The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from November 2002

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from November 2002

Researchers find quicker onset of action in mirtazapine compared to paroxetine in elderly patients with depression. (Antidepressants).
November 1, 2002... Recently, Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., Charlotte Kremer, M.D., Heidi E. Rodrigues and Greer M. Murphy, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., together with The Mirtazapine vs. Paroxetine Study Group, conducted a double-blind, randomized trial that compared mirtazapine...

Treating bipolar disorder in older adults: gaps in knowledge remain. (Bipolar Disorder).
November 1, 2002... The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 40 percent of the country' s population will be 45 years and older by 2010. Research indicates that 10 percent of all patients with bipolar disorder are 50 or older. Also, bipolar disorder accounts for 5 to...

Orlistat appears safe for psychotropic-induced weight gain. (Drug-Drug Interactions).
November 1, 2002... Weight gain has been associated with the use of psychotropic medications, which might result in obesity in individual patients. Orlistat (Xenical) is an anti-obesity drug that inhibits gastric and pancreatic lipases, resulting in reduced...

Age not found to affect dose of depot neuroleptics. (Drug-Drug Interactions).
November 1, 2002... A team of investigators conducted a naturalistic study of the effect of age on total daily dose of depot formulations of conventional neuroleptic medications in order to assess whether elderly patients are being maintained on lower doses of...

AFAR accepting applications for 2003 grants.
November 1, 2002... The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is seeking applications for its 2003 grant programs. Programs include grants in metabolic control and late-life diseases, in geriatric clinical pharmacology, in geriatric medicine and geriatric...

Psychotropic use highly prevalent among elderly. (Clinical Notes).
November 1, 2002... A group of researchers from Finland evaluated trends in the use of psychotropic medications among the home-dwelling elderly in the 1990s, suggesting that psychotropics tend to be overprescribed and overused. The study was comprised of two...

Neuropsychiatric symptoms common in MCI, dementia. (Clinical Notes).
November 1, 2002... A survey of 3,608 subjects at least 65 years old for over 10 years found a high prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Of the 682 individuals with dementia or MCI who were...

Psychological effects of depression linked to mortality. (News Updates).
November 1, 2002... A seven-year, prospective study in 2,500 older adults concluded that severe depression is as dangerous as cancer, heart disease, emphysema and high blood pressure in this population. Although severe depression was associated with increased...

First-ever Dementia Congress. (News Updates).
November 1, 2002... Fifteen hundred experts in neurology, psychiatry and internal medicine met in Chicago this September for the first annual "Dementia Congress." The meeting addressed the scope, effects and latest developments in vascular dementia and Alzheimer's...

FDA approves buprenorphine for opioid addiction. (News Updates).
November 1, 2002... The FDA recently approved two new formulations of buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, for the treatment of dependence on heroin or other opiates. Subutex (buprenorphine) and Suboxone (buprenorphine plus naloxone) are the first narcotic...

Panic attacks induced by sibutramine. (Case Report).
November 1, 2002... # Patients: 1 female (62 y/o) Medications: sibutramine (Meridia) Comments: A 62-years-old woman had a history of panic attacks dating from her mid-20s which had been successfully treated with anxiolytics since her mid-30s. The only two...

Buprenorphine (generic) ~ Subutex (brand) Buprenorphine/Naloxone (generic) ~ Suboxone (brand). (Your Medication Information).
November 1, 2002... Classification: Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist. Common Usage: Subutex and Suboxone are indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence. When taken sublingually, Subutex and Suboxone are...