Brexanolone (Zulresso) for Postpartum Depression

Topics: Depression | Depressive Disorder | Pharmacology | Postpartum Depression | Pregnancy

On March 19, 2019, the FDA approved brexanolone (Zulresso), the first medication for postpartum depression (PPD). Delivered by intravenous injection, brexanolone is an analogue of the hormone allopregnanolone. Allopregnanolone levels fall abruptly after childbirth, which is thought to contribute to PPD by destabilizing GABAA receptors. We covered brexa

A New Proposal for SSRI Withdrawal

Topics: Pharmacology | Pharmacology Tips | SSRIs | Withdrawal

Review of: Horowitz MA and Taylor D, Lancet Psychiatry, March 2019, published online Type of Study: Literature review and clinical guideline Withdrawal problems rank among patients’ top concerns with antidepressants. They include insomnia, flu-like symptoms, irritability, distractibility, and unusual sensory experiences such as “brain zaps.” To

SSRI withdrawal symptoms

Topics: Pharmacology | Pharmacology Tips | SSRIs | Withdrawal

Withdrawal problems rank among patients’ top concerns with antidepressants. They include insomnia, flu-like symptoms, irritability, distractibility, and unusual sensory experiences such as “brain zaps.” Use this PDF tool to check if the patient is having any SSRI withdrawal symptoms at baseline.

Mood Stabilizers and Stroke Risk in Bipolar Disorder

Topics: Bipolar Disorder | Lithium | Medical Comorbidities | Mood Stabilizers | Pharmacology

Review of: Chen PH et al, Br J Psychiatry 2018;1–6. doi:10.1192/bjp.2018.203 Study Type: Case-crossover study People living with bipolar disorder already have a decreased life expectancy of 10+ years compared to the general population (Crump C et al, JAMA Psychiatry 2013;70:931–939). Most of these years of lost life have been attributed to cardiov

New Augmentation Strategies in OCD

Topics: Amphetamines | Novel Medications | OCD | Pharmacology

Review of: Naderi S, Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019;73(4):169–174 and Zheng H et al, Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019;29(3):397–404 Study types: Positive RCTs Serotonergic agents—both SSRIs and clomipramine—have historically been the cornerstone of pharmacotherapy for OCD. However, response rates are notoriously low, and few patients achieve full

A Second Look at Genetic Testing

Topics: Free Articles | GeneSight | Genetic Testing | Pharmacology

Genetic tests are marketed with a bold claim: that a handful of genes can predict medication response. AssureRx’s GeneSight is the most popular of these tests, and in 2015 we reviewed the evidence behind its panel. In short, it was lacking, but the company has just released new data that may move it a little closer to the mainstream. What’s

Ask the Editor: Should You Prescribe Lithium to Suicidal Patients?

Topics: Lithium | Pharmacology | Suicidality

Dear Dr. Aiken: You recommended lithium for suicidal patients in the TCPR 2018 summer issue, but isn’t there a risk of overdose with this strategy? Dr. Aiken: From firearms to bridges, the suicide rate goes down when we erect barriers to the means. Barriers work because suicidal impulses are brief, lasting only 1–2 hours on average. It

Benzodiazepines in Children and Adolescents

Topics: Benzodiazepines | Child Psychiatry | Pharmacology

Michael, who’s 9, is brought in by his parents for his first psychiatric assessment. His parents report that lately, Michael has been worrying all the time. He asks to sleep in his parents’ bed. This past month, he also began having problems separating from his parents in the morning for school. Michael’s therapist suggested a medication assessmen

The History of Depakote

Topics: Pharmacology

Valproate originally saw the light of day in the German laboratory of Beverly Burton, in 1882. She was engaged in research on fatty acids, and synthesized a new one, called 2-propylvaleric acid. But she was not able to make this acid into a salt, which is necessary in order to turn it into a solid form, and so she stopped working on it. The compound res