheezing, or have tightness in your chest.

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system. Asthma is a chronic state of hyper-responsiveness (when muscles in the airways constrict and narrow excessively in response to inhaled allergens or other irritants). Asthma is characterized by coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing. Asthma may be triggered by allergens or other, non-allergic stimuli, such as cold air or tobacco smoke.

Food sensitivities generally disappear in a day or two. Most people call these allergies, but true allergies are more severe, I think. Please let me know whether your zapper stops your allergy.

It is normal for mothers-to-be to feel uneasy taking medications while pregnant. However, if a pregnant woman has asthma, it is especially important that her asthma is well- controlled not only for her own health but also for the health and development of her unborn child. If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, discuss your asthma with your doctor so your airways can be stabilized and appropriate medications prescribed.

Some people may have to change parts of their lifestyle because of worsening asthma symptoms. It can be difficult to identify exactly what triggers your asthma. Sometimes the link is obvious, for example when your symptoms start within minutes of coming into contact with a cat or pollen. Some people have a delayed reaction.

There are some medications that may interact with plan B and reduce its effectiveness. You should always tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking any other medicine or herbal remedies. However, there are no published drug interaction studies of Levonorgestrel, the active ingredient in plan B.

Some couples who have not had sexual intercourse for many years are able to resume doing so with the help of drugs like Viagra, Levitra or Cialis. Usually, this is a positive experience, and both members of a couple are able to enjoy greater sexual satisfaction. However, some women who have grown accustomed to not having intercourse may experience discomfort or anxiety when intercourse is resumed. It is thus important for couples to communicate about sexual matters.

Taking glyconutrients is like consuming a very nutritious diet of fresh vegetables. There have been no signs of drug interactions with glyconutrients, but if you would like, we would be happy to talk with your doctor or send them information, since they might not yet be familiar with this new science and class of nutrients. Contact your doctor before discontinuing any prescription medications.

Yes. You need to be healthy for the baby to be healthy. Use of inhalers such as Ventolin, Asmacort, Proventil, or Flonase will help to keep the breathing passages open. If you are on an antihistamine, Claritan, Chlor-Trimeton, Benadryl, Dimetapp, Zyrtec and Tavist are the safest antihistamines.

Asthma medication come in different forms, including liquids, pills, powders, vapors, and injections. There are only a few types of asthma medications, although they are sold by drug companies under many different brand names. Bronchodilators are medications that help to stop asthma episodes after they have started. Sometimes they are taken in pill form and most often with an inhaler. They provide relief by relaxing the muscles in the airways, allowing them to open up and make breathing easier.

If you notice any side effects, tell you doctor right away so adjustments can be made in you medication. Some people worry about the steroid drugs that are often prescribed for asthma, because they have heard so much about the side effects of steroids. Steroids are usually prescribed in aerosol form for asthma and are taken with an inhaler. Taken this way, the risk of side effects is extremely small; however, the patient may experience a sore throat or less commonly oral thrush.

In fact, asthmatics taking theophylline should check with their physician before taking any OTC medication, as the list of drugs, including antihistamines, which affect theophylline levels is almost endless. Cough medicines should also be treated with caution. In general, suppressing a productive cough (one which is bringing up mucus) is not a good idea, since the mucus can obstruct the airways and also irritate them further. They may make you sleepy and reduce your breathing effort.

A - In general, dietary supplements will not interfere with asthma medications, just as eating a healthy diet would not interfere. However, there are some circumstances, due to other existing medical conditions, which may warrant special advice or contraindication. We require each participant to agree to work with their physician. If your physician cites a contraindication, have him/her give you the references for the contraindication.