Which medications can improve thinking, memory, behavior, or function?

Beta Blockers ◽

Atypical Neuroleptics ◽

Loved One ◽

With Memory ◽

Over Time

Dementia disrupts a number of brain chemicals, and medications may be helpful to restore the balance of these neurotransmitters. When considering a new medication, it is important to set clear, measurable goals; start with a low dose; and track the effects over time. Cholinesterase inhibitors help with memory, mood, behavioral problems, and hallucinations; memantine helps with attention, alertness, mood, and behavioral problems; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) help with mood, anxiety, and behavioral problems; dextromethorphan/quinidine helps with inappropriate laughing or crying as well as behavioral problems; melatonin and acetaminophen help with sleep; atypical neuroleptics help with agitation, aggression, delusions, hallucinations, and picking; carbidopa/levodopa helps with walking, movement, and parkinsonian tremors; and beta blockers help with essential tremor. Clinical trials of new medications being developed may be available for those who are looking for better treatments for their loved one and for the next generation.

Beta blockers improve survival of patients with end-stage heart failure and major depression, only in combination with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

European Journal of Heart Failure Supplements ◽

10.1016/s1567-4215(08)60452-x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 164-164

Author(s):

D TOUSOULIS ◽

A DROLIAS ◽

C ANTONIADES ◽

A ANTONOPOULOS ◽

K MARINOU ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Major Depression ◽

Serotonin Reuptake ◽

Beta Blockers ◽

Selective Serotonin ◽

End Stage Heart Failure ◽

End Stage

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines in panic disorder: A meta-analysis of common side effects in acute treatment

Journal of Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1177/0269881119859372 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (11) ◽

pp. 1340-1351 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Laiana A Quagliato ◽

Fiammetta Cosci ◽

Richard I Shader ◽

Edward K Silberman ◽

Vladan Starcevic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Panic Disorder ◽

Adverse Effects ◽

Serotonin Reuptake ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Selective Serotonin ◽

Short Term

Background:Benzodiazepines (BZs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective in the pharmacologic treatment of panic disorder (PD). However, treatment guidelines favor SSRIs over BZs based on the belief that BZs are associated with more adverse effects than SSRIs. This belief, however, is currently supported only by opinion and anecdotes.Aim:The aim of this review and meta-analysis was to determine if there truly is evidence that BZs cause more adverse effects than SSRIs in acute PD treatment.Methods:We systematically searched Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and clinical trials register databases. Short randomized clinical trials of a minimum of four weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks that studied SSRIs or BZs compared to placebo in acute PD treatment were included in a meta-analysis. The primary outcome was all-cause adverse event rate in participants who received SSRIs, BZs, or placebo.Results:Overall, the meta-analysis showed that SSRIs cause more adverse events than BZs in short-term PD treatment. Specifically, SSRI treatment was a risk factor for diaphoresis, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and insomnia, whereas BZ treatment was a risk factor for memory problems, constipation, and dry mouth. Both classes of drugs were associated with somnolence. SSRIs were associated with abnormal ejaculation, while BZs were associated with libido reduction. BZs were protective against tachycardia, diaphoresis, fatigue, and insomnia.Conclusion:Randomized, blinded studies comparing SSRIs and BZs for the short-term treatment of PD should be performed. Clinical guidelines based on incontrovertible evidence are needed.

Problemi di psicoterapia

RUOLO TERAPEUTICO (IL) ◽

10.3280/rt2009-112006 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 45-56

Author(s):

Paolo Migone

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Serotonin Reuptake ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Interpersonal Relationship ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Selective Serotonin ◽

Hamilton Depression Scale ◽

Significant Difference

- Kirsch et al. (2002) studied all 47 randomized clinical trials (RCT) submitted by pharmaceutical companies to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of the six most prescribed Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressants. The mean difference between drug and placebo was less than 2 points on the 21-item (62- point) Hamilton Depression Scale (which is the version used in many of the these RTCs). This superiority to placebo, although statistically significant, was not clinically significant. Furthermore, 57% of the trials funded by the pharmaceutical industry failed to show a significant difference between drug and placebo. Most of these negative data were not published and were accessible only thanks to the Freedom of Information Act. Also other studies confirming this research (Whittington et al., 2004; Moncrieff & Hardy, 2007; Turner et al., 2008) are presented. These data are discussed in light of the wider problem of the roles of interpersonal relationship in psychiatric practice.KEY WORDS: antidepressants drugs, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI), placebo, Kirsch, Randomized Clinical Trials (RCT)]

Pindolol Augmentation of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: PET Evidence That the Dose Used in Clinical Trials Is Too Low

American Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1176/appi.ajp.158.12.2080 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 158 (12) ◽

pp. 2080-2082 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Eugenii A. Rabiner ◽

Zubin Bhagwagar ◽

Roger N. Gunn ◽

Peter A. Sargent ◽

Christopher J. Bench ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Serotonin Reuptake ◽

Selective Serotonin

New Trends in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852900002339 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 9 (S7) ◽

pp. 19-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Olga Brawman-Mintzer ◽

Kimberly A. Yonkers

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Serotonin Reuptake ◽

The United States ◽

Atypical Neuroleptics ◽

First Line ◽

Treatment Refractory ◽

Pharmacologic Treatments ◽

General Success

AbstractAnxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in the general population, found nearly twice as often in women, and estimated to affect 26.9 million individuals in the United States alone. Anxiety disorders are associated with considerable chronicity, morbidity, and disability. Treatment of anxiety disorders includes pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches. The first-line pharmacologic treatments currently include the use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, despite the general success of the available treatments, no single anxiolytic appears to be effective for all patients suffering from anxiety. Low recovery rates have been reported in all anxiety disorders, underscoring the need for optimizing treatment for these disabling disorders. In recent years, there is increasing interest in the use of atypical neuroleptics in the treatment of anxiety disorders patients. This article discusses the emerging data on the use of these agents in the treatment of anxiety with a focus on treatment-refractory patients and on the implications for the treatment of women suffering from anxiety disorders.