Question: Now that Pristiq has been out for awhile, what has been the clinical response with your patients compared with the Effexor XR formulation? Rumors have said it is more tolerable and less sexual side effects, although I have tried some samples, and it doesn’t seem to be as calming […]
Medication: Best Meds
32 posts
In December 2006 I participated in a survey of psychiatrists by a pharmaceutical company. They asked me if I could have only five medications to prescribe which ones would I choose? Since I have a cash only practice I have to go with the most effective medications long term. Most […]
It is usually better to start low and increase until no additional benefits or side-effects. Weight can be used to determine maximum dose, 2mg/kg for methylphenidate and 1.5mg/kg for amphetamines. The following chart was published by Biederman and Wilens at the Harvard department of psychiatry. More people prefer amphetamines. Only 16% prefer methyphenidate. […]
Depression runs in my family and I’ve been on the same medicine for a while with no episodes of depression. About two weeks ago I woke up feeling not myself and contributed it to getting my period on top of coming down with a respiratory infection. Still not feeling well […]
I don’t use Risperdal because of the increased risk of neurological side-effects, and increased prolactin interfering with hormones, including estrogen. Lexapro is good for anxiety, obsessiveness, and depression, especially sadness, but if your daughter is manic depressed/bipolar the Lexapro can make her more emotionally unstable. Effexor XR is a broader […]
Vyvanse, the new ADHD medicine, has a unique prodrug delivery system developed to prevent abuse. In addition to marked reduced abuse and misuse, studies have shown other major advantages over Adderall XR – the most prescribed medication for ADHD. Vyvanse has been found to be more consistent in its effect, more […]
I am now completely against birth control pills. I’m also against hormone replacement with oral estradiol. Estradiol (in every birth control pill) taken by mouth goes through the liver and causes problems with thyroid, testosterone, and the most effective form of estrogen. In anyone with a history of depression and/or […]
I am not crazy about long term use of Xanax (or any other benzodiazepine) for treatment of chronic insomnia because they don’t produce all the normal sleep states (esp. stage 4 deep sleep). Whether this is the case in everyone and whether this effect persists indefinately has not been adequately […]
Most of my ADHD patients do well and many if not most like being ADHD. There are some who haven’t found the "right medication(s)", but there are frequently new medications that become available. Within 4-8 weeks we will have Vyvanse, a new form of Dexedrine that has research benefit higher than […]
We have heard it since we were kids, but do we really need to take our vitamins? The answer is yes. Most Americans don’t get the nutrition they need simply from the foods they eat, and supplements insure that our body meets its nutrient “quota” enabling our body to […]