Tuesday, January 06, 2004

New Drug Treats Bipolar Disorder
December 30 Health Day News story reprinted at Yahoo - "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) has approved the Eli Lilly medication Symbyax to treat depression associated with bipolar disorder, sometimes referred to as manic depression. The new drug is a combination of active ingredients found in two other drugs used to treat mental health problems -- the anti-depressant Prozac and the anti-psychotic Zyprexa, the company says..."  
  

Rebuttal to Gatekeepers to Pharmaceuticals
Guest column in Medscape Psychopharmacology Today by Jane Feldman - " The issue of access to medication and the role of the consumer are crucial to the present and future of medical treatment in general and psychopharmacology in particular. There are many problems in the current system that need to be acknowledged, approached, and solved. Making more medications, particularly psychotropics such as antidepressants, available over the counter is not the solution and would almost certainly create more problems than it would solve." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Understanding the Effect Size of ADHD Medications: Implications for Clinical Care
Article in Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health - " For decades, the stimulant medications methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, and mixed amphetamine salts have been the mainline pharmacotherapy of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a disorder that, due to its high prevalence around the world, is a serious public health problem. Studies demonstrate robust effects in both children and adults, and meta-analyses of the most frequently studied stimulant, methylphenidate, show consistent efficacy across studies in children, adolescents, and adults." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].