After many years of trying, Wyeth finally received FDA approval for its new antidepressant, Pristiq (desvenlafaxine.) Don't get too excited though-Pristiq is simply the active metabolite of Effexor... (Subscription required)
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has recently posted a practical guide for professional interested in improving their skills in evaluating and treating patients with alcohol problems. Learn more here… (Free.)
"To sleep, perchance to dream-ay, there is the rub." Hamlet may have feared sleep, but for the millions of Americans suffering from chronic sleeping problems, they fear not sleeping. Clearly sleeping pills work, find out here whether there are significant differences among them. (Subscription required)
Combining Meds for Depression:
The State of the Art
Most psychiatrists prescribe SSRIs as the first-line medication for depression, but what's the best option when this strategy is ineffective? Here's a run-down of the best antidepressant combinations. (Free)
Invega: Can You Say “Patent Extender”?
Invega (paliperidone) is the newest antipsychotic to be approved by the FDA. But is it really “new”? In this article, we analyze the pros and cons of Invega, particularly in comparison with its mother compound, risperidone.(Free)
What's New in Eating Disorders?
While few psychiatrists specialize in eating disorders, most of us see patients with anorexia or bulimia from time to time. It's hard to keep up on the latest literature when we see such patients rarely. Here's an update on issues of diagnosis and treatment. (Free)
Laboratory Monitoring When Prescribing Psychotropics
When you are planning to start a patient on medications, what labs should you order? (Free.)
Typical Antipsychotics: A Brief Review
Those of us who completed residency anytime during the last 10 years were indoctrinated against the use of conventional neuroleptics because of their array of side effects, particularly extrapyramidal syndromes (EPS) and tardive dyskinesia (TD). But the results of the CATIE trial endorsed the usefulness of Trilafon (perphenezine), prompting us to take another look at the typical antipsychotics. (Free)
Antidepressants: Does Mechanism Matter?
It would be nice if we knew how antidepressants worked. But to be honest, we don’t. Here’s a review of some of the more hotly debated issues in the ongoing conversation about neurotransmitters. (Free)
Featured Articles
