Coming off antidepressants is known to trigger physical symptoms, such as restlessness, fatigue, and excessive sweating, but new research published in the journal Health Expectations suggests people can also experience emotional and social difficulties, and changes in their thinking patterns when they stop taking antidepressants like Prozac. This is especially true when people don’t ‘taper’ their medication but instead stop taking it suddenly, and when the process is not adequately supervised by a doctor. Challenges reported by study participants included feeling overwhelmed by their emotions, finding social situations less enjoyable, and feeling detached and less empathetic towards others. The participants also reported that withdrawal affected their cognitive functioning. *** In a study of first-time mothers published in JAMA Network Open hormonal contraceptive (HC) initiation post partum was associated with a 1.49 times higher instantaneous risk of depression compared with no HC use, and this was consistent across HC types, except for progestogen- only pills, for which it was initially reduced and subsequently increased late post partum. The earlier combined oral contraceptive use was initiated post partum the higher the associated rate ratio of depression. *** Topically applied products containing human platelet extract or vitamin C provide similar improvements in age spots (photoaging) of the hands, as reported in a clinical trial within the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Brown spots on the hands, sometimes referred to as age spots or liver spots, are a common cosmetic issue caused by sun damage to the skin. Treatments for skin rejuvenation and resurfacing — such as chemical peels, injectables, and intense pulsed light or laser treatments — have primarily focused on the face, with less attention to the hands and other visible parts of the body. *** All patients who have had a heart attack are typically treated using beta blockers. According to a study conducted last year, this drug is unlikely to be needed for those heart patients who have a normal pumping ability. Now a new study published in European Heart Journal shows that there is also a risk that these patients will become depressed by the treatment. Beta blockers are drugs that block the effects of adrenaline on the heart and have been used for decades as a basic treatment for all heart attack patients. In recent years, their importance has started to be questioned as new, successful treatments have begun to be developed. This is mainly the case for heart attack patients whose hearts have a normal pumping function even after the attack, i.e. people who do not suffer from heart failure. ****** A new study published in Psychopharmacology found that propranolol, a medication that treats high blood pressure, can also help lower anxiety for kids and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Given that some individuals with ASD tend to struggle with anxiety at a far greater rate than their neurotypical peers, the new finding can significantly help such individuals with ASD. *** In a comparative effectiveness trial of behavioral activation psychotherapy (BA) and antidepressant medication management (MEDS), both treatments significantly reduced depressive symptoms by nearly 50% with no statistically significant differences between treatments. BA recipients experienced better physical health-related quality of life, fewer emergency department visits, and fewer days hospitalized. The study findings, published in JAMA Network Open, suggest that patients with heart failure could be given the choice between BA or MEDS to ameliorate depression. *** Presented as a service to the community by Presented as a service to the community by
Ritter Express Pharmacy 744 S. Mississippi, Suite A • Atoka, OK 889-3353 or 889-MEDS (6337) ***
