Researchers found that, for uninsured patients, the percentage of medications
prescribed as generics rose from 12 percent to 30 percent after the clinic
closed its drug sample closet. For Medicaid patients, however, there was no
significant change in generic prescribing. …
…The antipsychotic action may be secondary to other consequences in the brain
that evolve over a period of several weeks. …
“Serotonin transporter binding potential values were significantly higher in all
investigated brain regions in individuals investigated in the fall and winter
compared with those investigated in the spring and summer,” the authors write. …
At least two of the cannabinoids don’t have mood-altering effects, so there
could be a way to use these substances without creating the high of marijuana. …
Because even the most benign of side effects has the potential of
becoming fatal in certain circumstances if left unaddressed, it is
imperative for patients, clinicians, pharmacists, and all health care
professionals to be aware of adverse reactions and possible complica
tions of clozapine therapy to prevent significant morbidity and
mortality. …
Clozapine is a substrate for many CYP450 isozymes, in particular 1A2, 2D6, and
3A4. The risk of metabolic interactions caused by an effect on an individual
isoform is therefore minimized. Nevertheless, caution should be used in patients
receiving concomitant treatment with other drugs that are either inhibitors or
inducers of these enzymes. …
It is well recognized that most medications exhibit wide interpatient
variability in their efficacy and toxicity. For many medications, these
interindividual differences are due in part to polymorphisms in genes encoding
drug metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters, and/or drug targets (e.g.,
receptors, enzymes). …
some differences in drug efficacy response, and some toxicities, are based on
variability in exposure or in pharmacodynamic response, caused by genetic
differences …
The polymorphic forms of the CYP450s are responsible for the
development of a significant number of adverse drug reactions and may
also contribute to drug response. …
Some say the fact that a few quick medication-monitoring visits pay much better
than a longer psychotherapy session conducted in the same amount of time could
be the reason for the switch …