The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved brexanolone intravenous infusion (Zulresso, Sage Therapeutics), the first-ever drug indicated for the treatment of postpartum depression. The drug is administered under medical supervision as a continuous infusion over a total of 60 hours (2.5 days), according to the FDA. Postpartum depression can [...]
Adding the Alzheimer drug memantine (Namenda, Allergan) to treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor may improve depressive symptoms, executive function, and other outcomes in older patients with both depression and cognitive complaints, new research suggests. The findings were presented at the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) 2019. In a [...]
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved an intranasal form of esketamine for treatment-resistant depression in adults who have failed at least two oral antidepressants of different classes. The spray, from Janssen Pharmaceutical (Spravato) is available in tamper-resistant prepackaged units of one, two, or three devices to deliver the prescribed doses [...]
A preliminary study of five patients suffering from both depression and substance abuse disorders suggest that isn’t the case. The study was published Jan. 9 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. Substance abuse and depression are common in many patients, and efforts to treat both conditions simultaneously have had limited [...]
Furthering the role of immune system disorders in the development of mental disorders, recent research links infections that children contract during their childhood with increased risk of mental disorders during childhood and adolescence. The first study of its kind shows that high temperatures, sore throats and infections during childhood can [...]
A new dosage strength of buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual film was approved recently by the Food and Drug Administration. Cassipa sublingual film, made by Teva Pharmaceuticals, is a 16 mg/4 mg dosage of buprenorphine and naloxone for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence. Buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual film also is [...]
A front page New York Times story read, “Every year, thousands of people addicted to opioids show up at hospital emergency rooms in withdrawal so agonizing it leaves them moaning and agonizing on the floor.” The article then goes on to quote a heroin addict. I would have stopped reading [...]
Conclusions The overall increase in prevalence rates of BZD dispensations during the study period and the unexpectedly high proportion of individuals who were prescribed a BZD on a long-term basis at a young age indicate a lack of congruence with international and national guidelines. These findings highlight the need for [...]
A monoclonal antibody,BAN2401, that targets soluble amyloid-beta oligomers, slowed cognitive decline by up to 47% while clearing brain amyloid in 81% of patients with mild cognitive impairment and very mild Alzheimer’s disease, according to phase 2 study results. A joint venture with Esai and Biogen, BAN2401, is among the most promising [...]
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning that the seizure and bipolar medication Lamictal (lamotrigine) can cause a rare but potentially life-threatening immune response. This life-threatening immune response, known as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), causes an uncontrolled immune response and can present as a persistent fever greater than 101° F. [...]