rx drugs online
rx drugs online with http://www.doctors-onthenet.com

rx drugs online

Doctors On-the-Net

News for 26-Nov-08

Source: MedicineNet Senior Health General
Genetic Trait Linked to Alcoholism

Source: MedicineNet Prevention and Wellness General
Health Tip: Is Your Child More Prone to Ear Infections?

Source: MedicineNet Prevention and Wellness General
Health Tip: Conditions That May Affect a Newborn's Skin

Source: MedicineNet Prevention and Wellness General
Stay Upbeat, Exercise to Help Prevent Cancer in Old Age

Source: MedicineNet Senior Health General
High Blood Pressure Stalks Many Americans

Source: MedicineNet Senior Health General
Health Tip: Considering Home Birth?

Source: MedicineNet Prevention and Wellness General
Health Tip: Exercising With Back Pain

Source: MedicineNet Senior Health General
CDC Monitors Shortage of Hib Vaccine

Source: MedicineNet Senior Health General
U.S. Lags on HIV Testing Goals

Source: MedicineNet Prevention and Wellness General
Health Tip: Storing Your Insulin

Search the Web
rx drugs online
rx web
rx-web
rxweb
rxwebcom
web drugstores
web rx
yahoo drugs
yahoo pharmacy
yahoo rx

The Best rx drugs online website

All the rx drugs online information you need to know about is right here. Presented and researched by http://www.doctors-onthenet.com. We've searched the information super highway far and wide to provide you with the best rx drugs online site on the internet today. The links below will assist you in your efforts to find the information that you are looking for about
rx drugs online.

rx drugs online

Doctors on the net resources
Need information for Doctors on the net? Our links will provide you with information on all type of types of Physicians over the internet . For conferencing services to go with your search campagin go to Meetings on the Net - http://www.meetingsonthenet.com
Doctors on the net resources

Shopping for rx drugs online

rx drugs online

Doctors on the net resources
Need information for Doctors on the net? Our links will provide you with information on all type of types of Physicians over the internet . For conferencing services to go with your search campagin go to Meetings on the Net - http://www.meetingsonthenet.com
Doctors on the net resources

rx drugs online - a high stand of information

Depression Series (Part 2): My Antidepressant Doesn't Work. What Can My Psychiatrist Do?

 by: Michael G. Rayel, MD

Maria has been increasingly depressed for the past few years. She has tried at least four newer antidepressants but so far, she doesn't seem to respond. Unable to work, she's now feeling helpless and hopeless. Likewise, her family is discouraged. Frustrated and baffled by Maria's lack of progress, the family doctor refers her to a psychiatrist.

What can the psychiatrist do to help Maria?

The psychiatrist has several options in dealing with a treatment-resistant or refractory depression. First, Maria's psychiatrist can optimize the dose of her antidepressant. Maria has been taking low doses of antidepressants. In spite of her lack of response, the medication dosage has not been increased. To obtain a clinical response, her psychiatrist should increase the dose every two to three weeks. The antidepressant can be adjusted up to the maximum allowable dose if no or only partial response is observed.

Second, her psychiatrist can choose to augment the effect of her antidepressant with another medication such as lithium, triiodothyronine (T3), or buspirone. Among augmenters, lithium and triiodothyronine have the best support from the literature. Despite lithium's efficacy, some doctors avoid this drug because it requires regular blood monitoring and has unfavorable side effect profile such as acne, tremors, and thyroid and renal dysfunction.

Recently, studies have shown atypical neuroleptics such as olanzapine and risperidone to be good augmenters. In my opinion, further studies are necessary to establish these two drugs as standard augmenter. Indeed, research studies and clinical experience have found augmentation strategy to be effective.

Third, combination strategy is worthwhile to try. Maria's psychiatrist can add another antidepressant to boost the effect of her current antidepressant. For instance, trazodone can be added to an SSRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitor e.g. citalopram). Literature suggests that combining two drugs with different mechanisms of action and drugs that involve several brain chemicals has resulted in clinical improvement. In this scenario, one antidepressant plus another antidepressant is equal to three, or four or even ten, not two.

Fourth, the psychiatrist can switch from one antidepressant to another. Previous studies have shown that when making a switch, a drug should be replaced by a drug from a different class e.g. from SSRI to SNRI (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor e.g. venlafaxine), or from TCA (tricyclic agent e.g. nortriptyline) to SSRI. But recent studies show that switching drugs within the same class (e.g. SSRI to another SSRI) is just as effective.

Fifth, Maria's psychiatrist can also treat other ongoing symptoms or drug-related problems that further complicate her depression. If she is anxious and agitated, then her psychiatrist should prescribe antianxiety drug (e.g. lorazepam) or if Maria is psychotic then adding an antipsychotic drug should help. Moreover, medication side effects (such as insomnia, dryness of mouth, constipation, etc.) that negatively affect Maria's compliance to the drug should be addressed promptly.

Lastly, if despite above measures Maria doesn't respond to antidepressants, then electroconvulsive therapy should be entertained. Of course, this procedure should be done with her consent.

In summary, Maria's psychiatrist can optimize the dose, augment or combine treatment, switch the medication, treat side effects and ongoing symptoms, or use electroconvulsive therapy for treatment-resistant or refractory depression.

About The Author

Copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. Dr. Michael G. Rayel – author (First Aid to Mental Illness–Finalist, Reader's Preference Choice Award 2002), speaker, workshop leader, and psychiatrist. Dr. Rayel pioneers the CARE Approach as a first aid for mental health. To receive free newsletter, visit www.drrayel.com. His books are available at major online bookstores.


mike@drrayel.com

Google

http://www.meetingsonthenet.com
Medical On the Net | Drugestore On-the-Net | MD Meetings | MD Meet | MD News

Medical Meetings On The Net   Medical Presentations   Medical Meetings