Zeldox (ziprasidone)
How does Zeldox work? What will it do for me?
Ziprasidone belongs to the class of medications called antipsychotics. It is used to control the symptoms of schizophrenia and related mental health disorders. It works by adjusting the balance of chemicals in the brain that are involved in schizophrenia.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here. If you have not discussed …

VALIUM® ROCHE® (diazepam)
Tablets 5 mg, 10 mg
THERAPEUTIC CLASSIFICATION
Anxiolytic-sedative
ACTIONS AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
‘Valium’ (diazepam) is an anxiolytic-sedative drug useful in the symptomatic relief of anxiety and tension states. It has also adjunctive value in the relief of certain neurospastic conditions.
ABSORPTION:
Diazepam is rapidly and completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, peak plasma concentrations appearing 30-90 minutes after oral ingestion.
DISTRIBUTION:
Diazepam and its metabolites are highly bound to plasma proteins (diazepam 98%). The volume of distribution at steady state is 0.8-1.0 L/kg. In humans, comparable blood levels of ‘Valium’ were obtained in maternal and …

FDA approves Latuda to treat schizophrenia in adults
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Latuda (lurasidone HCl) tablets for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia affects about 1 percent of the U.S. population, ages 18 years and older, in a given year. The most prominent symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disordered thinking and behavior, and suspiciousness. Hearing voices that other people don’t hear is the most common type of hallucination. These experiences can make people with the disorder fearful and withdrawn.
“Schizophrenia can be a devastating illness requiring lifelong treatment,” said …

Because the causes of schizophrenia are still unknown, treatments focus on eliminating the symptoms of the disease. Treatments include antipsychotic medications and various psychosocial treatments.
Antipsychotic medications
Antipsychotic medications have been available since the mid-1950′s. The older types are called conventional or “typical” antipsychotics. Some of the more commonly used typical medications include: Chlorpromazine (Thorazine), Haloperidol (Haldol), Perphenazine (Etrafon, Trilafon), Fluphenazine (Prolixin).
In the 1990′s, new antipsychotic medications were developed. These new medications are called second generation, or “atypical” antipsychotics.
One of these medications, clozapine (Clozaril) is an effective medication that treats psychotic symptoms, …

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) occurs in both children and adults. ADHD is commonly treated with stimulants, such as:
Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Metadate, Concerta, Daytrana)
Amphetamine (Adderall)
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat).
In 2002, the FDA approved the nonstimulant medication atomoxetine (Strattera) for use as a treatment for ADHD. In February 2007, the FDA approved the use of the stimulant lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse) for the treatment of ADHD in children ages 6 to 12 years.
What are the side effects?
Most side effects are minor and disappear when dosage levels are lowered. The most common side effects include:
Decreased appetite. Children …

Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents: Information for Parents and Caregivers
Depression is a serious disorder that can cause significant problems in mood, thinking, and behavior at home, in school, and with peers. It is estimated that major depressive disorder (MDD) affects about 5 percent of adolescents.
Research has shown that, as in adults, depression in children and adolescents is treatable. Certain antidepressant medications, called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can be beneficial to children and adolescents with MDD. Certain types of psychological therapies also have been shown to be effective. However, …

The Myth of Biological DepressionUnhappiness or “depression” alleged to be the result of biological abnormality is called “biological” or “endogenous” or “clinical” depression. In her book The Broken Brain: The Biological Revolution in Psychiatry, University of Iowa psychiatry professor Nancy Andreasen, M.D., Ph.D., says “The older term endogenous implies that the depression `grows from within’ or is biologically caused, with the implication that unfortunate and painful events such as losing a job or lover cannot be considered contributing causes” (Harper & Row, 1984, p. 203). Similarly, in …

Your Drug May Be Your Problem:
How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Drugs - Book Review
If you need specific advice about how to stop taking one or more psychiatric drugs, this is the book to read. In this respect, this book fills in a gap left in other books by Dr. Peter Breggin I have read, including Psychiatric Drugs: Hazards to the Brain (1983), Toxic Psychiatry (1991), and Talking Back to Prozac (1998). In this book Drs. Breggin & Cohen also make clear they think the concept of “mental …

SSRI discontinuation syndrome

When was the SSRI discontinuation syndrome first recognized?
Reports began to emerge soon after the SSRIs were introduced in the late 1980s.
How common is it? The incidence and prevalence of this syndrome is not yet known. The few available discontinuation studies indicate minor forms of the syndrome may be common and severe forms unusual. A retrospective chart review of 171 clinic patients who discontinued an SSRI while under supervision, reported at least one new symptom in 20% and 14% of patients stopping paroxetine (Paxil) and fluvoxamine (Luvox), respectively. …

Antipsychotics

What are antipsychotics used for?
Antipsychotics are usually used to help treat people with schizophrenia and similar conditions such as psychosis. They are also used to treat other problems such as mania, hypomania and mood disorders. Occasionally antipsychotics are used to help manage agitation or anxiety. Medicines are often used to treat more than one condition, so if you are not sure why you have been prescribed an antipsychotic, you should discuss this with your doctor.
Antipsychotics are classified into two groups, ‘typical’ or ‘first-generation’ antipsychotics and ‘atypical’ or …