I’m always sad when a product I use is discontinued, and for some of you that is the case with Primatene Mist asthma inhalers.  If you use it and want to stock up, this is your chance.

Buy Primatene Mist Asthma Inhaler at drugstore.com before it’s gone!

These inhalers are being taken off the market for environmental reasons and the manufacturer has to come up with a friendlier-to-the-environment version of this popular inhaler.  In the meantime, Primatene Mist inhalers will be pulled from shelves and no longer sold on January 1, 2012. 

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links and readers may assume that HomeEverAfter.com receives compensation when my referral links are used.

The following is a guest post.  Danae Matthews is lives in San Francisco. She writes for the on-line health resource Women’s Health Base, which strives to provide unique and informative content to women everywhere!

When I was growing up staying healthy wasn’t a huge concern for me or any of my friends. All we wanted to do was run around, get dirty and play until the sun set. Looking back I realize that I was lucky to have not gotten sick more than I did. We shared everything- lip balm, water bottles, food etc. It wasn’t that our parents didn’t tell us not to, I guess it was just that back we didn’t think about it as much.

The funny thing is that those days aren’t that far behind us.

For all the over-protective parents and obsessive worrying, by and large kids are healthy. The CDC reports that 82% of school-aged children are in excellent or very good health. Those who miss 11 or more days of school in a year because of illness? 5%.

The number that is more astounding isn’t the number of sick kids, but the number of overweight ones. A staggering 20% of school-aged children are obese. This is a statistic we may need to be more aware of given the overwhelming access that children have to junk food and the fact that many public schools don’t properly adhere to the healthiest food options.

Although playgrounds and classrooms can be a breeding ground for bacteria, it is important to remember that your child is as clean as you advise and teach them to be. It is important to teach them the fundamentals of cleanliness and nutrition at home so they can be the most prepared as possible while away at school.

A few great tips for a healthy school year:

• Buy your child a pocket hand-sanitizer that he/she can use after recess or before lunch if they don’t have immediate access to the bathroom. These come in all sorts of colors, scents and attached on cool chains. Let your child pick their favorite!

• Try out different healthy snacks with your kid and find a few that they like the best. Instead of just packing them something they don’t like (and will throw away as soon as they get to school) work together to find something delicious. Three square meals is bound to leave a growing child hungry, so snacking is a great way to avoid over-eating during regular meals. Avoid pre-packaged snacks. Think nuts, fruits, vegetables and hummus dip etc.

• Teach simple tricks to make sure that your child understands hygiene. This may seem like a give way, but I think we have all been somewhere and seen a child pick his nose or sneeze/cough into the air right in front of their observing parent. Make sure this is not your child! Send your child to school with a packet of to-go tissues and instruct them to sneeze into them when possible- if not always into the crook of their elbow.

• Now obviously you can’t be a watchdog, but it is vital to stress the importance of personal space and belongings. Your child should avoid sharing anything that has touched someone else’s mouth. Simply put: if it has touched someone else’s lips it’s off limits.

• I don’t advocate forcing your children to join a sport or activity. However, sitting in front of the television all night is an activity you can completely regulate. If they want to do that, then make them earn it by doing some activity. One hour of television for a one hour walk with the family to the park. This way you are not only doing something that bonds your whole family unit, you are also working exercise in to your child’s day and your own.

• Sleep, sleep, sleep! Make sure that your child is getting to sleep on time. Granted now with all the technology out there this may be a bit more difficult. Try to limit the amount of initial access that your child has to distractions. For example: a child in elementary school probably doesn’t need a smart phone, a computer or a TV in their bedroom. This way they can’t stay up past their bedtime watching TV all night long instead of sleeping.

Disclaimer: These health tips are not offered as medical advice and blogger is not a medical professional, she is just offering practical advice from her own experience and knowledge.

Chances are that you are even related to someone who has or has had breast cancer.  (I have a cousin by marriage that has had breast cancer twice.)

Check out the statistics, facts and tidbits in the breast cancer infographic below by obizmedia

If you are a subscriber, you’ll have to click this link to see the Myths and Facts About Breast Cancer infographic.

How to Get Back Your Body After Baby

Now that the marathon of pregnancy and birth has come to an end, you are probably ready to start working on getting your pre-pregnancy body back.

The shape of your body after baby is very different from what it was before, and now that your giant belly is out of the way, chances are you are focusing more on the changes that were overshadowed before! A squishy stomach, extra weight, stretch marks, cellulite and sagging skin are the most common complaints by post delivery moms.

You wonder if your body after baby will ever return to the way it was before. The answer is yes…and no. While you will be able to eat healthy and exercise to shed the extra pounds, pregnancy permanently alters the shape of your body. Some things, such as larger feet, less fullness in the breasts and wider hips, are unavoidable. Just view them as the necessary battle wounds of giving birth!

Those that maintained a healthy diet and workout plan during pregnancy will have an easier time getting back their pre-baby figure. If you are in the category of moms who could hardly find the energy to make it to the supermarket, let alone the gym, you may take longer to shed those extra pounds, but it can be done.

Creating a Post-Baby Workout Routine

Don’t expect to lose all of the weight in a month. It took 9 months to gain the weight and will probably take close to that long to lose it. You will want to start out slowly, implementing a workout routine that fits into your schedule and is easy enough for you to stick to. Charging full speed ahead can leave you exhausted and increase the chance of you throwing in the towel on fitness altogether.

Start by incorporating cardio activities into your daily routine at least 3x a week. A brisk walk around the block with baby in tow is a great starting point. Start out with a 30 minute walk at a moderate pace 3x per week. After 2 weeks you can increase time to 45 minutes and aim for 5 days per week by the 8 week mark. If you have the time, some moms prefer to join a gym and utilize the treadmills, exercise bikes and cardio classes.

Getting Back Your Six Pack Abs

New moms are usually most concerned with flattening their bellies. Sit-ups (also called crunches) are great exercises for strengthening the abdominal muscles. Keep in mind that you could do 1000 sit-ups per day and you still will not have a nice flat stomach if you do not do enough cardio exercise. What you will have is rock solid abs that are hidden underneath a layer of jiggly fat. Cardio will melt the top layer of fat, revealing the well defined abdominals below.

Sample abs routine: For sit-ups, do 3 sets of 12-15, 3x per week. For lower abs, try a reverse crunch, in which you start out in the sit-up position but place your feet just near your buttocks, then raise your hips into the air. These should also be done in 3 sets with 12-15 reps per set, 3x per week. After 4 weeks you can increase to 5x per week.

Strengthening and weight bearing exercises will not only help you tone up, but are good for preventing osteoporosis later in life. Pilates is a great way to use the resistance of your own body weight as a means of building muscle. Lunges and squats are excellent for working the glutes and buttocks, and can be done in the convenience of your own home.

Remember to Stretch

Be sure to always stretch after exercising. This will increase the amount of calories you burn and will help prevent soreness and muscle injury. Yoga and deep breathing are great ways to relax and get the deepest stretch possible. In addition to local yoga classes, there are several good DVDs with varying yoga styles. You may also want to pick up an exercise ball which can help maximize your workout.

By exercising and eating healthy, well balanced meals, staying hydrated and eliminating excess sugar from your diet, you will be well on your way to getting back that pre-pregnancy body.

We originally published Moms – Get Your Body Back After Baby! on November 3, 2009.  Read more baby articles here or check out more of the Life with a Newborn column.  This article is linked to Works for Me Wednesday, where you can find more great tips for moms!

For everyone else, I’m about to express my frustration:  I’ve got mastitis AGAIN.  What is mastitis, you ask?  Click this link to let Wikipedia show you the painful details about what mastitis is. 

Basically, mastitis is a red, swollen and painful breast infection that causes chills, fever, sweats, loss of milk production, and can lead to a breast abscess that has to be surgically removed if not treated with antibiotics in time.

So in 4 1/2 months of breastfeeding, this is the third time I’ve had mastitis and the third round of antibiotics.  Twice on one side, once on the other.  This time, I got mastitis from going too long without pumping or feeding.  My house is being remodeled and every room of the house had people in it, even the bathroom, for hours.  There was nowhere to go to pump.  The baby got a bottle and I got full- too full.

Mastitis, the “Gift” That Keeps on Giving

After having my baby, Seven, (who is now 4 1/2 months old) I decided to try breastfeeding even though I hadn’t with the last baby.  After severe breastfeeding problems, such as Seven having a tongue tie which had to be surgically removed, I decided I would try to stick out the nursing as long as I could. Let the record show that I am NOT a fan of nursing- it’s great for other people, but not my favorite thing to do.

My OB/GYN doctor told me she had chronic mastitis after one of her pregnancies.  Interestingly enough, she said that women who have it repeatedly probably won’t have the same problem after a subsequent birth.  For the next baby, the odds are up in the air about whether you’ll be prone to it or not.

My doctor told me she was really surprised and proud of me for still breastfeeding after 2 bouts of mastitis.  Naturally, she was sympathetic when I called her to report it was back.

I went for approximately 3 months of exclusive pumping with my last baby, never breastfed, and never had mastitis.  Now I come to find out that it’s hard to shake and is recurring for many women.

What Causes Mastitis, Anyway?

I wondered what causes mastitis, and did a little research.

“Bacteria normally found in a baby’s mouth or on the nipple can enter the milk ducts through small cracks in the skin of the nipple and can multiply rapidly in the breast milk. This can lead to a superficial small area of inflammation (frequently from streptococcal bacteria) or a deeper walled-off infection or abscess (frequently from staphylococcal bacteria).”

-eMedicineHealth

So that explains why it’s more likely to occur from nursing as opposed to exclusive pumping.  There’s no bacteria contacting your breast if you sterilize your pump parts before each use.  There is, however, always bacteria on your baby’s mouth.

Now What?

I’m lucky that Seven is almost old enough to be transitioning to first foods like baby rice cereal and oatmeal.  My husband asked if I want to be done lactating after this round of “pump and dump” of my breast milk during the 10 days of antibiotic treatment. 

The answer of course is yes, because I’d love to have my life back!  Being chained to a pump every three hours can really put a damper on your lifestyle, especially in the summer and when you have other children.  Road trips, camping, conferences… I’m an active person who likes to schedule life in blocks longer than 3 hours sometimes.

However, I really want to make sure that Seven has a moderate supply of frozen breast milk to carry her as long as possible, so that’s my quandary.  I’ll deplete a lot of that stockpile over the next 10 days as I feed her from the frozen milk and throw away the fresh stuff filled with antibiotics.  (I know the antibiotic is safe for baby, but hubby and I don’t approve of giving the kids any unnecessary antibiotics.)

So time will tell what happens for me next.  I’ll make it through this course of antibiotics to clear up the mastitis infection and see how I feel about continuing to pump and nurse.  I’ll have a large relief when it’s over, but still be a little sad when the breast milk comes to an end. 

Have you had experiences with mastitis?  How many infections did it take before you stopped nursing for good?  Let us know in the comments below.

Pregnancy Later in Life: Does Age Matter?

Today many women are waiting longer to have children than any other time in history. It has now become common to see women in their mid-30s before they elect to start a family. Many of these women chose to establish a successful career before beginning a family.

While it is true that having babies at a later age is associated with some increased risks for both the mother and child, today it is considered safe for most healthy women to become pregnant in their mid-to-late 30s and even into their 40s.

Possible Problems with Conception

The most significant factor that may affect plans to start a family later in life have more to do with getting pregnant than with the pregnancy itself. A women’s ability to conceive decreases significantly by the age of 35. For women who begin trying to have a bay at this age, it may take a year of unsuccessful attempts before seeking assistance from a physician. With the battery of fertility tests that need to be administered to both the woman and her male counterpart, depending on the findings, that 35 year old woman may very well be 38 before a successful pregnancy is achieved. For women who want more than one child, this can become an issue.

In general, women begin to ovulate less once they reach their mid 30s. This results in less opportunities to get pregnant as there are less eggs available for the sperm to fertilize. Women over age 35 are also more likely than women in their 20s and early 30s to have conditions that could interfere with having babies, including endometriosis and uterine fibroids. If pregnancy is achieved, women in their 30s and 40s have an increased risk of miscarriage. While the miscarriage rate for women in their 20s is 10%, the number increases to 20% from 35-39 and 50% from 40-45. This is thought to be due to the chromosomal changes associated with advanced maternal age. Miscarriage is the body’s natural way of ending a pregnancy that may not have been viable.

In addition to difficulty conceiving, women over the age of 35 are at an increased risk of giving birth to a baby that has a chromosomal birth defect, the most common being Down Syndrome. A 35 year old woman has a 1 in 400 chance of giving birth to a baby with down syndrome. At 40, that chance goes up to 1 in 100 and at 49, 1 in 10. All are a significant jump from the 1 in 1,250 chance faced by a 25 year old woman. This is why the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologist issued a recommendation that all women at an age of 35 or greater when giving birth should be given the opportunity to screen for these chromosomal defects via prenatal testing.

In general, the majority of women that choose to wait until later in life to have babies will experience a normal pregnancy and delivery. To optimize health and increase the chances of getting pregnant, women should take a prenatal supplement with high levels of folic acid to decrease the chance of giving birth to a baby with neural tube defects. Women should quit smoking and refrain from drinking alcohol, in addition to getting adequate sleep, plenty of exercise and enjoying a health, well balanced diet.

Family Friday: Time to Share!

Now it’s time for you to share your Family Friday post with the rest of us!  If you’re not sure how it works, read the directions and guidelines for Family Friday here.

Please add your family-related blog post below in the Mr. Linky. Remember, you MUST link your post back to HomeEverAfter.com. (If your link was deleted, email us.)

August is National Children’s Vision & Learning Month, and while your child may not be doing a lot of learning in August, he should be in a prime position to learn when the school doors open come September.

Vision Problems and Learning

Most schools do a cursory check of your child’s vision using the 20/20 type of test – the chart with the big E on it. This test only measures distance vision, and doesn’t look for coordination between the eyes or adjusting between near and far vision.

If a child has trouble with their vision, it can affect their schoolwork, most notably with their reading. Quite often, children who have trouble reading do not have any difficulties with comprehension or speech. They have difficulty seeing what is literally right in front of them – their textbooks or work books.

They need clear vision to differentiate between the letters. And if their eyes do not cooperate with each other, the lines of text on a page may jump around. They may also face trouble when having to switch between the work on their desk and what the teacher is writing on the blackboard. This adjustment should be seamless, but if your child has a vision problem it may take a few seconds.

When children have undetected vision problems, they learn to cope with them, and not necessarily in a good way. With a child who can’t switch between near and far vision, they may stop looking up at the blackboard. They may rely on what the teacher is saying and missing what is being written.

Undetected problems can also cause normally bright and cheerful children to become frustrated at school and even mimic behavioral problems like ADD or ADHD. Diagnoses of ADD/ADHD depend on a subjective set of characteristics, since there is no definitive test for them. But the characteristics are also symptomatic of problems children have with their eyes working together as a pair. They have trouble focusing up close – reading and writing, causing them to “lose focus” and look away from their schoolwork. Looking away is not a conscious decision. Their eyes know something is wrong, and it is automatic to look up to refocus. If your child is diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, you may consider getting their vision assessed before you start medication.

Other common misdiagnoses are dyslexia and learning disorders, usually mistaken for convergence insufficiency. This issue also affects close work and causes eyestrain, blurry vision, double vision and sometimes headaches. It is worth mentioning that you can still pass a 20/20 vision test and have convergence insufficiency. With any diagnosis, spend the extra time to have your child’s vision tested.

Signs of Vision Problems

Children should have their eyes tested as a newborn, during their first year, at 3.5 years and at 5 years. If you see any of the following symptoms make an appointment to get your child’s eyes tested:

• rubbing their eyes often
• red eyes
• teary eyes
• misalignment of the eyes
• pupil is not purely black
• squinting
• double vision
• light sensitive
• trouble seeing objects far away, like text on a blackboard
• trouble following an object without turning her head (tracking)
• using a finger to keep his place when reading (after learning to read)
• poor focusing
• closing one eye to perform tasks
• difficulty reading

Of course, if you have any other reason to believe there is a problem, they should see a doctor. Give them every advantage you can, but first of all, make sure they can see so they are able to learn.

We need to know the facts and how to best protect ourselves and our families from this possibly deadly virus.  It’s

affected my family personally in that we have canceled trips over the concern of not wanting to fly on a possibly contaminated plane or into a state with confirmed cases of Swine Flu.

Lysol let us know:  “Many Lysol Disinfectant products are effective against strains of influenza A virus and specifically the H1N1 strain, including Lysol Disinfectant Spray, Lysol Disinfecting Wipes, Lysol All Purpose Cleaner Pourables and Lysol All Purpose Cleaner Triggers.”

One of the top suggestions for stopping the spread of Swine Flu is to disinfect surfaces, and I feel much better knowing now that Lysol sprays DO in fact kill the Swine Flu virus.  I’ll be carrying a can of the Lysol spray in my purse (I already carry one in my diaper bag) and the Lysol wipes to use on things in public.

It may be overly precautionary, but I advise all of our readers to take the same measures.  Wash your hands frequently with soap, disinfect germs on surfaces continuously, and don’t go around anyone you know to be sick.  We want you to stay safe and keep your families healthy; better safe than sorry.

You can also pick up $11 worth of Lysol coupons and more Swine Flu info right now at their website: Lysol.com.  Please pass on this info by linking to this post in your blog, emailing to your friends, tweeting about it, or bookmarking at your preferred social site. Thank you- stay safe!

Disclaimer:  The information in this post accurately presented the information provided to us by Lysol in May 2009 at the time of this article’s printing.  Lysol may have changed its information/claims since then and may change it in the future.  IS World Media has no control over the statements made by the Lysol company.Email is displayed below.

I recently did a book review over at Product Reviews for Mom for a book called The Ultramind Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman.  I learned some very alarming facts that every other parent will want to know too.  This book will change your mind about at least two things:

• Letting your dentist use metal fillings on your teeth or your children’s teeth.
• Allowing anyone in your family to eat sugar anymore.

Let’s just say I am now terrified about the fillings, especially since both my daughter and I already have metal fillings in our teeth.  What I did NOT know was that metal fillings have been banned in most other countries, but not in the United States. 

The Ultramind Solution also talks about the side effects on your body and brain of using ibuprofen, which previously I had always thought of as very safe.

Trust me when I say this is one book every parent will want to read. 

You can read my full review of The Ultramind Solution here. 

The following is an article written for HomeEverAfter.com by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H., publisher of James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor Magazine, the magazine written by health-care professionals.  Dr. Hubbard was recently awarded the Top Health Blogger distinction by WellSphere.

7 Common Rashes in Kids

Odds are your child will have a rash at some time and you’ll worry. Fortunately, most rashes are treatable or just go away without complications. Here are seven of the most common rashes, starting with three viral infections.

1.  Erythema Infectiosum, better known as fifth disease because it was number five of the “usual childhood diseases,” behind measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. Now we vaccinate against the others. This one occurs between ages 5 and 15. I like seeing this one because by the time the rash is evident, the child is over the virus, feeling well and not contagious. However it is very contagious when it starts (with a fever and cold symptoms) and tends to run amok through daycare centers. The fever and symptoms last about a week. The child feels fine, then the cheeks get bright red (it’s also called slapped cheek syndrome) and a lacy rash covers the body. For a couple of days it looks like someone has dropped red lace and stained the body. Stay away if pregnant.

2.  Roseola also starts with a fever for a few days followed by a rash. In fact, it’s sometimes called sixth disease. This rash starts on the trunk and migrates outward, consisting of small, flat or slightly raised pink lesions. Kids usually get roseola before age 2. It’s highly common and contagious.

3.  Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.  When the coxsackie virus causes a rash, it’s known as hand, foot and mouth disease. The rash consists of painful blisters in the mouth, tongue, palms and soles. There’s usually a high fever, and eating or drinking may be a problem due to the mouth pain.

4.  Scarlet fever is strep throat with a rash. Usually there’s fever, sore throat and tiny red bumps over the body that feel like fine sandpaper. This one needs antibiotics.

5.  Allergic reactions may cause urticaria or whelps. They’re raised, slightly colored and various sizes. They need medical attention.

6.  Scabies is caused by a tiny mite you can’t see that burrows underneath the skin and causes much itching. The tiny red spots usually start on the hands, arms or in creases of skin. This is one of the few rashes that occur in between your knuckles. Scabies is contagious for all ages and requires treatment.

7.  Petichiae are not common but notable because they warrant emergency medical attention. The rash is tiny red splotches in a child usually already sick. They are leaky capillaries under the skin and require immediate medical attention since internal capillaries are leaking, also. The only time they’re benign is if someone has been vomiting or coughing really hard and develops some locally around the face.

If you found this edition of the Health Corner useful, get more great medical information, blogs, articles and tips from your friendly family doctor by signing up for the My Family Doctor RSS feed  or free email updates.

Rash photo by webchicken.

5 Must-Know Children’s Medical Headlines

The last few months have brought lots of big medical news stories affecting kids and families. Here are my picks for the top-five biggest, with tips on what to do now.

1.  Kawasaki disease.  Named after the discovering doctor, and also known as Kawasaki syndrome, it affects fewer than one in 500 children under age 5. Although relatively rare, it’s in the news because John Travolta and Kelly Preston’s recently deceased son had it as a young child. It’s diagnosed when a child has a high fever lasting over five days, and four of the following signs and symptoms.

• Sore throat
• Body rash
• Swollen lymph nodes in neck
• Swollen, red tongue (strawberry tongue) and dry, cracked lips
• Swollen, red palms or soles
• Red conjunctivae (whites of the eyes)

It inflames the lining of the body’s heart and arteries. The cause is unknown but, if not treated within about 10 days of onset, 25 percent develop serious heart and arterial problems. If treated, that figure decreases to 2 to 4 percent. In spite of everything, 1 percent die, usually within a few months of onset.

If your child has these symptoms, see your doctor, but realize there are much more common illnesses with similar symptoms, such as various viral illnesses, scarlet fever (strep throat with a rash) and drug reactions.

2.  Vitamin D.  Arguably, the biggest nutrition story in 2008 was vitamin D and the findings that it helped about everything, it seemed. Along with strengthening bones, studies showed it decreases the risk of some cancers, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, etc.

Because of this—along with the fact that rickets is still around and breast milk has no vitamin D—the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends babies begin a supplement of 400 I.U. per day soon after birth. The only exception is if the child is drinking a quart or more of vitamin D enriched milk or formula daily.

3.  Cough and cold medicines.  The FDA says not to use these in children under 2 years old. Critics wanted the ban to go up to 5 years of age, but the FDA refused. They acknowledged that the medicine has never been proven to work in children and sends thousands per year to the emergency room, but they were afraid parents might just use stronger adult medicines if they didn’t have the children’s strength alternative. A group of major manufacturers has decided to put a “do not use under 4” label on them, anyway.

What can you do instead? Keep the child hydrated with fluids and a humidifier and consider dark honey, which has shown to be effective. (Never give honey to children under 2 because of a botulism risk in that age.) You can try the following, with or without an uncaffeinated beverage, 30 minutes before bedtime.

• Ages 2 to 5: ½ teaspoon
• Ages 5 to 11: 1 teaspoon
• Ages 12 and up: 2 teaspoons

4.  Bisphenol A (BPA).  BPA is a chemical found in plastics. Animal studies have shown it can affect brain behavioral and prostate development. The FDA says it’s safe in the small amounts found in baby toys. Critics disagree, saying human studies need to be done to prove safety.

Some major retailers no longer stock toys containing BPA. If you’re concerned, you have the alternative to buy glass baby bottles or plastic ones that are BPA free.

5.  Influenza vaccines.  The FDA now recommends every child aged 6 months to 18 years be immunized yearly. Babies up to 6 months old have their mother’s immunity if she was vaccinated while pregnant.

If you enjoy the Health Corner column, get more great medical information, blogs, articles and tips from your friendly family doctor by signing up for the My Family Doctor RSS feed or free email updates.

A visit to an Urgent Care facility for antibiotics to treat an infection helped to invent the printable Prescription History List.

It was a holiday weekend and I was seen by a doctor I had never met before that happened to be on call.  He asked which antibiotics I had taken previously, and I remembered a few, but not all.  As he called out the names of prescriptions and asked if I had ever taken them, the best I could do was guess based on if the names sounded familiar!  He asked when I took them, and I didn’t know.  He asked what illness I took them for, and I couldn’t remember.

These questions were about medications I MYSELF have taken, and most of the information I didn’t know!  You can guess how hard it is to keep these things straight when you start adding information for your spouse and children.  I started to panic, wondering what would happen if one of my children had to be taken to the ER by a sitter or relative.  They wouldn’t know about the kids’ medication allergies or reactions.

After my experience at the Urgent Care, I created a system to manage prescription medication information.  Our lists can be left with sitters in case of emergency, and can even be copied by your doctor and placed in your medical record so you don’t have the missing information like I did!  They are ideal for when you change doctors or clinics, or even when you move to a new town.

Print your FREE Home Ever After printable Prescription History List and get your family’s medication info organized today!

The Prescription History List is a quick and convenient way to keep track of past prescription medications taken by your entire family.
Print Home Ever After’s Prescription History List Form now.
Print one sheet for each family member.  Keep all the sheets together; try paperclipping, putting them into a folder or 3-ring binder, or whatever works best for you.  Keep the Prescription History Lists in an easy-to-access location, like in the basket with your medicines or medicine cabinet.

Each time you pick up a prescription, log it on the Prescription History List along with the month and year.  Don’t forget to include what illness the medicine is being taken for.  During medicine use, make note of any allergic or adverse reactions and side effects experienced.

Take the Prescription History Lists with you to doctor appointments or emergency visits.  Your prescription history is valuable information that should be part of your medical record so that your doctor can see how you have handled certain medications in the past.  The handy allergy tracker at the top will prevent your doctor from prescribing a possibly life-threatening medication.

Note: Please request that your doctor or nurse make a copy of your Prescription History List or scan it and put it into your medical record.  The disclosure at the top of the form (“Attention Medical Personnel”) serves as your written permission for them to add the sheet to your medical record, saving you an extra step – just sign your name next to the disclosure.