Prioritize Exercise
 

Prioritize Exercise

Just 20 minutes of exercise can energize you, help boost your mood, and even improve your sleep. Take a brisk walk, ride your bike, work in the garden -- find a way to move your body every day so you’re in good shape to take care of your child.

Don’t Skimp on Sleep
 

11

Prioritize Exercise

Just 20 minutes of exercise can energize you, help boost your mood, and even improve your sleep. Take a brisk walk, ride your bike, work in the garden -- find a way to move your body every day so you’re in good shape to take care of your child.





woman sleeping

6 / 11

Don’t Skimp on Sleep

Exhaustion makes stress worse. Good sleep is key for your health and the energy you need to care for your child. Your goal should be 8 hours a night. Prep yourself for good shut-eye by cutting off caffeine early in the day, turning off screens an hour before bed, and sticking to a bedtime schedule as best you can. If worries about your child are keeping you up at night, talk to your doctor about how to get the rest you need.

Don’t Skimp on Sleep
 

Don’t Skimp on Sleep

Exhaustion makes stress worse. Good sleep is key for your health and the energy you need to care for your child. Your goal should be 8 hours a night. Prep yourself for good shut-eye by cutting off caffeine early in the day, turning off screens an hour before bed, and sticking to a bedtime schedule as best you can. If worries about your child are keeping you up at night, talk to your doctor about how to get the rest you need.

Eat Well
 

Eat Well

It’s easy to pick up bad eating habits when you’re so focused on your child. But without the right nutrition, you’ll end up feeling run down. Start with simple changes. Instead of raiding the hospital’s vending machine, carry healthy snacks with you, like baby carrots, trail mix, or granola bars. To avoid eating out, say yes when friends or neighbors offer to cook meals for you. If you need help rethinking your diet, talk to your doctor or a dietitian.





Friends talking

7 / 11

Be Smart About Stress

When mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion build up without relief, it can lead to what’s called “caregiver burnout.” Watch for the signs: trouble with your sleep or appetite, feeling very anxious or irritable, or a “checked out,” empty feeling. It may be hard to notice these changes in yourself, so ask family or friends to let you know if they

Be Smart About Stress
 

Be Smart About Stress

When mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion build up without relief, it can lead to what’s called “caregiver burnout.” Watch for the signs: trouble with your sleep or appetite, feeling very anxious or irritable, or a “checked out,” empty feeling. It may be hard to notice these changes in yourself, so ask family or friends to let you know if they think you’re getting burned out. Take them seriously if they bring it up.

Be Smart About Stress
 

Be Smart About Stress

When mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion build up without relief, it can lead to what’s called “caregiver burnout.” Watch for the signs: trouble with your sleep or appetite, feeling very anxious or irritable, or a “checked out,” empty feeling. It may be hard to notice these changes in yourself, so ask family or friends to let you know if they think you’re getting burned out. Take them seriously if they bring it up.





meditation

8 / 11

Find Your Calm

Relaxation techniques send a powerful message to a stressed body and mind. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing are all good ways to feel calm. Keep a journal, even if it’s just to write down the things you’re thankful for each day. If spirituality is part of your life, praying or talking to a spiritual leader can help center

Find Your Calm
 

Find Your Calm

Relaxation techniques send a powerful message to a stressed body and mind. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing are all good ways to feel calm. Keep a journal, even if it’s just to write down the things you’re thankful for each day. If spirituality is part of your life, praying or talking to a spiritual leader can help center your thoughts and handle stress.





Mom and daughter

9 / 11

Look for Laughs

When it comes to stress, laughter really can be some of the best medicine. A good laugh can help with blood flow, relax your muscles, and flood your body with chemicals that make you feel good. Cracking up with your child is even better -- you’ll both benefit from the release of a good giggle.








Up Next

What Can We Do About Chemo Side Effects?






.

Look for Laughs
 

11

Find Your Calm



Look for Laughs



When it comes to stress, laughter really can be some of the best medicine. A good laugh can help with blood flow, relax your muscles, and flood your body with chemicals that make you feel good. Cracking up with your child is even better -- you’ll both benefit from the release of a good giggle.

What Medicines Can Make You Tired
 

What Medicines Can Make You Tired?





In this Article




Medications That Cause Fatigue
What You Can Do




You expect to feel tired if you take a sleeping pill, but other kinds of medications can cause fatigue, too. It’s one of the most common side effects of prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

When medicines make you tired, it is often because they affect chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters. Your nerves use them to carry messages to each other. Some of them control how awake or sleepy you feel.


Medications That Cause Fatigue

Some of the most common drugs that can make you tired are:

Allergy medications (antihistamines), such as diphenhydramine, brompheniramine (Bromfed, Dimetapp), hydroxyzine (Vistaril, Atarax), and meclizine (Antivert). Some of these antihistamines are in sleeping pills, too.

Antidepressants. One type of antidepressant called tricyclics can make you feel tired and sleepy. Some are more likely to do that than others, like amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip), doxepin (Silenor, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil, Tofranil PM), and trimipramine (Surmontil).








Anxiety medications. Benzodiazepines like alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan) can make you feel drowsy or weak for a few hours to several days, depending on which one you take.

Blood pressure medications. Beta-blockers, like atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor), metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL), and propranolol hydrochloride (Inderal), to name a few. They work by slowing down your heart, which can make you tired.

Cancer treatment. Different types of cancer treatment can make you very tired by changing protein and hormones levels in your body. As they kill cancer cells, they also damage or destroy some normal cells. Then your body has to spend extra energy to fix or clean up the cells.

Gut medications. Drugs that control nausea, keep you from throwing up, or treat diarrhea can make you sleepy.



Muscle relaxants. Most muscle relaxants don’t work on your muscles directly. Instead, they work on the nerves in your brain and spine to make the muscles relax. Their effects on your nervous system can make you tired. Some common muscle relaxants are carisoprodol (Soma) and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril).

Opioid pain medications. Opioids act like the chemicals your body makes to control pain, called endorphins. Common ones are morphine, oxymorphone (Opana, Opana ER), oxycodone (OxyContin, OxyIR), fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora), oxycodone and aspirin (Percodan), oxycodone and acetaminophen (Percocet, Roxicet), and hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin).



































































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Some Things Don’t Mix Well
 

Things That Can Affect Your Medication











pill box

1 / 16

Some Things Don’t Mix Well

You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from.

Pharmacy and Medication Tips
 

Pharmacy and Medication Tips


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All medications sold in the U.S. can be divided into two categories:
• Prescription drugs that require a prescription to be sold
•Nonprescription or over-the-counter drugs that do not require a prescription from a doctor

Prescription drugs are generally more potent than those sold over-the-counter (OTC) and may have more serious side effects if inappropriately used. Therefore, these medications are only sold under a doctor's direction. These directions are written on a prescription by your doctor, then double-checked, packaged, and sold to you by a pharmacist. Your pharmacist will also counsel you on how to use your medication and the drug's potential side effects.








You should use only one pharmacy to fill your prescriptions. That way, you will have a single, complete source for all of your medications. The pharmacist will be more likely to pick up potential interactions among them and contact your doctor if needed. This applies to OTC as well as prescription drugs.

When you fill your prescription at the pharmacy, make sure to do the following:
•Your pharmacist must have the same information as your doctor regarding your medications and past reactions you have had (again, no reaction is too trivial to bring up).
•If there are children in the home, make sure to ask for child-resistant lids.
•If no children are in the household, your pharmacist may be able to provide you with easier opening lids. If you have children visiting, put the medication out of their reach.
•If the medication is a liquid, get a measuring device with the prescription -- usually a measuring teaspoon or a medical syringe. Don't trust the volume of your home teaspoon or your ability to guess.
•Find out how the medication should be stored. Most people leave their medications in their bathroom medicine cabinet. This is arguably the worst place in the house for pills, because the humidity in a bathroom can make them break down more easily. Other drugs need to be refrigerated. Find out about yours before you leave the drug store.
•Before you leave the pharmacy, also check to make sure the medication you are given matches your doctor's prescription. Look at the directions for taking the medication. Do these match what the doctor told you? Ask the pharmacist any questions you have.
•If you accidentally use a medication or a substance not meant for you, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 or call 911. Keep these numbers handy in case of an emergency.

Some Things Don’t Mix Well
 

Some Things Don’t Mix Well

You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from.





Halved grapefruit

2 / 16

Grapefruit

This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor

Things That Can Affect Your Medication
 

Milk

This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from

Things That Can Affect Your Medication
 

Things That Can Affect Your Medication











pill box

4 / 16

Some Things Don’t Mix Well

You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from.





Halved grapefruit

4 / 16

Grapefruit

This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor).





glass milk

4 / 16

Milk

This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from.





black licorice

4 / 16

Licorice

Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs.

Things That Can Affect Your Medication
 

Things That Can Affect Your Medication











pill box

5 / 16

Some Things Don’t Mix Well

You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from.





Halved grapefruit

5 / 16

Grapefruit

This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor).





glass milk

5 / 16

Milk

This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from.





black licorice

5 / 16

Licorice

Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs.





dark chocolate

5 / 16

Chocolate

Dark chocolate in particular can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidem tartrate (Ambien). It also can boost the power of some stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate (Ritalin). And if you take an MAO inhibitor, used to treat depression, it can make your blood pressure dangerously high.

Things That Can Affect Your Medication
 

Iron Supplement

This can lower the effects of levothyroxine (Synthroid), a medicine that gives you thyroid hormone when your body doesn’t make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism). If you take this medication and a multivitamin, check to see if the vitamin has iron in it. If you need an iron supplement, ask your doctor about taking it and your medication at different times.

Things That Can Affect Your Medication
 

Things That Can Affect Your Medication











pill box

7 / 16

Some Things Don’t Mix Well

You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from.





Halved grapefruit

7 / 16

Grapefruit

This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor).





glass milk

7 / 16

Milk

This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from.





black licorice

7 / 16

Licorice

Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs.





dark chocolate

7 / 16

Chocolate

Dark chocolate in particular can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidem tartrate (Ambien). It also can boost the power of some stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate (Ritalin). And if you take an MAO inhibitor, used to treat depression, it can make your blood pressure dangerously high.





iron supplement pills

7 / 16

Iron Supplement

This can lower the effects of levothyroxine (Synthroid), a medicine that gives you thyroid hormone when your body doesn’t make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism). If you take this medication and a multivitamin, check to see if the vitamin has iron in it. If you need an iron supplement, ask your doctor about taking it and your medication at different times.





Pill bottle

7 / 16

Alcohol

This makes certain drugs less effective or even useless, including some blood pressure and heart medicines. It also can make others stronger than they should be or cause dangerous side effects.

Things That Can Affect Your Medication
 

Things That Can Affect Your Medication











pill box

8 / 16

Some Things Don’t Mix Well

You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from.





Halved grapefruit

8 / 16

Grapefruit

This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor).





glass milk

8 / 16

Milk

This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from.





black licorice

8 / 16

Licorice

Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs.





dark chocolate

8 / 16

Chocolate

Dark chocolate in particular can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidem tartrate (Ambien). It also can boost the power of some stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate (Ritalin). And if you take an MAO inhibitor, used to treat depression, it can make your blood pressure dangerously high.





iron supplement pills

8 / 16

Iron Supplement

This can lower the effects of levothyroxine (Synthroid), a medicine that gives you thyroid hormone when your body doesn’t make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism). If you take this medication and a multivitamin, check to see if the vitamin has iron in it. If you need an iron supplement, ask your doctor about taking it and your medication at different times.





Pill bottle

8 / 16

Alcohol

This makes certain drugs less effective or even useless, including some blood pressure and heart medicines. It also can make others stronger than they should be or cause dangerous side effects.





drinking coffee

8 / 16

Coffee

It can weaken antipsychotic drugs like lithium and clozapine, but boost the effects -- and side effects -- of others. Those include aspirin, epinephrine (used to treat serious allergic reactions), and albuterol (taken by inhaler for breathing problems). It can also make it harder for your body to take in and use iron

Things That Can Affect Your Medication
 

16

Coffee

It can weaken antipsychotic drugs like lithium and clozapine, but boost the effects -- and side effects -- of others. Those include aspirin, epinephrine (used to treat serious allergic reactions), and albuterol (taken by inhaler for breathing problems). It can also make it harder for your body to take in and use iron.





Doctor and patient

9 / 16

Antihistamines

These help with the sneezing and runny nose caused by allergies, but some of them can make medication for high blood pressure less effective and raise your heart rate. Talk to your doctor about other ways to manage your allergies if you take blood pressure medicine

Things That Can Affect Your Medication
 

Things That Can Affect Your Medication











pill box

10 / 16

Some Things Don’t Mix Well

You may know that some medicines don’t work well together. But what you eat and drink can have an effect on some drugs, too. Before you take a medication for the first time, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there’s anything you should stay away from.





Halved grapefruit

10 / 16

Grapefruit

This citrus fruit changes the way certain cells in your gut take in and move medication through your body -- it can affect more than 50 drugs. It can make some, like fexofenadine (Allegra) for allergies, less effective and make others too strong, including ones that lower your cholesterol like atorvastatin (Lipitor).





glass milk

10 / 16

Milk

This dairy product can make it harder for your body to process certain antibiotics. Minerals in milk like calcium and magnesium are part of the reason, along with the protein casein. If you’re taking antibiotics, make sure to find out about the foods or beverages you should stay away from.





black licorice

10 / 16

Licorice

Some people use this as an herbal remedy to help with digestion, and others use it to flavor foods. But glycyrrhizin, a chemical in licorice, can weaken the effect of some drugs, including cyclosporine, used to keep people who’ve had transplants from rejecting their new organs.





dark chocolate

10 / 16

Chocolate

Dark chocolate in particular can weaken the effects of drugs meant to calm you down or make you sleep, like zolpidem tartrate (Ambien). It also can boost the power of some stimulant drugs, like methylphenidate (Ritalin). And if you take an MAO inhibitor, used to treat depression, it can make your blood pressure dangerously high.





iron supplement pills

10 / 16

Iron Supplement

This can lower the effects of levothyroxine (Synthroid), a medicine that gives you thyroid hormone when your body doesn’t make enough (a condition called hypothyroidism). If you take this medication and a multivitamin, check to see if the vitamin has iron in it. If you need an iron supplement, ask your doctor about taking it and your medication at different times.





Pill bottle

10 / 16

Alcohol

This makes certain drugs less effective or even useless, including some blood pressure and heart medicines. It also can make others stronger than they should be or cause dangerous side effects.





drinking coffee

10 / 16

Coffee

It can weaken antipsychotic drugs like lithium and clozapine, but boost the effects -- and side effects -- of others. Those include aspirin, epinephrine (used to treat serious allergic reactions), and albuterol (taken by inhaler for breathing problems). It can also make it harder for your body to take in and use iron.





Doctor and patient

10 / 16

Antihistamines

These help with the sneezing and runny nose caused by allergies, but some of them can make medication for high blood pressure less effective and raise your heart rate. Talk to your doctor about other ways to manage your allergies if you take blood pressure medicine.





Reading drug label

10 / 16

Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs)

These control seizures in people who have epilepsy. But AEDs can make birth control pills less able to prevent pregnancy, and early research shows they may make other drugs stronger and cause potentially serious side effects.