Brown University Psychopharmacology Update articles from January 2011

Brown University Psychopharmacology Update archives from January 2011

Modest benefits of adjunctive risperidone in partial responders to clozapine.(Schizophrenia)(Report)
January 1, 2011... In a 16-week randomized controlled trial, adjunctive risperidone was well tolerated and modestly improved symptoms in patients with schizophrenia who were partial responders to clozapine. The findings provide reassurance that augmentation with...

Quetiapine monotherapy and olanzapine-fluoxetine effective for bipolar depression.(Bipolar Disorder)(Report)
January 1, 2011... A meta-analysis has found quetiapine monotherapy and combination olanzapine-fluoxetine to be the two most effective interventions for treating bipolar depression. The new findings indicate that atypical antipsychotics have greater efficacy than...

Pharmacokinetic interaction between bupropion and venlafaxine.(Drug-Drug Interactions)(Report)
January 1, 2011... Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) is an antidepressant of the aminoketone class that is chemically unrelated to the other available antidepressants. Its antidepressant activity is believed to be primarily via inhibition of norepinephrine uptake,...

Greater vigilance needed in prescribing anxiety medications.(What's New in Research)(Survey)
January 1, 2011... A large-scale survey found significantly greater nonmedical use of anxiety medications obtained via prescription than nonmedical use of drugs obtained without a prescription. Although the findings do not detract from the clinical usefulness of...

Adjunctive aripiprazole for risperidone-induced hyperprolactinemia.(What's New in Research)(Report)
January 1, 2011... Adjunctive aripiprazole significantly lowered plasma concentrations of prolactin in female schizophrenic patients who were receiving treatment with risperidone. The reductions in prolactin levels were evident even at doses of aripiprazole as low...

Antipsychotics and venous thromboembolism.(News Notes)(Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2011... A case-control study found no association between antipsychotic use and increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in elderly patients, compared with nonuse. The study, conducted by researchers in the Netherlands, analyzed drug-dispensing...

Venlafaxine vs. methylphenidate in pediatric ADHD.(News Notes)(attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder)(Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2011... A small clinical trial found venlafaxine efficacy comparable to methylphenidate in treating children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with both drugs showing superior symptomatic improvement. The trial involved 27 boys and...

Higher duloxetine starting dose found safe for severe depression.(News Notes)(Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2011... Daily doses of duloxetine at 60 mg and 120 mg were equally effective and tolerable in hospitalized patients with severe depression with or without suicidal behavior. The finding is from a European multicenter trial conducted to determine whether...

Lamotrigine toxicity may induce Brugada-like ECG pattern.(electrocardiography)(Case study)
January 1, 2011... Patient: Female, 22 years old Medications: Lamotrigine (Lamictal), levetiracetam (Keppra), procainamide (Pronestyl) Case: A 22-year-old woman lost consciousness during an epileptic seizure, hitting her head on a piece of furniture,...

Safety labeling changes.(From the FDA)
January 1, 2011... MedWatch posted 34 products with safety labeling changes, including lamotrigine (Lamictal), armodafinil (Nuvigil), modafinil (Provigil), paroxetine (Paxil), levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone (Stalevo), and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq). ...

Lurasidone (Latuda), a new atypical antipsychotic, received approval October 28, 2010 for treating schizophrenia in adults.(New approvals)(Brief article)
January 1, 2011... Lurasidone (Latuda), a new atypical antipsychotic, received approval October 28, 2010 for treating schizophrenia in adults. FDA approval was based on data from more than 40 clinical trials involving approximately 2,700 lurasidonetreated...

Duloxetine (Cymbalta), approved for treating major depressive disorder since 2004, received a new approval November 4, 2010 for treating chronic musculoskeletal pain, including discomfort from osteoarthritis and chronic lower back pain.(New approvals)(Brief article)
January 1, 2011... Duloxetine (Cymbalta), approved for treating major depressive disorder since 2004, received a new approval November 4, 2010 for treating chronic musculoskeletal pain, including discomfort from osteoarthritis and chronic lower back pain. [www....

Warnings on OTC chelation products.(From the FDA)(over-the-counter)(Brief article)
January 1, 2011... [check] Eight companies marketing over-the-counter (OTC) chelation products received FDA warning letters over claims that their chelation products treat a range of diseases by removing toxic metals from the body. As there are no FDA-approved...

Olanzapine + fluoxetine (generic): Symbyax (brand).(YOUR MEDICATION INFORMATION)(Drug overview)
January 1, 2011... CLASSIFICATION: Symbyax is a medication containing olanzapine, which is an atypical antipsychotic, and fluoxetine, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. COMMON USAGE: Symbyax is indicated for acute treatment...