Brown University Psychopharmacology Update articles from August 2010

Brown University Psychopharmacology Update archives from August 2010

Relative toxicity of antidepressants has bearing on outcome of suicidal acts.(Suicide and Antidepressants)(Report)
August 1, 2010... Antidepressant toxicity as it relates to risk of overdose and suicidal deaths varies widely, not only by antidepressant class but also by individual drugs within classes, according to an observational study conducted in the United Kingdom (UK)....

Several anticonvulsants associated with greater risk of suicidal behavior.(Suicide and Anticonvulsants)(Clinical report)
August 1, 2010... A new cohort study has found that gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), and tiagabine (Gabitril) are associated with an increased risk of suicidal acts or violent death in new users of these anticonvulsants,...

Lithium and clozapine.(Drug-Drug Interactions)(Case study)
August 1, 2010... Although clozapine (Clozaril) is very effective in managing treatmentresistant schizophrenia, the occurrence of neutropenia and agranulocytosis in 1-2% of treated patients limits its broader usefulness. (1) In addition, benign ethnic...

CBT, pharmacotherapy, or both for panic disorder.(What's New in Research)(Clinical report)
August 1, 2010... Patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia may find significant long-term benefits from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) monotherapy, or a combination of CBT plus an SSRI. In a...

Bupropion aids smoking cessation for those with schizophrenia.(What's New in Research)(Report)
August 1, 2010... Bupropion appears to be an effective aid to increase smoking abstinence in adult smokers with schizophrenia, without exacerbating psychosis or increasing the risk of seizure, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized...

Long-term fluoxetine for relapse prevention of bipolar depression.(News Notes)(Report)(Brief article)
August 1, 2010... Long-term fluoxetine monotherapy may provide superior relapse prevention, compared with lithium, for patients with bipolar II disorder recovering from a major depressive episode. The finding is from a clinical trial of patients with bipolar II...

Dopamine agonists and neurocognitive functioning in schizophrenia.(News Notes)(Report)(Brief article)
August 1, 2010... Treatment with dopamine agonists may improve neurocognitive functioning in patients with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD). In a double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial of 25 patients with SPD, pergolide, a dopamine agonist...

Olanzapine for trichotillomania.(News Notes)(Report)(Brief article)
August 1, 2010... Olanzapine was found to be safe, effective, and significantly superior to placebo in treating trichotillomania, according to results of a randomized controlled trial. The study randomized 25 patients with DSM-IV trichotillomania to olanzapine...

Oxcarbazepine for trichotillomania.(Case Report)(Case study)
August 1, 2010... Patient: Female, 43 years old Medications: Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) Case: In January 2007, a 43-year-old woman enrolled in a clinical trial of...

Iloperidone (generic) Fanapt (brand).(YOUR MEDICATION INFORMATION)(Drug overview)
August 1, 2010... Classification: Atypical antipsychotic. Common Usage: Iloperidone is indicated for the acute treatment of schizophrenia in adults. Iloperidone is not approved for patients under the age of 18 years. Warnings: Elderly patients with...