Doctors being “paid to deprescribe” antidepressants isn’t the shocking new development RFK Jr. makes it sound like. Deprescribing has always been part of medical care. What’s new is the political spin — and the stigma it creates around antidepressants, doctors, and the people who rely on mental health medication.
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Robert Kennedy Jr. is now coming after antidepressants as part of his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) nonsense.1 He’s claiming that antidepressants are overprescribed and dangerous. He wants them deprescribed. And while it would be great if people didn’t need to take antidepressants — or any other medication for that matter — antidepressants are life-saving and health-creating medications for many. So, let’s take a look at the facts behind antidepressants and violence, danger, and overprescription.
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Struggling with antidepressants that just aren’t working? L-methylfolate (MTHF) might be the missing piece. This key nutrient helps your brain produce serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine—exactly what antidepressants target. But some people don’t make enough of it naturally. Could supplementing with MTHF boost your treatment? Find out what the research says, plus my thoughts on it.
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A new and unique sleep medication is typically welcomed by the mentally ill population because those with mental illness (particularly mood disorders) tend to also have sleep problems like insomnia. However, a sleep medication that works in a unique way hasn’t been introduced in years: util lemborexant (Dayvigo), that is. Lemborexant is an insomnia medication that works on orexin receptors, which in and of themselves are actually a new-ish discovery. Read on for how lemborexant could be useful and why you might even consider switching.
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Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of a computer chip inside of aripiprazole (Abilify) pills. This computer chip is designed to indicate whether the person has taken his or her medication or not. The theory (and marketing push) is that this computer chip will improve treatment adherence (compliance). It will “ensure” people are taking their medications as prescribed. But will a computer chip inside of an antipsychotic really improve medication adherence?
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First-generation antipsychotics (typical antipsychotics, neuroleptics) have been around since the 1950s, but how safe are first-generation antipsychotics like haloperidol? One doctor, Henry A. Nasrallah, MD, suggests that haloperidol and its likenesses should be retired as first generation antipsychotics are not safe for the brain (he and the literature contend). Are first-generation antipsychotics like haloperidol safe or possibly neurotoxic?
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After looking at the future treatment approaches for treatment-resistant depression, I thought I’d share a bit more depression and bipolar research. New options offer hope for everyone who run the gamut of bipolar or depression treatments.
Today’s piece is written by Elaine Hirsch of MastersDegree.net. She writes today about the benefits of generic drugs for patients. Note: This is in no way an endorsement of, or advertisement for, olanzapine (Zyprexa).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve any medication before it is made available to patients, this includes generic medications. As highlighted in one of Natasha’s earlier articles (Are Brand Name Drugs Better than Generics? – Drugs are not Cornflakes), generic drugs must go through rigorous FDA tests just as their brand-name counterparts do. The approval of generic olanzapine (Zyprexa) for bipolar disorder the FDA has taken a step forward in providing better healthcare to men and women who suffer from mental health issues.
Read MoreLast week I didn’t post three new things but don’t take that to mean I wasn’t learning because I certain was, and always am. For this week I have these three new pieces of information to share:
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