European Commission Approves XEPLION® for Treatment of Schizophrenia
Beerse, Belgium (March 9, 2011) — Janssen-Cilag International NV today announced that XEPLION® (paliperidone palmitate), a once monthly, long-acting injectable, antipsychotic, has received approval from the European Commission for the treatment of schizophrenia.
 Schizophrenia is relatively common and the prevalence is similar around the world. The lifetime risk for schizophrenia is estimated to be one person in 100, and appears to be the same for men and women up to age 60 years.[1] Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness for both the patients …

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 …

Alprazolam
Alprazolam (trade name Xanax, among others) is a potent short-acting drug of the benzodiazepine class. It is primarily used to treat moderate to severe anxiety disorders (e.g., social anxiety disorder) and panic attacks, and is used as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety associated with moderate depression. It is available in an instant release and an extended-release (Xanax XR) preparation, both of which are available under several generic names. Alprazolam possesses anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties.
Alprazolam has a fast onset of symptom relief (within the first week). It …

Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurring severe panic attacks. It may also include significant behavioral change lasting at least a month and of ongoing worry about the implications or concern about having other attacks. The latter are called anticipatory attacks (DSM-IVR). Panic disorder is not the same as agoraphobia (fear of public places), although many with panic disorder also suffer from agoraphobia. It must be noted however that panic attacks cannot be predicted, therefore an individual may become stressed, anxious or worried wondering when the next …

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 …

Discontinuing Antidepressants – what you need to know
Are antidepressants addictive?
Antidepressants do not cause an addiction as with opioid drugs (such as heroin), barbiturates, amphetamines (speed), alcohol and nicotine. This means that taking your medicine regularly should not cause tolerance or craving.
• Tolerance: This occurs when the body gets used to the drug or medicine when it is taken regularly, so that you need to take higher doses to have the same effect.
• Craving: This is a physical urge, where the body needs the drug or medicine to maintain a desired …

The Side Effects Of Common Psychiatric Drugs: Lithium

Brand Names (generic names):
Cibalith-S (lithium)
Eskalith (lithium)
Lithane (lithium)
Lithizime (lithium)
Lithobid (lithium)
Lithonate (lithium)
Lithotabs (lithium)
Side Effects:
Acne
Birth defects if given to a
pregnant woman
Blackout spells
Blurred vision
Cardiac arrhythmia
Change in the ability to taste food

The Side Effects Of Common Psychiatric Drugs: Anti-Anxiety Drugs
(Called Minor Tranquilizers, Benzodiazepines or Sedative Hypnotics)
Brand Names (Generic Names):
Ambien (zolpidem)
Ativan (lorazepam)
Azene (clorazepate)
BuSpar (buspirone)
Centrax (prazepam)
Champix (varenicline – in the UK)
Chantix (varenicline – in the U.S.)
Dalmane (flurazepam)
Doral (quazepam)
Equanil (meprobamate)
Halcion (triazolam)
Klonopin (clonazepam)
Lexomil (bromazepam)
Lexotan (bromazepam)
Lexotanil (bromazepam)
Librax (chlordiazepoxide and flidinium)

The Side Effects Of Common Psychiatric Drugs: Antipsychotics
(Called Major Tranquilizers or Neuroleptics)
Brand Names (Generic Names):
Older Antipsychotics
Compazine (prochlorperazine)
Haldol (haloperidol)
Largactil (clorpromazine)
Lidone (molindone)
Loxitane (loxapine)
Mellaril (thioridazine hydrochloride)
Moban (molindone hydrochloride)
Navane (thiorixene)
Novo-Trifluzine (trifluoperazine)
Nozinan (methotrimeprazine)
Orap (pimozide)
Permitil (fluphenazine)
Phenergam (promethazie)
Proketazine (carphenazine)

The Side Effects Of Common Psychiatric Drugs: Older Antidepressants
(Including Tricyclics, Tetracyclics and MAOIs)
Brand Names (Generic Names):
Tricyclics
Adapin (doxepin)
Anafranil (clomipramine)
Asendin (amoxapine)
Aventyl (nortriptyline)
Elavil (amitriptyline)
Endep (amitriptyline)
Etrafon (amitriptyline and perphenazine)
Janimine (imipramine)
Maneon (amitriptyline)
Norpramin (desipramine hydrochloride)
Nortilen (nortriptyline)
Pamelor (nortriptyline)
Pertofrane (norpramin)
Saroten (amitriptyline)
Sinequan (doxepin hydrochloride)