WASHINTON — More than 120 women became pregnant in the past year while taking an acne medicine that causes birth defects, despite being enrolled in a program designed to prevent those pregnancies from happening. The new figures show the 122 pregnancies reported in the first year of the so-called iPledge program are about the same as the number reported annually before the FDA tightened restrictions on the drug, known chemically as isotretinoin. It’s a difficult comparison because until the national registry began, officials weren’t sure if they were learning about all the pregnancies affected by this very risky drug, said FDA deputy drug director Dr. If a woman becomes pregnant while taking the acne drug, her baby can suffer severe brain and heart defects, mental retardation and other abnormalities, even if the mother took only a small dose for a short period. All patients — men and women — who want the drug must enroll, plus doctors who prescribe it and pharmacies that sell it. read more

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Don’t brush hair too frequently or vigorously, as it can spread oil through the rest of the hair. Talk to your doctor about contributing factors to excess oil production, including stress and hormones found in birth control pills. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned about your health or that of a child, please consult your family’s health provider immediately and do not wait for a response from our professionals. Please see a description of the iVillageHealth & Well-Being Standards Policy . read more

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Go elsewhere ———————– News Business Market Watch Metro Sports Lifestyle Entertainment Technology Education Mind Our English Columnists Photos Video Clips Last 7 Days 30-Day Archive RSS Mobile Edition What’s Hot Write to Us ———————– MyStar AllMalaysia. While there has been scathing online feedback from frustrated fans, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows manages to pip my previous favourite, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , for top spot in the list of novels that form the compelling journey of, arguably, the most idolised teenager in contemporary fiction. Harry comes of age in Deathly Hallows , as he has to shoulder his most onerous task to date without help from adults, and with only faithful friends Ron and Hermione by his side. After reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , I wondered, “Whatever will we do without Harry Potter? Soraya Sunitra Kee, 17, is not embarrassed to say she cried a total of 15 times while reading ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’. read more

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