Skin-to-Skin Care

There are many benefits to keeping babies close to their parents. We encourage you to hold your newborn baby naked (except for a diaper) on your own skin, with a blanket covering you both, during your awake and alert times.

Babies who are frequently held skin-to-skin:

• Are more likely to latch onto the breast and to breastfeed easily
• Have more stable and normal skin temperatures, heart rates, and blood pressure
• Have better blood sugars
• Are less likely to cry

Breastfeeding Support

We encourage all mothers to breastfeed their infants. Part of ensuring success is to avoid giving formula, bottles or pacifiers to healthy newborns. However, if there is a medical reason to give the baby a supplement, we will discuss options with you.

Delayed First Bath

A creamy, protective substance called vernix is present on the skin of many newborn babies. We often give a first shampoo, but intentionally do not bathe babies in their first few days because leaving this substance to absorb into your baby’s skin helps protect against dryness and bacterial infections.

Vitamin K and Erythromycin Eye Ointment

Your baby will typically receive a Vitamin K injection and an antibiotic eye ointment shortly after birth. Vitamin K protects against rare but serious bleeding problems, and erythromycin prevents bacterial infections that can be present in the birth canal.

If you wish, you can delay these by an hour or so to keep your baby skin-to-skin. However, because the Vitamin K protects the baby from bleeding problems in the first 24 hours, it’s best to give it as early as possible (within an hour after birth).

Breastfeeding

The first time you hold your newborn in the delivery room is a great time to start breastfeeding. At the beginning, your body will produce small amounts of a special milk called colostrum that will help protect your baby from infection. (Your baby’s tummy is very tiny, so he or she only needs these small amounts to fill up. As his or her tummy grows, your milk will change and you’ll produce more of it.)

Health Screenings

Screening identifies most of the babies born with disorders, so that treatment can start right away. A heel prick is used to take a few drops of the baby’s blood and send it for testing.

Your baby will stay with you during these screenings. However, if your baby requires any additional testing in another area of the hospital, you or a family member are always welcome to accompany your baby.

Breastfeeding your newborn comes with many benefits. Most importantly, it’s a good source of nutrition. For example, breast milk contains essential nutrients, antioxidants, enzymes, and other components that protect your baby from illnesses.

Breastfed babies typically grow into healthier children with fewer instances of pediatrics medical issues and improved immunity to infections.

Breastfeeding can also benefit new mothers:

• Skin-to-skin contact is a great way for a mother to bond to her newborn.
• Also, it produces oxytocin, a soothing hormone, that reduces stress in nursing mothers.
• Women who breastfeed are at a lower risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and other issues.

Breastfeeding doesn’t always come naturally to new mothers. However, with a little patience and a few tips, you will be breastfeeding your baby in no time.

Be patient

At first, breastfeeding can be challenging for both the mother and the baby, and it can take time and patience before both are comfortable. Therefore, it’s important to stay relaxed and try not to get frustrated when difficulties arise.

Get in a comfortable position

Different breastfeeding positions can help your baby latch on better and more effectively empty your breasts.

Four commonly used positions include:

• the cradle hold
• cross-cradle hold
• football hold
• the side-lying position.

Take the time to figure out which position works best for you and your baby.

Listen to your baby

There’s no hard and fast feeding schedule for newborns–every baby is different! So, it helps to pay attention to your baby and notice signs of hunger. If your baby is hungry they may suck on their fingers, clench their hands, or pucker their lips.

Ask for help

However, if you’ve tried everything and still can’t get the hang of breastfeeding, there’s no shame in asking for help. Reach out to your healthcare provider or our pediatrics staff for guidance and support.

• History Form
• Physical Examination Form
• Clearance Form
• Athletic Participation

Medical History Form

Prior to seeing your pediatrics physician, you and your child will fill out the History Form. This is a basic pre-appointment form that asks questions about medicines and allergies, heart health, family history, bones and joints, and any potential medical issues.

Specifically, this form helps to give your pediatrics healthcare provider some basic background information about your student prior to the exam. In addition, this is an important time to list any events in one’s health history that could require further review or discussion with a healthcare provider.

Physical Examination Form

Next, the physical examination will include a review of several health indicators, including pulse, lung function, and vision function.

In concluding the exam, the pediatrics health care provider will:

(1) clear the student for all sports without restriction

(2) clear for sports without restriction, but with recommendations for further evaluation or treatment

(3) not provide immediate clearance.

Clearance Form

Furthermore, upon discharge, the student and parent will be provided with a clearance form that summarizes the exam findings. Subsequently, this form can be used in lieu of the physical exam form and health history form; it may be an appropriate alternative for any circumstances in which HIPAA concerns are an issue.

Consent for Athletic Participation & Medical Care

Finally, the parent or legal guardian of the student athlete will fill out a form detailing allergies, medications, insurance information, and emergency contact information. In addition, this form acknowledges legal responsibilities and protocols in the event of injury.

DTaP = Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis
Hib = Haemophilus influenzae type b
MMR = Measles, Mumps, Rubella

Immunizations protect you or your child from dangerous diseases. In addition, they help reduce the spread of disease to others. They are often needed for entrance into school or daycare. And they may be needed for employment or for travel to another country.

Because proof of immunization is often a prerequisite for enrollment in school or day care, it’s important to keep your children up to date on their vaccines. Subsequently, the benefit of doing so is that your children will be protected from diseases that could cause them serious health problems.

The recommended pediatrics immunizations for children 0-6 years of age include:

• Hepatitis B
• Rotavirus
• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
• Haemophilus influenzae type B
• Pneumococcal
• Poliovirus
• Influenza
• Measles, mumps, rubella
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Hepatitis A
• Meningococcal (for certain high-risk groups)

At one time, each of the diseases addressed by these vaccines posed a serious health threat to children, taking their lives by the thousands; however, today most of these diseases are at their lowest levels in decades, thanks to immunizations.

It’s important to keep your child’s pediatrics immunizations on schedule and up to date, but if your child misses a scheduled dose he or she can “catch up” later.

Diphtheria

(the ‘D’ in DTaP vaccine)
Signs and symptoms include a thick coating in the back of the throat that can make it hard to breathe.
Diphtheria can lead to breathing problems, paralysis and heart failure.
About 15,000 people died each year in the U.S. from diphtheria before there was a vaccine.

Tetanus

(the ‘T’ in DTaP vaccine; also known as Lockjaw)
Signs and symptoms include painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body.
Tetanus can lead to stiffness of the jaw that can make it difficult to open the mouth or swallow.
Tetanus kills about 1 person out of every 10 who get it.

Pertussis

(the ‘P’ in DTaP vaccine, also known as Whooping Cough)
Signs and symptoms include violent coughing spells that can make it hard for a baby to eat, drink, or breathe. These spells can last for several weeks.
Pertussis can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, or death. Pertussis can be very dangerous in infants.
Most pertussis deaths are in babies younger than 3 months of age.

Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)

Signs and symptoms can include fever, headache, stiff neck, cough, and shortness of breath. There might not be any signs or symptoms in mild cases.
Hib can lead to meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings); pneumonia; infections of the ears, sinuses, blood, joints, bones, and covering of the heart; brain damage; severe swelling of the throat, making it hard to breathe; and deafness.
Children younger than 5 years of age are at greatest risk for Hib disease.

Hepatitis B

Signs and symptoms include tiredness, diarrhea and vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), and pain in muscles, joints and stomach. But usually there are no signs or symptoms at all.
Hepatitis B can lead to liver damage, and liver cancer. Some people develop chronic (long term) hepatitis B infection. These people might not look or feel sick, but they can infect others.
Hepatitis B can cause liver damage and cancer in 1 child out of 4 who are chronically infected.

Polio

Signs and symptoms can include flu-like illness, or there may be no signs or symptoms at all.
Polio can lead to permanent paralysis (can’t move an arm or leg, or sometimes can’t breathe) and death.
In the 1950s, polio paralyzed more than 15,000 people every year in the U.S.

Pneumococcal Disease

Signs and symptoms include fever, chills, cough, and chest pain. In infants, symptoms can also include meningitis, seizures, and sometimes rash.
Pneumococcal disease can lead to meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings); infections of the ears, sinuses and blood; pneumonia; deafness; and brain damage.
About 1 out of 15 children who get pneumococcal meningitis will die from the infection.

Children usually catch these diseases from other children or adults, who might not even know they are infected. A mother infected with hepatitis B can infect her baby at birth. Tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound; it is not spread from person to person.

The threat of death by disease isn’t the only medical consequence of skipping vaccinations.

Differences in Medical Care

An unvaccinated child faces lifelong differences that could potentially put him or her at risk. Every time you call 911, ride in an ambulance, go to the doctor or visit the hospital emergency room, you must alert medical personnel of your child’s vaccination status so he or she receives distinctive treatment. Because unvaccinated children can require treatment that is out of the ordinary, medical staff may be less familiar, and less experienced, with the procedures required to appropriately treat your child.

Pregnancy Complications

Women who are pregnant but not vaccinated can be vulnerable to diseases that may complicate their pregnancy. For example, a pregnant woman who contracts rubella in the first trimester may have a baby with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), which can cause heart defects, developmental delays and deafness.

Putting Others at Risk

People who choose not to vaccinate their children also put others at risk if their child isn’t vaccinated and becomes ill. Special groups of people cannot be vaccinated, including those with compromised immune systems (e.g. those with leukemia or other cancers). Subsequently, these people rely on the general public being vaccinated to lower their risk of exposure.

An ear infection occurs when one of your eustachian tubes becomes swollen or blocked, causing fluid to build up in your middle ear. Eustachian tubes are small tubes that run from each ear directly to the back of the throat.

Causes of eustachian tube blockage include:

• Allergies
• Colds
• Sinus infections
• Excess mucus
• Smoking
• Infected or swollen adenoids (tissue near your tonsils that traps harmful bacteria and viruses)
• Changes in air pressure

Children

Signs and symptoms common in children include:

• Ear pain, especially when lying down
• Tugging or pulling at an ear
• Difficulty sleeping due to pain
• Crying more than usual
• Acting more irritable than usual
• Lack of response to sounds
• Loss of balance
• Fever of 100 F (38 C) or higher
• Drainage of fluid from the ear
• Headache
• Loss of appetite

Adults

Common signs and symptoms in adults include:

• Ear pain
• Drainage of fluid from the ear
• Diminished hearing

These symptoms might persist or come and go. Symptoms may occur in one or both ears. Pain is usually more severe with double ear infection (infection in both ears).

Chronic ear infection symptoms may be less noticeable than those of acute ear infections.

Children younger than 6 months who have a fever or ear infection symptoms should see a doctor. Always seek medical attention if your child has a fever higher than 102°F (39°C) or severe ear pain.

Most mild ear infections clear up without medical treatment however acute and chronic infections need specialist attention.

Some of the following methods are effective in relieving the symptoms of a mild ear infection:

• Apply a warm cloth to the affected ear.
• Take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication such as Ibuprofen (Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
• Use OTC or prescription ear drops to relieve pain.
• Take OTC decongestants such as Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed).

If your symptoms get worse or don’t improve

you should schedule an appointment with us and one of our pediatrics specialists can help you get checked and treated. Antibiotics may be prescribed if your ear infection is chronic or doesn’t appear to be improving.

It’s important to finish your entire course of antibiotics if they’re prescribed.

Surgery may be an option if your ear infection isn’t eliminated with the usual medical treatments or if you have many ear infections over a short period of time. Most often, tubes are placed in the ears to allow fluid to drain out.

In cases that involve enlarged adenoids, surgical removal of the adenoids may be necessary.

Sore throat may be caused by either injury or infection.

Here are some of the most common sore throat causes in pediatrics:

Colds, the flu, and other viral infections

• the common cold
• Influenza — the Flu
• Mononucleosis, an infectious disease that’s transmitted through saliva
• Measles, an illness that causes a rash and fever
• Chickenpox, an infection that causes a fever and an itchy, bumpy rash
• Mumps, an infection that causes swelling of the salivary glands in the neck

Strep throat and other bacterial infections

Bacterial infections can also cause sore throats. The most common one is strep throat, an infection of the throat and tonsils caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria.

In particular, strep throat causes nearly 40 percent of sore throat cases in children (3). In addition, tonsillitis, and sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia can also cause a sore throat.

Allergies

When the immune system reacts to allergy triggers like pollen, grass, and pet dander, it releases chemicals that cause symptoms like nasal congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, and throat irritation.

Excess mucus in the nose can drip down the back of the throat. This is called postnasal drip and can irritate the throat.

Dry air

Dry air can suck moisture from the mouth and throat, and leave them feeling dry and scratchy. In particular, the air is most often dry in the winter months when the heater is running.

Smoke, chemicals, and other irritants

Many different chemicals and other substances in the environment irritate the throat, including:

• Cigarette and other tobacco smoke
• Air pollution
• Cleaning products and other chemicals

Injury

Any injury such as a hit or cut to the neck, can cause pain in the throat. Likewise, getting a piece of food stuck in your throat can also irritate it.

Repeated use strains the vocal cords and muscles in the throat. For example, you can get a sore throat after yelling, talking loudly, or singing for a long period of time.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition in which acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus — the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

The acid burns the esophagus and throat, causing symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux — the regurgitation of acid into your throat.

Tumor

A tumor of the throat, voice box, or tongue is a less common cause of a sore throat. However, when a sore throat is a sign of cancer, it doesn’t go away after a few days.

The symptoms of a sore throat can vary depending on what caused it.

A sore throat can feel:

• Scratchy
• Burning
• Raw
• Dry
• Tender
• Irritated

It may hurt more when you swallow or talk. Your throat or tonsils might also look red.

Sometimes, white patches or areas of pus will form on the tonsils. These white patches are more common in strep throat than in a sore throat caused by a virus.

Common infections causing a pediatric sore throat might result in other signs and symptoms, including:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Body aches
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting

You can treat most pediatric sore throats at home. Get plenty of rest to give your immune system a chance to fight the infection.

To relieve the pain of a sore throat:

• Gargle with a mixture of warm water and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt.
• Drink warm liquids that feel soothing to the throat, such as hot tea with honey, soup broth, or warm water with lemon. Herbal teas are especially soothing to a sore throat (5).
• Cool your throat by eating a cold treat like a popsicle or ice cream.
• Suck on a piece of hard candy or a lozenge.
• Turn on a cool mist humidifier to add moisture to the air.
• Rest your voice until your throat feels better.

Over the Counter Medicines

You can take medicines to relieve the pain of a sore throat, or to treat the underlying cause.

Over-the-counter medications that relieve throat pain include:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• Aspirin

Don’t give Aspirin to children and teenagers, as it’s been linked to a rare but serious condition called Reye’s Syndrome in pediatric patients.

You can also use one or more of these treatments, which work directly on the pain of a sore throat:

• a sore throat spray that contains a numbing antiseptic like phenol, or a cooling ingredient like menthol or eucalyptus
• throat lozenges
• cough syrup

If the sore throat is not relieved using home remedies and over-counter-medicines, make sure to visit our pediatrics providers to be checked out and avoid serious infection complications.

The symptoms of ADHD in pediatrics patients can be divided into 2 types of behavioral problems: inattentiveness, and hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

Most people with ADHD have problems that fall into both these categories, but this is not always the case.

For example, some people with the condition may have problems with inattentiveness only, but not with hyperactivity or impulsiveness. This type of ADHD is also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD). ADD can sometimes go unnoticed because the symptoms may be less obvious.

Symptoms in children and teenagers:

The symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers are definite, and they’re commonly noticeable before the age of 6. In particular, they occur in more than one situation, such as at home and at school.

Inattentiveness (lack of attention)

The main signs of inattentiveness are:

• Having a short attention span and being easily distracted
• Making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork, office work or even simply in household chores
• Appearing forgetful or easily losing things
• Being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming
• Appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions
• Constantly changing activity or task
• Having difficulty organizing tasks

Hyperactivity and impulsiveness

The main signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness are:

• Being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings
• Constantly fidgeting
• Being unable to concentrate on tasks
• Excessive physical movement
• Excessive talking
• Being unable to wait their turn
• Acting without thinking
• Interrupting conversations
• Little or no sense of danger

These symptoms can cause significant problems in a child’s life, such poor school performance, poor social interaction with other children and adults, and problems with discipline.

As ADHD is a developmental disorder, it’s believed it cannot develop in adults without it first appearing during childhood. Thus, it’s known that symptoms of ADHD often persist from childhood into a person’s teenage years and then adulthood.

Also, any additional problems or conditions experienced by children with ADHD, such as depression or dyslexia, may also continue from pediatrics into adulthood.

The exact cause of ADHD is not fully understood, although a combination of factors is thought to be responsible.

Genetics

ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it’s thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of a child with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves. However, it is always not a guarantee that when one or two of your nearest kin has ADHD, automatically you also have ADHD.

Brain function and structure

Research has identified a number of possible differences in the brains of people with ADHD from those without the condition, although the exact significance of these is not clear.

For example, studies involving brain scans have suggested that certain areas of the brain may be smaller in people with ADHD, whereas other areas may be larger.

Other studies have suggested that people with ADHD may have an imbalance in the level of neurotransmitters in the brain, or that these chemicals may not work properly.

Groups at risk

Certain groups are also believed to be more at risk of ADHD, including people:

• Premature Born (before the 37th week of pregnancy) or with a low birthweight
• With epilepsy
• With brain damage – which happened either in the womb or after a severe head injury later in life

Treatment and medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can help relieve the symptoms and make the condition much less of a problem in day-to-day life.

ADHD can be treated using either medication or therapy, or a combination of both is often deemed the most effective.

Treatment is usually arranged by a pediatrics specialist, such as a pediatrician or psychiatrist, although the condition may be monitored by a GP.

Medication

There are 5 types of medication licensed for the treatment of ADHD:

• Methylphenidate
• Dexamfetamine
• Lisdexamfetamine
• Atomoxetine
• Guanfacine

These medications are not a definitive cure for ADHD but may help someone with the condition concentrate better, be less impulsive, feel calmer, and learn and practice new skills.

Some medications need to be taken daily, but some can be taken just on school days. In addition, treatment breaks are occasionally recommended to assess whether the medication is still needed.

Anxiety isn’t developed or caused by a single factor but a combination of multiple things. There are multiple factors that play a role, including personality factors, difficult life experiences and physical health.

Family History

Some people who experience anxiety conditions may have a genetic susceptibility towards anxiety and these conditions can sometimes run in a family. However, having someone blood related, experience anxiety or other mental health condition doesn’t mean you’ll automatically have or develop anxiety.

Personality Factors

Research says that some people with certain personality traits are more likely to have anxiety. For example, children who are perfectionists, easily worried, nervous, shy, lack self-esteem or controlling, sometimes develop anxiety during the stages of their life.

Stressful Events or Environments

In addition, anxiety conditions may develop because of one or more stressful life events or surrounding.

Common triggers include:

• Work stress or job change
• Change in living arrangements
• Pregnancy and giving birth
• Family and relationship problems
• Major emotional shock following a stressful or traumatic event
• Verbal, sexual, physical or emotional abuse or trauma
• Death or loss of a loved one.

Physical Health Problems

Chronic physical ailments can also contribute to anxiety conditions or impact on the treatment of either the anxiety or the physical illness itself.

Common serious conditions associated with anxiety conditions include:

• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Hypertension and heart disease
• Cancer
• Some physical conditions can mimic anxiety conditions, like an overactive thyroid. It can be useful to see a doctor and be assessed to determine whether there may be a medical cause for your feelings of anxiety.

Other Mental Health Conditions

While some people may experience an anxiety condition on its own, others may experience multiple anxiety conditions, or other mental health conditions. Depression and anxiety conditions often occur together. Therefore, it’s important to check for and get assistance for all these conditions at the same time.

Substance Use

Some people who experience anxiety may use alcohol or other drugs to help them manage their condition. In some cases, this may lead to people developing a substance use problem along with their anxiety condition. Alcohol and substance use can aggravate anxiety conditions particularly as the effects of the substance wear off. Therefore, it’s important to check for and get assistance for any substance use conditions at the same time.

It’s normal to feel anxious about moving to a new place, starting a new job, or taking an exam. This type of anxiety is unpleasant, but it may motivate you to work harder and to do a better job. Ordinary anxiety comes and goes, but does not interfere with your everyday life.

On the other hand, anxiety disorder, the feeling of fear may be with you all the time. It is intense and sometimes debilitating and does not go away.

Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:

• Feeling nervous, restless or tense
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Having an increased heart rate
• Breathing rapidly (Hyperventilation)
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Feeling weak or tired
• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
• Having trouble sleeping
• Experiencing Gastrointestinal (GI) problems
• Having difficulty controlling worry
• Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

Alcohol dependence, depression, or other conditions can sometimes have such a strong effect on mental well-being that treating an anxiety disorder must wait until any underlying conditions are brought under control.

Self-treatment

In some cases, a person can treat an anxiety disorder at home without clinical supervision. However, this may not be effective for severe or long-term anxiety disorders.

There are several exercises and actions to help a person cope with milder, more focused, or shorter-term anxiety disorders, including:

• Yoga for anxiety

  Yoga can reduce the effects of an anxiety disorder.

• Stress management

  Learning to manage stress can help limit potential triggers. Organize any upcoming pressures and deadlines, compile lists to make daunting tasks more manageable, and commit to taking time off from study or work.

• Relaxation techniques

  Simple activities can help soothe the mental and physical signs of anxiety. These techniques include meditation, deep breathing exercises, long baths, resting in the dark, and yoga.

• Exercises to replace negative thoughts with positive ones

  Make a list of the negative thoughts that might be cycling as a result of anxiety, and write down another list next to it containing positive, believable thoughts to replace them. Creating a mental image of successfully facing and conquering a specific fear can also provide benefits if anxiety symptoms relate to a specific cause, such as in a phobia.

• Support network

  Talk with familiar people who are supportive, such as a family member or friend. Pediatrics support group services may also be available in the local area and online.

• Exercise

  Physical exertion can improve self-image and release chemicals in the brain that trigger positive feelings.

Counseling

A standard way of treating anxiety is psychological counseling. This can include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, or a combination of therapies.

CBT

CBT aims to recognize and change harmful thought patterns that form the foundation of anxious and troublesome feelings. In the process, practitioners of CBT hope to limit distorted thinking and change the way people react to objects or situations that trigger anxiety.

For example, a psychotherapist providing CBT for panic disorder will try to reinforce the fact that panic attacks are not really heart attacks. Exposure to fears and triggers can be a part of CBT. This encourages people to confront their fears and helps reduce sensitivity to their usual triggers of anxiety.

Medications

A person can support anxiety management with several types of medication.

Medicines that might control some of the physical and mental symptoms include antidepressants, benzodiazepines, tricyclics, and beta-blockers.

Benzodiazepines

A doctor may prescribe these for certain people with anxiety, but they can be highly addictive. These drugs tend to have few side effects except for drowsiness and possible dependence. Diazepam, or Valium, is an example of a commonly prescribed benzodiazepine.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are commonly prescribed to help with anxiety, even though they also target depression. People often use serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), which have fewer side effects than older antidepressants but are likely to cause jitters, nausea, and sexual dysfunction when treatment begins.

Other antidepressants include Fluoxetine, or Prozac, and Citalopram, or Celexa.

Tricyclics

This is a class of drugs older than SSRIs that provide benefits for most anxiety disorders other than OCD. These drugs might cause side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, and weight gain. Imipramine and Clomipramine are two examples of tricyclics.

Additional drugs a person might use to treat anxiety include:

• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Beta-blockers
• Buspirone

Seek medical advice if the adverse effects of any prescribed medications become severe.