Health News

Tips For Women With Epilepsy Who May Get Pregnant
Two recent studies offered new insight for women who take medications for epilepsy on how to reduce their baby's risk for birth defects and whether breastfeeding is recommended.
Misdiagnosing Post-Stroke Pain
Days or even weeks after a stroke, some patients experience intense pain. Medications and magnetic or electrical stimulation can help, but doctors often fail to correctly diagnose the condition.
Combining Meds for Bipolar Disorder
People with rapid cycling bipolar disorder may have different treatments needs. A recent study looked at combining Depakote , lithium and Lamictal .
Kids These Days… and Their Rx
It's important to treat mental illness. But some people have concerns that children are over-treated with medications. Research evidence does show an increase in some psychiatric meds for kids.
Bipolar... and Pregnant
They say pregnancy can give women crazy mood swings as her hormones are in flux. So what if a woman already has bipolar disorder and becomes pregnant?
New Migraine Guidelines Stress Prevention
Many patients suffering from chronic migraines may be eligible to take preventative medications, yet few take them. New guidelines for treating migraines stress using available therapies to prevent such attacks.
Suicide Risk and Antiepileptic Drugs
Some antiepileptic drugs have been associated with an increased risk of suicide. A new study shows that the use of antiepileptic drugs by patients with bipolar disorder did not increase the risk of suicide. 
Lithium Still Bipolar's Treatment of Choice
At one time lithium was a common drug treatment for bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder. But its use has decreased significantly, partly due to concerns about safety and its possible negative effect on kidney function.
Treating Epilepsy While Pregnant
It has been well established that there is a risk of birth defects in the baby for pregnant women taking the anti-seizure medication phenytoin . Newer anti-epileptic drugs are safer, and a new study aimed to confirm the data.
Epilepsy Drugs May Lead To Birth Defects
Women with epilepsy comprise one half of a percent of all pregnancies in America. It is necessary for these women to remain on their anti-convulsant drugs during pregnancy as uncontrolled seizures are risky for both the mother and her unborn child.