Category Archives: Post graduate

Who should receive LAIs?   Consider LAIs for patients with recent-onset schizophrenia and those with risk factors for medication nonadherence: history of non-adherence, severe symptoms, comorbid substance use, cognitive impairment, ambivalence or negative attitudes towards medications, and poor insight.   Are the newer LAIs more effective?   The effectiveness of newer LAIs (aripiprazole, olanzapine, paliperidone […]

The bladder workout: Tame incontinence without surgery An overactive bladder (also known as urge incontinence) causes a sudden urge to urinate, even when your bladder isn’t full. For some people, it’s simply a nuisance. For others, the urge can’t be controlled, which leads not only to incontinence but also to a potentially severe negative impact […]

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, 1st Symposium of EPSIG, 2016

Image Source / Getty Images You’ve probably heard people talk about defense mechanisms, or ways that we protect ourselves from things that we don’t want to think about or deal with. The term got its start in psychoanalytic therapy, but it has slowly worked its way into everyday language. Think of the last time you […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]