Tag archives for Drugs
Managing Resistant Depression. Part 8
Posted By Kelly On Monday, May 2nd 2011 under: Depression Tags: Antidepressants, Depression, Drugs, Medications, Mental Disorder, Mental health
Absolute treatment resistance
In most surveys, the number of patients with absolute treatment resistance is very small. In some specialized tertiary referral clinics, only about 7% of patients remain depressed after 1 year of extensive investigations and treatment. However, extensive treatment involves many drug trials, singly and in combination, as well as ECT. Typically, people with absolute treatment resistance are older (mean age about 55), have been depressed for a longer ... Read More
Zyprexa Approved for Treating Manic Depression
Posted By Kelly On Sunday, April 11th 2010 under: Zyprexa (olanzapine) Tags: Antidepressant, Drugs, Zyprexa
Brand Name Drug: Zyprexa
Active Ingredient Drug: olanzapine
Indication: Treatment of manic depression/bipolar disorder
Company Name: Eli Lilly and Company
Introduction
Manic depression, also called bipolar disorder, afflicts some 4 million Americans. Characterized by severe mood swings between incredible elation and deep depression, the disorder has been difficult to treat. Many patients either do not respond to drug therapy or stop taking their medication because of unwanted side effects.
Now a new drug has entered the ... Read More
Zyprexa for Manic Depression
Posted By Kelly On Friday, April 9th 2010 under: Zyprexa (olanzapine) Tags: Antidepressant, Drugs, Zyprexa
Zyprexa
Brand Name:
Zyprexa
Active Ingredient:
olanzapine
Indication:
Treatment of manic depression (bipolar disorder); also approved for schizophrenia
Company Name:
Eli Lilly and Company
Availability:
Approved in 1997 for schizophrenia and on March 20, 2000 for manic depression (bipolar disorder)
Introduction
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong psychiatric disorder that features mood swings between mania and depression, and afflicts some 4 million Americans. Although lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, and antipsychotics have been prescribed to treat the disorder, many patients do not respond to these ... Read More
Drug Use In Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia
Posted By Kelly On Saturday, March 13th 2010 under: Book review Tags: Drugs, Medications, Suicide
Editors: Margaret P. Battin, Arthur G. Lipman
Pharmaceutical Products Press, 10 Alice St, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580 USA
1996/360 pp
Balanced discussion of a controversial topic
Overall Rating
Very good
Strengths
Balanced discussion of ethical, personal, legal, and pharmaceutical aspects of assisted suicide and euthanasia
Audience
All those (potentially) involved in decision making regarding assisted suicide and euthanasia
It is generally assumed that death by assisted suicide or euthanasia is to be caused by lethal doses of drugs, not guns or ... Read More
Adolescents and Sleep Disorders
Posted By Kelly On Sunday, January 31st 2010 under: Disorders Tags: Adolescent, Drugs, Tofranil
54%–75% of adolescents "wish for more sleep"
It is widely recognized that many older Americans suffer from a variety of sleep disorders. In fact, more than half of all Americans older than age 65 have a sleep problem, and disturbed sleep is among the most frequently cited problems affecting institutionalized older Americans. As the population ages, it is estimated that at the end of this decade nearly 80 million Americans will ... Read More
Thorazine and Depression
Posted By Kelly On Wednesday, January 27th 2010 under: Question - Answer Tags: Antipsychotics, Depression, Drugs, Thorazine
Question. I recently heard of the use of a low dose of Thorazine for the treatment of depression. Are you familiar with this treatment?
Answer. I am not aware of any controlled, persuasive evidence that Thorazine (chlorpromazine) or any standard antipsychotic - in low doses or high - is particularly effective as an antidepressant. The exception to this claim may be in so-called delusional depression, in which psychotic features are present; ... Read More
Vestra: Drug for the Treatment of Depression
Posted By Kelly On Sunday, January 17th 2010 under: Antidepressants Tags: Antidepressant, Depression, Drugs, Medications, Treatment
Brand Name: Vestra
Active Ingredient: reboxetine mesylate
Indication: Treatment of depression
Company Name: Pharmacia & Upjohn
Vestra: Introduction
As a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), Vestra is the first of a new class of antidepressant drugs. This new mechanism of action appears to produce fewer side effects, such as nausea, headache, and sexual dysfunction, compared with traditional antidepressants. Vestra also possesses a faster onset of action compared to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), tricyclics, and ... Read More
Mental Health Professional with Depression
Posted By Kelly On Thursday, January 14th 2010 under: Question - Answer Tags: Antidepressants, Depression, Drugs, Mental health, Wellbutrin
Question. I am a mental health professional. However, I also find myself searching for information to console me personally. I have been diagnosed with major depression. I go regularly to a psychiatrist and I am currently taking Wellbutrin SR. What is the potential for recurrence of depressive symptoms while taking a prescribed medication that has worked well for over three years? Can you give me some information about the number ... Read More
Meds in the Second Trimester
Posted By Kelly On Tuesday, January 12th 2010 under: Question - Answer Tags: Anafranil, Antidepressants, Buspar, Depression, Drugs, Effexor, Norpramin, Pamelor, Paxil, Prozac, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Serzone, Tofranil, Zoloft
Question. My patient is in the second trimester of her pregnancy. She has panic disorder and depression. In the past, she responded well to Zoloft and Klonopin. What are the safest medications for the next few months?
Answer. The short, no-frills answer to your question is that any of the major antidepressants or anxiolytics are probably safe, now that the most vulnerable period of organ-formation (the first trimester) has passed. I ... Read More
Meds for Depression and Anxiety
Posted By Kelly On Monday, January 11th 2010 under: Question - Answer Tags: Anafranil, Antidepressants, Asendin, Aventyl, Depression, Desyrel, Drugs, Effexor, Elavil, Luvox, Medications, Norpramin, Pamelor, Paxil, Prozac, Remeron, Serzone, Sinequan, Tofranil, Vivactil, Wellbutrin, Zoloft
Question. Do you have a list of drugs for depression, and non-addictive medications for anxiety? Tricyclics of the older vintage would be helpful.
Answer. I am providing you with a list of commonly used antidepressants, as well as their usual doses:
Maintenance Dosage and Tablet Size for Non-MAOI Antidepressants
Antidepressant
Tablet/capsule sizes
Usual daily adult dose
Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep)
10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 mg
75-250 mg
Amoxapine (Asendin)
25,50, 100, 150 mg
200-300 mg
Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
75, 100 ... Read More