The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from January 1 2009

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from January 1 2009

Pregabalin reduces psychic and somatic symptoms of GAD in elderly patients.(Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD))(Clinical report)
January 1, 2009... Pregabalin (Lyrica) was found to be safe and effective in reducing psychic and somatic symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in elderly patients. In an 8-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, patients in the...

rTMS shows promise for treating vascular depression.(rTMS Update)
January 1, 2009... In what are believed to be the first randomized, controlled trials on the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rTMS) to treat vascular depression (VD), investigators showed significantly greater reductions of scores on the...

Catatonia and mild neuroleptic malignant syndrome with long-acting risperidone.(Adverse Events)
January 1, 2009... Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but serious and potentially fatal adverse effect presumably caused by dopamine receptor blockade associated with the use of antipsychotic agents. The incidence of NMS has been estimated to be up to...

Prescribing patterns in patients recovered from bipolar disorder.(What's New in Research)
January 1, 2009... New data from the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) compares prescription patterns of psychotropic medications between elderly and younger patients who recovered from BD. The data make up one of the...

Doxepin improves sleep in elderly adults.(What's New in Research)
January 1, 2009... Doxepin was found to be safe and effective in treating primary insomnia in elderly patients. In a randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled trial, doxepin at 1 mg, 3 mg, and 6 mg resulted in significant improvement in sleep maintenance that...

NIH funds phase II clinical trial of CERE-110 for Alzheimer's.(News Notes)
January 1, 2009... The National Institutes of Health (NIH) granted $5.4 million to the University of California for a phase II clinical trial of CERE-110, a gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). CERE-110 consists of an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector...

Quetiapine treatment for delusional parasitosis.(Case Report)
January 1, 2009... Patient: Male, 80 years old Medications: Quetiapine (Seroquel) Case: An 80-year-old man, with no significant psychiatric history, presented with delusional disorder which had begun one year previously. During examination he described...

New FDA drug safety webpage.(From the FDA)
January 1, 2009... The FDA has created a new webpage with drug safety information for patients and health care professionals, with the aim of consolidating information in one access point. A wide range of information about prescription drugs will be available as...

New approval: bupropion (Aplenzin).(From the FDA)
January 1, 2009... The FDA has granted Biovail Corporation final approval for bupropion hydrobromide (Aplenzin) for treating major depressive disorder in adults. Aplenzin is a formulation of a new bupropion salt, available in once-daily, extended-release tablets...

Pregabalin (generic) Lyrica (brand).(YOUR MEDICATION INFORMATION)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CLASSIFICATION: Anticonvulsant. COMMON USAGE: Pregabalin is used for the treatment of neuropathic pain (nerve pain) from diabetes or shingles, for treatment of partial seizures as adjunctive (addon) treatment...