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The Carlat Psychiatry Report

Deprescribing (January) | 2019

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CME Post-Test - Deprescribing, TCPR, January 2019

January 1, 2019

The post-test for this issue is available for one year after the publication date to subscribers only. By successfully completing the test you will be awarded a certificate for 1 CME credit. Read More

Brexanolone: A New Treatment for Postpartum Depression

January 1, 2019

Chris Aiken, MD

There is a need for rapid treatment in postpartum depression, as each month of this potentially severe condition can take a toll on infant development. That is why brexanolone (Zulresso), which was recently fast-tracked for approval by the FDA, is causing such a splash. Read More

Is Ketamine Just Another Opiate?

January 1, 2019

Michael Posternak, MD.

Ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects have now been demonstrated in over two dozen double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, but how it works is less clear. For many years, NMDA receptor antagonism was thought responsible, but other NMDA antagonists have not worked well in depression. Read More

Cannabidiol for Schizophrenia

January 1, 2019

Michael Posternak, MD.

In this pilot study, investigators evaluated the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD), which is one of the two main active components of marijuana (the other being THC), for the treatment of schizophrenia. Read More

Wellbutrin Augmentation: When Does It Work?

January 1, 2019

Chris Aiken, MD

Dear Dr. Aiken: In the July/August 2018 issue, you wrote that bupropion (Wellbutrin) augmentation does not work in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). So why do we see it work so often in practice? Read More

Deprescribing Medication

January 1, 2019

Barbara Farrell, PharmD

Deprescribing refers to lowering or stopping medications that might be causing harm or no longer providing benefit. It’s done in a planned, collaborative, and supervised way rather than simply the patient stopping the medications independently. Read More

Prescription CBD Is Available, But Are We Ready to Use It?

January 1, 2019

Chris Aiken, MD

Your patient comes in with a new medication on his list: CBD oil. He started taking it for anxiety and wants to know if it’s safe. You hedge, explaining that there is limited information available on unregulated products, but the patient is persistent. He says CBD oil is available as a prescription, and wonders if you could write one for it. Read More