Topics: Women's Issues in Psychiatry

Every month seems to bring a new FDA advisory or an alarming research finding about the use of medications in pregnancy. In this article, we update you on what we consider to be the most important developments over the past couple of years.

Topics: Women's Issues in Psychiatry

Over the last several years, we’ve all seen many FDA warnings and cautionary letters from drug companies about the effects of psychotropics in pregnancy. As a result, it’s easy to become a little skittish about prescribing any medication for pregnant women.

Topics: Depressive Disorder | Women's Issues in Psychiatry

Dr. Brizendine, as the director of the UCSF Women’s Mood and Hormone Clinic, you receive many referrals of women who are having difficulty with menopause. What are the typical problems that women have during this period?

Provigil (modafinil) is FDA approved for excessive sleepiness due to various causes. An ADHD indication was rejected because of its possible association with a single case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Topics: Antidepressants | Free Articles

The combination of Effexor (venlafaxine) and Remeron (mirtazapine) has been dubbed “California Rocket Fuel” by Stephen Stahl (see page 290 of his Essential Psychopharmacology, 2nd Edition) because of the multiple ways the combination boosts various neurotransmitter systems.

A widely cited sequence of reactions following the death of a loved one includes: disbelief, yearning (for the loved one’s return), anger, depression/mourning, and acceptance. Researchers conducted a study aimed at empirically assessing whether these stages actually occur and, if so, in what order.

Topics: ADHD

On February 23, the FDA approved Shire and New River’s Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) for the treatment of ADHD in children. Vyvanse is the molecule dextroamphetamine (trade names Dexedrine and Dextrostat) attached to the amino acid lysine.