When Your Roommate is on Medication or has Allergies

If your roommate at school has any kind of medical condition that requires medication, it's a great idea for you to know what the condition is and what can happen when things don't go the way your roommate planned them.

Sometimes someone who's allergic to a food might eat that food by mistake. Or someone who has diabetes might experience low blood sugar, which can lead to confusion, lightheadedness, fainting and even coma. Or your roommate could have seizures, and it would be helpful if you knew what to do during an episode.

The best scenario would be if your roommate told you from the start what the condition is and how to handle emergencies. If that's how it goes with your roommate, all you have to do is listen and ask questions if you don't understand something. Show your willingness to help out when it's needed.

On the other hand, if you feel like you don't want to be the person to go to in an emergency, you should tell your roommate that right away.

There's no need to feel weird about a roommate's illness, and if you act like it's no big deal, your roommate will appreciate it, because people who've had to manage an illness or other condition all their lives can get tired of being different from everyone else.

If you think your roommate has a condition, but won't tell you about it, you might want to offer your help anyway. You could say something like, "I couldn't help noticing that you take medication sometimes, and I want you to know that I'd like to help you if I can." That might help your roommate to feel more comfortable talking with you about the situation.

What Shots are Needed for College?

It's basically standard for colleges and universities to require incoming students to show proof that they've had all of their immunizations. Your doctor should have all those records, and in most cases, you need to send them in to the school.

If you've missed some vaccinations along the way, it's never too late to get them. There could even be some shots that weren't required when you were younger, but that are now, so missing vaccines isn't your fault.

Some schools can provide the shots in their own health centers. If yours doesn't, you can get them from your doctor. But it's important to be aware that schools generally don't make exceptions when it comes to vaccinations, because they're trying to protect everyone else.

On Medication, Away from Home

If you take medication regularly and you're going away to school, have you made your transition plan? Here are some of the things you'll need to consider:

Make sure you know exactly how you'll get your prescriptions filled while you're away. It's possible you can take enough medication with you to last until you come home for a break, but you do need to make sure of that.

If you think you'll need to buy medication while you're at school, check to make sure your insurance will cover it. It could be different if you're in another state.

Find out where the nearest pharmacy is, and make sure you'll be able to get there if you don't have a car.

If you're taking medication for a mental health condition, talk with the clinician who treats you now about how best to make your transition from home to college. This includes not only making sure you have your medication, but also making a stress management plan, deciding whether to make plans to talk with your clinician while you're away, what to do if your symptoms get worse and how to handle possible peer pressure to drink alcohol or take illegal drugs.

What to Know about Toothpaste from China

To avoid toothpaste containing the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol, or DEG, the Food and Drug Administration has the following guidelines:

Avoid using any toothpaste made in China. Some of these brand names are Cooldent, Dentakleen, Clean Rite and Bright Max.

Be aware that toothpaste made in China typically is found in discount-types of stores. The more well known brands made in the U.S. have been found to be safe.

There have been cases of counterfeiting. For example, some toothpaste has been falsely packaged as Colgate. This was packaged in 5-ounce tubes and distributed in discount retail stores in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

For more details, visit the FDA's Frequently Asked Questions about Contaminated Toothpaste from China http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/toothpaste/faqs.html