Save info   Get password
Home Submit your blog Edit Account Rules RSS-Archive Contact
    • antidepressants




      Antidepressants
      Antidepressants online  The group of tricyclic antidepressants fall into two major subcategories. There is a group that chemically have terminal amino groups with three carbons attached – that is, a tertiary amine group – and then there are derivatives that are formed in the body by hepatic oxidative metabolism to P-alkylate – this terminal amino group [...]

      Written by: Online Canadian Pharmacy Blog


      Study: Meditation-based therapy as effective as antidepressants
      New treatment hope for people with recurring depression Research shows for the first time that a group-based psychological treatment, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), could be a viable alternative to prescription drugs for people suffering from long-term depression. In a study, published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, MBCT proved as effective as maintenance anti-d

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      How antidepressants work. PART 3
      Here is the last part of the material about Antidepressants and it is actually about them. After 2 long and sweet parts of a preface here is the last one which describes depression build-up process."5. DepressionPeople with depression usually have problems with poor sleep, low mood and appetite, loss of energy and interest or pleasure etc. It is a common illness, affecting 3% of the population per

      Written by: Cure Depression Now


      How MAOI Antidepressants work
      Now let us look carefully at different types of antidepressants. But before doing this, I'd strongly recommens you to read the preface (Parts 1, 2, 3) before you continue to specific types of medicines.Mono-Amine Oxidase InhibitorsAs we understood from the preface,"There are many chemical messengers (or "neurotransmitters") called "monoamines" which occur naturally in the body. One of the effects

      Written by: Cure Depression Now


      How SSRI antidepressants work
      We continue listing different types of antidepressants. If you missed the preface, I'd strongly recommend you to read it here: PART 1, 2, 3SPECIFIC SEROTONIN RE-UPTAKE INHIBITORS"What are the SSRI's used for ?SSRIs are antidepressants which are used to help to improve mood in people who are feeling low or depressed. Fluoxetine ("Prozac") may also be used to help treat the eating disorder "Bulimia

      Written by: Cure Depression Now


      How tricyclic antidepressants work
      If you haven't read a preface, I'd strongly recommend you to look through it: Part 1, 2, 3.THE TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTSWhat are the tricyclics used for ?Tricyclic antidepressants are used to improve mood in people who are feeling low or depressed. The tricyclics may also be used to help the symptoms of anxiety and a number of other symptoms. The tricyclics are the most commonly prescribed antidep

      Written by: Cure Depression Now


      Managing Your Weight on Antidepressants

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Abstract: Time course of response to antidepressants: Predictive value of early improvement and effect of additional psychotherapy
      J Affect Disord. 2008 Oct 11;doi:10.1016/j.jad.2008.07.023 Time course of response to antidepressants: Predictive value of early improvement and effect of additional psychotherapy van Calker D, Zobel I, Dykierek P, Deimel CM, Kech S, Lieb K, Berger M, Schramm E. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Freiburg, Germany Background: The full response to antidepressant

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants and Personality Changes
      A Johns Hopkins article exploring what, if any, impact antidepressants may have on personality.

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Monoamine oxidase inhibitors: A modern guide to an unrequited class of antidepressants
      CNS Spectr. 2008;13(10):855-870 Stephen M. Stahl, MD, PhD, and Angela Felker, MA New Trend in PsychopharmacologyMonoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) currently have a "bad rap" and are thus infrequently used in psychopharmacology, even by experienced clinicians. Misinformation about the dietary and drug interactions of MAOIs is widespread, whereas pragmatic tips for utilizing MAOIs to minimize risk

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Brain's fastest signals predict responsiveness to antidepressants
      Electromagnetic biomarker could minimize trial-and-error prescribing Images of the brain's fastest signals reveal an electromagnetic marker that predicts a patient's response to a fast-acting antidepressant, researchers have discovered. "Such biomarkers that identify who will benefit from a new class of antidepressants could someday minimize trial-and-error prescribing and speed delivery of care f

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Appraising a link between antidepressants and bone health
      Psychiatry Weekly 2008 Sep 15;3(30)Some existing studies report an association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use and hip fracture, although the mechanism of that association is still unclear. Dr Susan J. Diem, who has studied hip bone loss in older women, says that, "serotonin receptors and transporter systems have recently been described in bone cells, which has raised the

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants have untapped potential as anti cancer drugs
      A comprehensive review of the current scientific literature has suggested that antidepressants can help the human body fight cancer by boosting its own immune response, amongst other mechanisms. Not only this but they can help with side effects from chemotherapy such as aiding sleep, stimulating appetite, combating pain and avoiding depression. Antidepressants work by affecting levels of chemicals

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      An alternative to existing antidepressants a drug effective in treating cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's
      Drugs that encourage the growth of new neurons in the brain are now headed for clinical trials. The drugs, which have already shown success in alleviating symptoms of depression and boosting memory in animal models, are being developed by BrainCells, a San Diego-based start-up that screens drugs for their brain-growing power. The company hopes the compounds will provide an alternative to existing

      Written by: Bio Saga


      Tricycle antidepressants increase the risk of lymphosarcoma evolution.
      As for the results from Denmark Anticancer Society an obvious connection is observed between using tricycle antidepressants and Lymphosarcoma disease.

      Written by: Pharmasellers - buying drugs online.


      Antidepressants affect driving when depressed
      Depressed people on antidepressants have even more trouble concentrating and reacting behind the wheel according to University of North Dakota psychologists Holly Dannewitz. PhD, and Tom Petros, PhD.They recruited 60 people to participate in a driving simulation in which participants had to make a series of common driving decisions, such as reacting to brake lights, stop signs or traffic signals w

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Serotonin gene variation determines response to antidepressants
      A new Mayo Clinic study shows that variations in the serotonin transporter gene could explain why some people with depression respond better than others to treatment with the antidepressant citalopram (Celexa®). The study examined the serotonin transporter gene, or SLC6A4, in 1,914 study participants. The study found that two variations in this gene have a direct bearing on how individuals mig

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants, benzodiazepines may increase risk of falls in elderly
      Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have created a list of prescription drugs that increase the risk of falling for patients aged 65 and older who take four or more medications on a regular basis. "Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for adults 65 and older, and research suggests that those taking four or more medications are at an even great

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      SSRI antidepressants slight increase upper bleeding risk
      Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) class antidepressants appear to be associated with bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. The effects appear increased when antidepressants are combined with other stomach-harming medications and decreased when acid-suppressing agents are used. Since the early 1990s, ca

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants begin casting more 'positive light' in just 4 hours
      A single antidepressant tablet makes a depressed person see the world in a more positive light just four hours after swallowing it, a new study has shown. Dr Philip Cowen, professor of pharmacology at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, told delegates at the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Annual Meeting in London that antidepressant medication starts to work far faster than

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Tricyclic antidepressants may increase the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
      Researchers from Denmark reported that patients who are long-term takers of tricyclic antidepressant medications have a 53% increased incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). These data were also published in the July issue of Epidemiology. More... © 1998-2007 OncoEd.com All Rights Reserved.Comment:  Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the rarer cancers (lifetime risk = 2.05%). Do not stop

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants-an irrational treatment pushed by irrational doctors?
      In a recent issue of the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics British psychiatrist David Healy attacked the prescribing habits of psychiatrists whom, he claims, are strongly influenced by pharmaceutical propaganda In an editorial commenting on a paper by Harvard investigators on the psychology of risk and prescriptions of psychotropic drugs, Healy denounces a real crisis in psychiatry at prese

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      How antidepressants work. PART 2
      Here goes the second part of the material. This one is about neurotransmitters's and receptors' work."3. What happens when a message is passed from one cell to another.1. A brain cell decides to send a message to another cell in order to make something happen e.g. tighten a muscle, release a hormone, think about something, pass on a message etc.2. An electrical impulse is sent from the brain cell

      Written by: Cure Depression Now


      How antidepressants work. PART 1
      Today I searched for some clear explanation on how SSRI antidepressants work, that will not resemble an encyclopedic article with dozens of medical terms on top of each other.And I’ve found it. Call it love from the first sight if you wish but the article I am quoting below is amazingly clear and simple for understanding. I am dividing it into 3 parts + several separate posts about each type of

      Written by: Cure Depression Now


      [USA] Higher co-payments reduce use of antidepressants
      As they struggle to contain skyrocketing medication costs, health plans across the U.S. have responded by implementing multi-tiered formularies requiring higher copayments for 'non-preferred' medications. New research from Brandeis University published in the Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics suggests that the prevalent multi-tiered formulary system does impact how patients fill anti-d

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      The growing evidence for antidepressants as anticancer agents
      Prostaglandins are infinitesimal, ephemeral lipid signalers in every cell in the body, and regulating every activity that takes place within a cell. As regulators of cellular activity, prostaglandins influence how cells are formed and what part of the body the cell will become. Prostaglandins are vital for cellular growth, health, and replication. Prostaglandins regulate the normal life cycle of a

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Abstract+: Effectiveness of antidepressants: an evidence myth constructed from a thousand randomized trials?
      Philos Ethics Humanit Med. 2008;3:14doi:10.1186/1747-5341-3-14 Effectiveness of antidepressants: an evidence myth constructed from a thousand randomized trials? Ioannidis JPA. Antidepressants, in particular newer agents, are among the most widely prescribed medications worldwide with annual sales of billions of dollars. The introduction of these agents in the market has passed through seemingly st

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Study fails to find antidepressants-birth defects link
      Montreal, May 22, 2008 - Expectant mothers can safely use prescribed antidepressants during their first trimester, according to a new study from the Université de Montréal and Ste. Justine Hospital published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Dr Anick Bérard and her team found that antidepressants have no effect on fetal development. "This is the first study to investigate

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      How should antidepressants be discontinued? (MS Word .doc format)
      Recommendation for tapering off antidepressants from the Welsh Medicines Information Centre

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Abstract: Restless legs syndrome as side effect of second generation antidepressants
      J Psychiatr Res. 2008 May 9;doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2008.02.006 Restless legs syndrome as side effect of second generation antidepressants Rottach KG, Schaner BM, Kirch MH, Zivotofsky AZ, Teufel LM, Gallwitz T, Messer T. Hafenmarkt 12, 87600 Kaufbeuren, Germany. Although of clinical interest, the question is still not fully answered whether antidepressants (AD) can cause or exacerbate restless l

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants and immunity
      Antidepressants may help body fight HIV and cancer" was the headline in The Independent today. The newspaper article was on research that suggests that antidepressant drugs may help the immune system to fight off serious infection. The newspaper says the drugs could increase the activity of Natural Killer (NK) cells, a part of the immune system that targets cancerous and infected cells and induces

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      [UK] New guidelines: Antidepressants work but evidence for CBT is poor
      A new revision of the British Association for Psychopharmacology's clinical guidelines to help doctors manage patients with depression has challenged the rationale behind the UK government's policy of rolling out cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as the preferred treatment for milder depression. According to a comprehensive review of treatments for depression, there is a lack of evidence for CBT being more helpful than other forms of psychological support in mild depression or for its efficacy in severe depression. There is also good evidence for antidepressants being effective in depression, with benefit increasing the more severe the depression. This is contrary to recent reports that antidepressants don't work except in the most severe depression. Dr Ian Anderson, Senior Lecturer and H

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Abstract+: Antidepressants and insomnia
      Primary Psychiatry. 2008;15(5):61-69Antidepressants and Insomnia Zammit GK. President and CEO of Clinilabs, director of the Sleep Disorders Institute, and clinical associate professor at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Mood disorders and insomnia are often comorbid conditions, sharing a complex and bi-directional relationship. Complicating the situation, mood stabilizers can disrupt sleep in a variety of different ways depending on a drug's mechanism of action, dosage level, and timing of administration. The treatment of comorbid depression and insomnia can be achieved through the use of a sedating antidepressant, a combination of two antidepressants, or a combination of an antidepressant in conjunction with a hypnotic. Common practices typicall

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants for the Treatment of Binge Eating
      Binge eating is considered an eating disorder when you can’t stop yourself from eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time, even when you aren’t hungry. Most people who have this problem feel very unhappy with themselves after a binging episode, and many binge eaters also suffer from depression. Compulsive overeating is usually [...]

      Written by: Resources Zone


      Serotonin syndrome risk from concomitant use of tramadol and antidepressants
      There is a small but distinct risk serotonin syndrome following concomitant use of the atypical opioid painkiller tramadol (*Tramal®, Ultram®) with Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. This may be more frequent than with other combinations of serotonergic drugs due to inhibition of tramadol metabolism as well as the combined serotonergic effect. The inhibition of the metabolism of tramadol through CYP2D6 by SSRIs and the potential for 10% of the population to be poor metabolizers of CYP2D6 may explain why this reaction seems to be of significance in only a small number of patients. There are only a limited number of case reports in the literature suggesting the risk may be low, however serotonin syndrome can be serious if undetected and there does not see

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Cannabinoids, antidepressants, genes, and high anxiety
      About half of all people who take medicine for an anxiety disorder don't get much help from it. And doctors have no definitive way to predict who will, and who won't, benefit from each anti-anxiety prescription they write. But a University of Michigan Medical School researcher and his team are working to bring more certainty to how doctors and patients choose anxiety treatments, by probing the connection between brain activity, genetics and medication. In a paper last month in the Journal of Neuroscience, K. Luan Phan, M.D., and his former University of Chicago colleagues reported intriguing findings from a brain imaging study in occasional, non-dependent, marijuana users. These brain scans show that response to a threat was greatly reduced when study volunteers received THC, compared wit

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants affect on suicide rates limited by low usage
      The use of antidepressants is likely to account for only 10 per cent of the fall in suicide rates among middle aged and older people, suggests a large study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Globally, more than 800,000 people commit suicide every year. Rates have been falling in many countries, a factor that has been associated with better recognition of depression and the increasing use of antidepressants, particularly the newer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). But research involving more than 2 million Danes aged 50 and above and living in Denmark between 1996 and 2000, throws this into question. The researchers assessed changes in the numbers of middle aged and older people committing suicide during this period and the types of antidepressant drugs th

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Who are we? Coming of age on antidepressants
      By Richard A. Friedman, MD I've grown up on medication," my patient Julie told me recently. "I don't have a sense of who I really am without it." At 31, she had been on one antidepressant or another nearly continuously since she was 14. There was little question that she had very serious depression and had survived several suicide attempts. In fact, she credited the medication with saving her life. But now she was raising an equally fundamental question: how the drugs might have affected her psychological development and core identity. More... Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants - An Assault on Human Emotion
      This topic is something I am most passionate about.  Every lecture I give, every patient I talk to, any chance I have, I discuss this horrible exploitation of human emotion in North America.  Every third American, every third patient in my office is on SSRI’s (antidepressants).  Prozac, Effexor, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro…. SSRI prescriptions have skyrocketed over the last decade and so have the pockets of drug companies Prozac alone netted over 180 billion dollars last year in profit.   Let’s break down the words in SSRI:  Selective Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitor.  This means that the drug Selectively Inhibits the receptors sites for Sereotonin blocking its resorption thereby allowing Seretonin to float within the synaptic cleft longer increasin

      Written by: The Health Word


      Antidepressants - An Assault on Human Emotion
      This topic is something I am most passionate about.  Every lecture I give, every patient I talk to, any chance I have, I discuss this horrible exploitation of human emotion in North America.  Every third American, every third patient in my office is on SSRI’s (antidepressants).  Prozac, Effexor, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro…. SSRI prescriptions have skyrocketed over the last decade and so have the pockets of drug companies Prozac alone netted over 180 billion dollars last year in profit.   Let’s break down the words in SSRI:  Selective Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitor.  This means that the drug Selectively Inhibits the receptors sites for Sereotonin blocking its resorption thereby allowing Seretonin to float within the synaptic cleft longer increasin

      Written by: The Health Word


      Depression, antidepressants, and bone loss
      Primary Psychiatry. 2008;15(4):27-29 Susan J. Diem, MD, MPH, interviewed by Norman Sussman, MD What did your study on the use of antidepressants and rates of hip bone loss in older women reveal? Using data collected over a 4.5 year period in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures,1 we compared the rate of bone loss in older women who use selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to the rate of bone loss in older women who do not use SSRIs. We found that the women taking SSRIs had a bone loss rate of approximately 0.8% per year while the women not taking SSRIs had a bone loss rate of approximately 0.5% per year. More... © 2008 Primary Psychiatry a Publication of MBL Communications

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Triple reuptake inhibitors: Next-generation antidepressants
      Primary Psychiatry. 2008;15(4):50-56 Yanqi Liang, PhD, and Elliott Richelson, MD A major advance in the pharmacotherapy of depression was the introduction of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors nearly 2 decades ago. These drugs succeed in treating depressed patients with few of the side effects common to tricyclic antidepressants, which they largely replaced. However, there are still unmet clinical needs with respect to efficacy, onset, and side-effect profile. The effects of the antidepressants occur almost immediately; however, a therapeutic lag is required to affect meaningful symptom improvement. Not all patients respond to antidepressants well, with some patients undergoing adverse events such as sexual dysfunction. Novel therapies or targets that may reduce side effects need

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Johns Hopkins: Mixing Wine With Antidepressants
      Is it safe to drink wine or another alcoholic beverage if you take antidepressant medication?

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Sorry Rover, No Drug Detox for Misbehaving Dogs on Antidepressants
      As a pet owner living with an extended family composed of a dog, a cat, a bird, a fish and a couple of reptiles - as well as several excellent, well-trained humans - I was disgusted to read that the FDA approved a new tasty treat, called Reconcile, for troubled dogs. It contains the antidepressant [...]

      Written by:


      Abuse Of Antidepressants And How To Avoid
      There is a reason why there are strict laws against medicines being sold only with a prescription-not only are they harmful taken without a doctor’s consultation, but also usually do not take effect in the manner desired by the consumer. Incorrect or excessive dosage is potentially dangerous. Abuse of antidepressants has led to addiction, [...]

      Written by:


      Feeling bad about taking antidepressants?
      There is no question that antidepressants are overprescribed by many doctors. The same goes for tranquilizers. The rate of antidepressant and tranquillizer aspiration in First World countries has reached alarming proportions: clearly better education, more than money, and improved lifestyles have through with little to make us happier as a species. However, disdain the generalized overconsumption [...]

      Written by: The cheapest drugs weblog


      Antidepressants - Drugging kids in school
      Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, is a custom-made “disease” to start selling cheap drugs quite de jure to school kids. Have the doctor of the Church prescribe them. Your kid will be that much better off - or not? It appears that the real gelt about the contrary effects of antidepressant drugs has been kept [...]

      Written by: The cheapest drugs weblog


      Abuse Of Antidepressants And How To Avoid
      There is a reason why there are strict laws against medicines being sold only with a prescription-not only are they harmful taken without a doctor’s consultation, but also usually do not take effect in the manner desired by the consumer. Incorrect or excessive dosage is potentially dangerous. Abuse of antidepressants has led to addiction, [...]

      Written by: Online Business Alliance and Niches


      The Johns Hopkins Guide to Antidepressants (Note: requires registration of a valid email address)
      The Johns Hopkins Guide to Antidepressants starts with an introduction to antidepressants, and gives clear illustrations on how the medication affects your moods. You will learn about the differences between the various classes of medications, their risks, and who is NOT a candidate for certain antidepressants. Produced by Johns Hopkins University Note: requires registration of a valid email address.

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants during pregnancy
      Taking antidepressants during pregnancy may pose risks for your baby — but stopping may pose risks for you. Antidepressants are the first line of treatment for most types of depression. Antidepressants can help relieve your symptoms and keep you feeling your best. But there’s more to the story when you’re pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant. [...]

      Written by: B-Health


      Antidepressants and Violence
      This shocking compilation of video clips will show you the negative side effects of antidepressants. They have caused suicides, violence, and homicidal actions even to the point of school shootings. In addition, they can lead to addiction and withdrawal symptoms.

      Written by: Mercola Health Blog


      Antidepressants prolong human lifetime.
      Antidepressant pills has a part of the component which can prolong our life.

      Written by: Pharmasellers - buying drugs online.


      Antidepressants should not be used with aspirin!
      These two groups of medicines are dangerous by themselves but when they are combined they become even more dangerous to your gastrointestinal track!

      Written by: Pharmasellers - buying drugs online.


      Antidepressants
      Alternative applications of “antidepressants” Although the evidence of efficacy of antidepressants, as a class, is not as convincing as for other types of drugs, there is growing clinical and research evidence to support a widening range of potential indications of these drugs. The partial success of the SSRIs as a group in ameliorating OCD is encouraging, as is the utility of TCAs (especially imipramine) and MAO inhibitors (less so fluoxetine, not bupropion) in blocking the episodic, acute autonomic expression of panic. The range of disorders suspected of being related to OCD and in which serotonin-enhancing treatments are being explored, includes eating disorders, hair-pulling (trichotillomania) and other repetitive habits, compulsive gambling, kleptomania, premenstrual dysphoria, and perhaps body dysmorphic disorder. Antidepressants have a scientifically demonstrated but incompletely defined place in the overall management of patients with bulimia nervosa and may have an

      Written by: Online Canadian Pharmacy Blog


      Dosing of antidepressants. Treatment-resistance
      Treatment-resistance The problem of apparent “treatment-resistance” in depression requires further study, but many cases respond when a patient actually is willing to follow a previously recommended treatment, or high doses are accepted and pursued for at least 6-8 weeks. Some cases may represent destabilizing effects of overly aggressive antidepressant treatment of patients with overlooked bipolarity, but many others are truly treatment-unresponsive unipolar depressions. In cases of convincing treatment resistance, or loss of response over time (tolerance), evidence that important gains are to be found in exploring a series of similar agents is lacking. It may be useful to try an agent of a dissimilar type, and the most encouraging experience has been reported in adding lithium (while considering previously overlooked, subtle bipolarity and even use of mood-stabilizer therapy alone), changing from a TCA to an MAO inhibitor, or use of ECT (especially in severe, psychotic, o

      Written by: Online Canadian Pharmacy Blog


      Clinical Pharmacology of Antidepressants
      Antidepressants Types of antidepressants Antidepressants currently fall into five major categories: [1] tertiary amine tricyclics (amitriptyline, clomipramine, doxepin, imipramine, trimipramine), secondary amine tricyclics (amoxapine, desipramine, maprotiline, nortriptyline, protriptyline); [2] monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline [(-)-deprenyl], and experimental short-acting MAO-A inhibitors (eg,, moclobemide [Manerex], marketed in Canada); [3] serotonin-reuptake inhibitors: (SSRIs) clomipramine, citalopram, [±]-fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine, and the mixed 5-HT/NE uptake inhibitor venlafaxine (plus the withdrawn zimelidine; [4] stimulant-like dopaminergic as well as noradrenergic agents: bupropion (and the withdrawn nomifensine); [5] the atypical antidepressant mirtazapine (Remeron; a sedating antidepressant chemically related to mianserin, with indirect adrenergic and serotonergic actions as an a2 and serotonin 5-HT2 and 5-HT3

      Written by: Online Canadian Pharmacy Blog


      Need to know - prescribing antidepressants
      Beginning our depression special report, Professor Linda Gask answers questions from GP Dr Linden Ruckert

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Rimonabant (Acomplia) Must Not Be Used In Patients On Antidepressants Or With Major Depression
      The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) recommended contraindicating Acomplia (rimonabant) from sanofi-aventis, in patients with ongoing major depression or who are being treated with antidepressants, because of the risk of psychiatric side effects. Doctors in the EU have already been warned about this since June 2006 but the Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has now recommended upgrading this warning. Acomplia has been authorised in the EU since June 2006 as an adjunct to diet and exercise for the treatment of obese or overweight adult patients. Psychiatric side effects, in particular depression, were identified as the main safety issue at the time of approval. They were reflected in the medicine’s product information as a warning that doctors should not prescribe Acomplia in patients with uncontrolled serious psychiatric conditions such as major depression. As part of its continuous monitoring of the safety of

      Written by: Rimonabant Acomplia, Sibutramine


      Acomplia at the same time with antidepressants -Not indicated
      Approximately one person in 10 taking diet drug Acomplia (rimonabant) experiences psychiatric side effects and about one person in 100 experiences suicidal thoughts, according to U.K. regulators. Of some 41,000 patients treated with rimonabant since it was launched in the U.K. in June 2006, 364 “psychiatric reactions have been reported,” the Department of Health’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said on July 19th. “Amongst these, there have been 48 reports of depression, 16 reports of suicidal thoughts and one report of self-injury,” the regulatory agency said. The MHRA said evidence suggested one person in 10 taking Acomplia may develop psychiatric side effects, and “approximately one patient in every 100 may experience suicidal thoughts.” The MHRA advised: “If you start to experience symptoms of depression while taking Acomplia, or if you are currently being treated with antidepressants, consult your doctor. “If you have had depression in

      Written by: Rimonabant acomplia, weight loss pill.


      Acomplia at the same time with antidepressants -Not indicated
      Approximately one person in 10 taking diet drug Acomplia (rimonabant) experiences psychiatric side effects and about one person in 100 experiences suicidal thoughts, according to U.K. regulators. Of some 41,000 patients treated with rimonabant since it was launched in the U.K. in June 2006, 364 “psychiatric reactions have been reported,” the Department of Health’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said on July 19th. “Amongst these, there have been 48 reports of depression, 16 reports of suicidal thoughts and one report of self-injury,” the regulatory agency said. The MHRA said evidence suggested one person in 10 taking Acomplia may develop psychiatric side effects, and “approximately one patient in every 100 may experience suicidal thoughts.” The MHRA advised: “If you start to experience symptoms of depression while taking Acomplia, or if you are currently being treated with antidepressants, consult your doctor. &

      Written by: Rimonabant Acomplia


      Antidepressants
      Introduction: Major (unipolar) depression has five or more symptoms for 2 weeks or more (10-25% females, 5-15% males). Dysthymia is a depressed mood of 2 years or longer in duration. Bipolar disease has a strong hereditary component and patients are likely to have a comorbid substance abuse disorder. Therapeutic effects of antidepressants are no observed for 3-4 weeks. In general, antidepressants that are effective in treating unipolar depression are effective in treating dysthymia. Bipolar disorder is treated with lithium, valproate, or carbamazepine, with haloperidol used to treat acute mania. MAO inhibitors: Phenelzine and tranylcypromine non-selectively inhibit both types of MAO. Inhibition is irreversible. MAO inhibitors have serious toxicities and inhibit the metabolism of other drugs. Interaction with other agents can precipitate a hypertensive crisis. Tricyclic antidepressants: Demethylation on the nitrogen of the side chain reduces sedative activity (desipramine &

      Written by: PG Preparation


      ANTIDEPRESSANTS
      Major Depressive Disorder:I. Antidepressants are prescribed specifically for affective disorders thatare characterized by extreme depression (dysphoria), extreme elation (mania),or both. Monopolar depression may affect 15% of all adults during any givenyear of their lifetime. Treatment usually takes 2-4 weeks and leads to 85%remission. II. Affective disorders such as depression are thought to result from achemical imbalance between three neurotransmitters - norepinephrine, serotoninand perhaps dopamine. More recent research has suggested that beta-adrenergicreceptors may be involved.III. As a class of drugs, antidepressants are generally:orally administered (i.m. administration very infrequent and limited tospecific drugs)90-95% bound to plasma proteinsmetabolized by the liver, with metabolites excreted in urinedrugs with long “half-lives” (e.g., imipramine - t½=24 hours)drugs with a relatively small therapeutic indexIV. There are at least four prominent classes of antidepressant

      Written by: PG Preparation


      A brief history of antidepressants
      Hi. I'm all better now. My exams are also done and I appear to have a summer job lined up, which means that my life has suddenly become much more simple. Hopefully this will translate into more consistent, high-quality blogging. But don't hold your breath. I appreciate your patience, now let's rock this joint.There are a lot of things that can go wrong with your brain. Often the problem lies in a disruption of the normal levels of neurotransmitters (brain communication chemicals) present in certain parts of the brain. Take dopamine for example. Too much, you become schizophrenic. Too little, you develop Parkinson's disease. I'm grossly oversimplifying things here, but that is the essence of it.Major depressive disorder (also known as clinical depression or unipolar disorder) is thought to have something to do with having too little norepinephrine and/or serotonin (two neurotransmitters) hanging out in the synapses in your brain. This hypothesis was initially put forward based on t

      Written by: Drugs and Poisons


      A brief history of antidepressants
      Hi. I'm all better now. My exams are also done and I appear to have a summer job lined up, which means that my life has suddenly become much more simple. Hopefully this will translate into more consistent, high-quality blogging. But don't hold your breath. I appreciate your patience, now let's rock this joint.There are a lot of things that can go wrong with your brain. Often the problem lies in a disruption of the normal levels of neurotransmitters (brain communication chemicals) present in certain parts of the brain. Take dopamine for example. Too much, you become schizophrenic. Too little, you develop Parkinson's disease. I'm grossly oversimplifying things here, but that is the essence of it.Major depressive disorder (also known as clinical depression or unipolar disorder) is thought to have something to do with having too little norepinephrine and/or serotonin (two neurotransmitters) hanging out in the synapses in your brain. This hypothesis was initially put forward based on t

      Written by: Drugs and Poisons


      Antidepressants - Take it or Leave it
      Nowadays, most people when depressed take over the counter antidepressants. Media is one f the factor why these medicines become so popular. They advertise about the benefits of antidepressants here and there. But did you know that antidepressants are not necessary and that they have no significant benefits to your health?Surveys have been made in America about early 90’s where the participants are those people that are having mood problems. 25% of the patients were incorrectly diagnosed with depression. This is because those people are only reacting to those normal stressful events like death of a family member, losing a job, and relationship breakups. These events are normal and just part of our lives; we get really depressed by these events so there’s no use of taking antidepressants. It is also advised that only those people who are diagnosed to have clinical depression should take the antidepressants.Here are some general side effects of taking antidepressants:AnxietyWeight ga

      Written by: Health and Wellness Blog - Be Updated and Aware of Your Health


      "At the end of 2003, over 50,000 children were prescribed antidepressants"
      Nevertheless the number of unhappy children are ascending, ‘Labeling Unhappy Children As Depressed May Be Harmful’ and play a more important role to their already low self-esteem.

      Written by: Unhappy kids in the UK


      Antidepressants and Osteoporosis
      Taking antidepressants decreases your bone mass contributing to osteoporosis, researchers say...

      Written by: DocRoberts Holistic Health Blog


      Antidepressants and Suicide
      Anyone taking or contemplating anti-depressants for treatment of depression have been concerned about the blackbox warnings from the FDA. The FDA has issued blanket warnings to anyone considering or taking anti-depressants that they may actually induce suicidal thinking. The truth is that there is still very little and conflicting information about the risks. Highlighting the risks in the way the FDA did by issuing a blackbox warning has been controversial. The problem is that the risks have been assessed in only a few studies and it is not clear what is happening. The other problem is that anti-depressants also treat and prevent suicidal behavior. Not taking an anti-depressant when you need one can also be a grave risk. There is concern within the psychiatric and advocate community that the FDA is driven more by politics than science these days. A coalition of psychiatry and advocate organizations has issued an open letter to the FDA pointing to the life and death consequences of t

      Written by: Dare To Dream ...


      Suicide warnings on antidepressants a grave error
      Suicides will spike and those sad souls suffering from depression will be scared away from antidepressants if the FDA's plan to affix suicide risk warning labels to the drugs goes through, local experts warned. "Suicide rates will go up. The loss of days from work will go up. Hospitalizations will go up and suffering will go up,"' said Dr. Alexander J. Bodkin, director of the Clinical Psychopharmacology Research Program at Harvard Medical School and psychiatry professor at McLean Hospital. More...   ©2006 Boston HeraldComment:  By all accounts Wednesday's FDA committee meeting on antidepressants and suicide was emotionally charged. The mental health professionals argued for no or minimal changes in labeling, the case for more extensive changes consisted mainly of family members of completed suicides appealing for availability to be restricted. If media reports are accurate it appears emotion has held sway. Sadly, it may become a pyrrhic victory for included in Wednesday's testimon

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants up suicide attempts but lower deaths : Study
      Suicidal individuals taking antidepressant medications appear to have an increased risk of additional suicide attempts, but a reduced risk of dying from suicide or any other cause, according to a large Finnish study

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Rethinking the older antidepressants
      Primary Psychiatry. 2006;13(12):39-45 Rethinking the Older Antidepressants: Why Are We Trying to Emulate Them? Richard Balon, MD Treatment of depression remains unsatisfactory, especially in view of the fact that most depressed patients do not achiev

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants may work more quickly than thought
      Research has challenged the conventional wisdom that depressed patients need three to four weeks to respond to antidepressant medication and that any earlier response is due to the placebo effect,

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Antidepressants benefit teens despite black box warnings
      Parents of children and adolescents with depression should be reassured that the benefits of antidepressants outweigh the risks, despite black box warnings about the potential of suicide in adolescents,

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Abstract: Do antidepressants really need to be taken daily?
      The present study has addressed the question of what is more important for the occurrence of adaptive changes observed in the organism treated with antidepressant drugs: a daily dosing of the drug or the period of time necessary for the plastic event

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Depression, not antidepressants, increases heart failure mortality risk
      People who are depressed have an increased risk of dying from heart failure, and a new study by Duke University Medical Center researchers may help explain why.

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Abstract+: Antidepressants and new-onset suicidality in pediatric patients
      Primary Psychiatry. 2006;13(11):69-74 Antidepressants and New-Onset Suicidality in Pediatric Patients Treated in a Community Mental Health Center Bastiaens L, Kennedy M, Trunzo AC.

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      Small risk of suicidal events and self-harm among adolescents taking antidepressants
      Antidepressants may cause a small short-term risk of self-harm and suicidal thoughts or attempts, in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder, a new study has found.

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


      6 safety rules for tapering antidepressants
      Side effects to discontinuing serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) treatment are common and may be severe.

      Written by: Anxiety Insights


eXTReMe Tracker