Friday, May 16, 2003

Recent Developments in Antipsychotic Use in Adults
Article in the May Psychiatric Times - "The development of new atypical antipsychotics has been proceeding at a fast pace. Increasing variations in mechanisms of action, side-effect profiles and efficacy among the atypicals enable clinicians to tailor treatments to individual response, side-effect history and current medical conditions."  
  

Understanding Pharmacogenetics
Article in this month's Psychiatric Times -"The idea that drug response could be based on a patient's genetic background first surfaced over 100 years ago. Since then, technology has advanced to the point where prescribing medications based on a patient's genetic makeup no longer seems like science fiction. This article looks at the latest research on the pharmacogenetics of psychotropic medications and shows how far we still have to go."  
  

Drug promising in treating alcoholism
AP article in the Charlotte Observer - "An epilepsy drug offers significant promise in helping alcoholics quit drinking and appears to be more effective than drugs now in use for the problem, a new study shows. Half of the 55 alcoholics who took the anti-seizure drug topiramate either quit drinking altogether or cut back their drinking sharply. Researchers found that those given the medication were six times more likely than those on a dummy pill to abstain from alcohol for a month, according to the report published today in The Lancet."