Author Archives: Dr.Adel Serag

  Chronic pain and insomnia are an unhealthy combination. According to the National Sleep Foundation, chronic pain disturbs the slumber of one in five Americans at least a few nights a week. Whether it’s from a bad back, arthritis, or headaches, chronic pain puts you in double jeopardy: the pain robs you of restful sleep […]

The Memory Palace is one of the most powerful memory techniques I know. It’s not only effective, but also fun to use — and not hard to learn at all. The Memory Palace has been used since ancient Rome, and is responsible for some quite incredible memory feats. Eight-time world memory champion Dominic O’Brien, for […]

Diagnosing bipolar disorder Many patients with borderline personality disorder or other forms of moodiness are wrongly diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. On the other hand, it is simultaneously true that many patients with bipolar disorder (especially bipolar II disorder) continue to be misdiagnosed as having a depressive disorder. Because the treatment of depression and of bipolar […]

(If you are not already signed up for FREE tips, news, and updates from this website, please enter your email address at the bottom of this page. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!) The US medical system switched from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM on October 1, 2015.  For billing and other purposes, clinicians in the US […]

Modafinil (US brand name Provigil® and generic) is a wakefulness promoting agent. Here is key information about this medication. FDA-approved indications To improve wakefulness in adult patients with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or shift work disorder (SWD) Dosage 1. Adults Narcolepsy or OSA: 200 mg once daily in the morning Shift work disorder: 200 […]

The FDA issued a warning on May 3, 2016 about aripiprazole stating that “compulsive or uncontrollable urges to gamble, binge eat, shop, and have sex have been reported with the use of aripiprazole (Abilify®, Abilify Maintena®, Aristada®, and generics). These uncontrollable urges were reported to have stopped when the medicine was discontinued or the dose […]

Olanzapine (US brand name Zyprexa® and generic) is a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic. Here is basic information about this medication. FDA-approved indications 1. As oral formulation for: a. Schizophrenia in adults and adolescents b. Manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adults and adolescents (ages 13-17 ) c. Manic or mixed episodes associated […]

Paliperidone extended-release (US brand name Invega® and generic) is a second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotic. FDA-approved indications 1. Treatment of schizophrenia in adults and adolescents (ages 12-17) 2. Treatment of schizoaffective disorder in adults as monotherapy and as an adjunct to mood stabilizers and/or antidepressants. Dosage A. Schizophrenia (adults) Initial: 6 mg/day Recommended: 3 – 12 mg/day […]

Risperidone (US brand name Risperdal® and generic) is a second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotic. Here is basic information about this medication. FDA-approved indications 1. Treatment of schizophrenia 2. As monotherapy or adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate, for the treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder 3. Treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder […]

Risperdal Consta® is a long-acting injectable formulation of risperidone, a second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotic. Here is basic information about this medication. FDA-Approved Indications Schizophrenia Monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of Bipolar I Disorder Adjunctive therapy to lithium or valproate for the maintenance treatment of Bipolar I Disorder. Disadvantages Requires refrigeration Administered every 2 weeks rather than […]

Paliperidone palmitate (Invega Trinza®) is an extended-release injectable second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotic which can be administered once every 3 months. Here is basic information about this medication. FDA-Approved Indication Schizophrenia after adequate treatment with 1-month paliperidone palmitate extended-release (Invega Sustenna®) for at least four months. Dosage The dose of 3-month paliperidone palmitate (Invega Trinza®) will depend on the last […]

Paliperidone palmitate (Invega Sustenna®) is an extended-release injectable second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotic. Here is basic information about this medication. FDA-approved indications Treatment of schizophrenia Treatment of schizoaffective disorder as monotherapy and as an adjunct to mood stabilizers or antidepressants Dosage A. Schizophrenia Initiation (IM deltoid): Administer 234 mg on day 1; 156 mg on day 8 Monthly […]

Extended Release Olanzapine (Zyprexa Relprevv®) is a long-acting, second-generation (atypical), injectable antipsychotic. Here is basic information about this medication. FDA-approved indications Schizophrenia Dosage Recommended dosing of extended release olanzapine based on correspondence to oral olanzapine doses A. First 8 weeks of treatment a) Target oral dose 10 mg/day: 210 mg/2 weeks or 405 mg/4 weeks b) Target oral […]

Haldol® Decanoate is a brand name of a depot formulation of haloperidol which is a first-generation (“typical”) antipsychotic. Here is basic information about this medication. FDA-approved indications Treatment of schizophrenic patients who require prolonged parenteral antipsychotic therapy Dosage A. Initial dosage (given by deep IM injection every month) Switchover from oral dose to haloperidol decanoate […]

Ziprasidone (US brand name Geodon® and generic) is a second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotic. FDA-approved indications A. As an oral formulation 1. Schizophrenia 2. Acute treatment as monotherapy of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder 3. Maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder as an adjunct to lithium or valproate B. As an intramuscular injection […]

Lurasidone or Latuda® is a second-generation antipsychotic, manufactured by Sunovion and introduced in the US in 2010 for the acute treatment of schizophrenia. Note: This page and its related pages contain the full text of the chapter on lurasidone (Latuda) in my book, The Latest Antidepressants. This webpage will always have the most up-to-date version of that […]

Iloperidone (US brand name Fanapt®) is a second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotic. FDA-approved indications Treatment of adults with schizophrenia Dosage Starting: 1 mg twice daily Target: 6–12 mg twice daily (achieved by dose increments of 1–2 mg twice daily) Maximum: 12 mg twice daily (24 mg/day) Please refer to Prescribing Information (see link below) for complete discussion […]