Articles Archive for September 2008
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by Lawrence Stevens, J.D.
Psychiatric drugs are worthless, and most of them are harmful. Many cause permanent brain damage at the doses customarily given. Psychiatric drugs and the profession that promotes them are dangers to your health.
ANTIDEPRESSANTS
The Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry/IV, published in 1985, says “The tricyclic-type drugs are the most effective class of anti-depressants” (Williams & Wilkins, p. 1520). But in his book Overcoming Depression, published in 1981, Dr. Andrew Stanway, a British physician, says “If anti-depressant drugs were really as effective as they are made out to …
Antidepressants, SSRI »
Popular antidepressants including Prozac and Paxil have little impact on most patients, according to a comprehensive review of newly released data from trials that were conducted before the drugs were approved in the U.S.
Researchers from the U.K., U.S. and Canada analyzed results for fluoxetine (better known by the brand name Prozac), venlafaxine (Effexor), nefazodone (Serzone) and paroxetine (Paxil or Seroxat) — all members of a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The researchers’ paper, published this week in the journal PLoS Medicine, claims that only patients …
Headline »
I’ve heard the murmurs for a while now. My professors back in graduate school often bemoaned the decline of private practice. They said managed care and Big Pharm threatened to render psychotherapy obsolete (to a room of aspiring clinical psychologists, no less).Glancing at the msnbc.com headline Monday, you’d think those predictions were coming true.
The article, titled: “In era of pills, fewer shrinks doing talk therapy” suggests psychotherapy is losing ground to medication in the treatment of psychological disorders. It refers to a study published this week in the Archives of …
Antipsychotics »
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today released a list of 20 drugs that are on its adverse effect “watch list” — drugs that have potential new serious risks or had new safety information from January to March 2008. The data come from FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) database, its only method for gathering safety and adverse effects about drugs approved for prescribing in the U.S. Adverse events are voluntarily reported by physicians who prescribe the medications.
Two psychiatric medications made the list — Duloxetine (Cymbalta) for a serious risk …
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Stimulants »
Ritalin (methylphenidate)
How does Ritalin work? What will it do for me?
Methylphenidate belongs to the family of medications known as stimulants. It is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (uncontrollable need to sleep) in children over 6 years old and adults. It helps to increase attention and decrease restlessness in children and adults who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Other measures (e.g., psychological, educational, and social therapies) are used along with methylphenidate as part of an overall treatment program for ADHD. This medication also helps to stimulate …
Antimanic Agents »
TEGRETOL Novartis
Carbamazepine
Use:
Anticonvulsant, antimanic agent. Epilepsy: Adults and children > 12 years – initially, 100-200 mg once or twice a day; increased in divided doses until best response obtained. Optimal daily dosage: 800-1200 mg. Rarely, some adults may require 1600 mg/day. As soon as disappearance of seizures has been obtained and maintained, reduce dosage very gradually to minimum effective dose. Children 6-12 years: Initially, 100 mg in divided doses on first day; increased by 100mg/day until best response obtained. Maximum daily dosage: 1000mg.
Trigeminal neuralgia: Initially, 100 mg twice daily; increased …
Antianxiety »
Ativan: Generic Name: lorazepam (oral) (lor A ze pam)
What is Ativan?
Ativan is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peens). It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.
Ativan is used to treat anxiety disorders.
Ativan may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information about Ativan
Do not use Ativan if you are allergic to lorazepam or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), or oxazepam (Serax). This medication can cause birth defects in an …

