Psychotropic drug

About: Psychotropic drug is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2309 publications have been published within this topic receiving 54070 citations.

Clozapine and olanzapine, but not haloperidol, reverse cold-induced and lipopolysaccharide-induced cutaneous vasoconstriction

Abstract: Reduction of body temperature is used as predictor of psychotropic drug action. The cutaneous circulation functions as a heat-loss component of temperature regulation. Clozapine and olanzapine reverse hyperthermia and sympathetically-mediated cutaneous vasoconstriction induced by MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy), suggesting that these drugs might reverse other forms of sympathetically mediated cutaneous vasoconstriction. Clozapine and olanzapine were compared with haloperidol with respect to their ability to reverse cold-induced and LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced cutaneous vasoconstriction in rabbits. Cutaneous blood flow was measured in conscious rabbits by Doppler ultrasonic flow probe implanted around the central ear artery, and body temperature was measured telemetrically. After control observations, animals were transferred from 26 to 10°C, or LPS (0.5 μg/kg IV) was administered. After 30 min, clozapine, olanzapine or haloperidol was administered and ear pinna blood flow and body temperature were measured for another 30 min. Clozapine, in a dose responsive manner (1, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg IV), substantially reversed cold-induced ear pinna vasoconstriction and reduced body temperature. Clozapine (1 mg/kg IV) reversed LPS-induced cutaneous vasoconstriction and reduced the LPS-induced rise in body temperature. Olanzapine had generally similar effects. Haloperidol (1 mg/kg IV in cold experiments and 0.2 mg/kg IV in LPS experiments) did not reverse ear pinna vasoconstriction, or affect body temperature. Both clozapine and olanzapine, but not haloperidol, reverse physiologically induced cutaneous sympathetic vasomotor discharge. Because of the close link between psychological function and sympathetic regulation of cutaneous blood flow, similar neuropharmacological mechanisms might underly the cutaneous vasodilating action and the psychotropic actions of atypical antipsychotic drugs.

Worrying patterns of out-patient psychotropic drug prescribing in children and adolescents.

Abstract: Drug consumption data indicate that antidepressant (AD) and antipsychotic (AP) drug prescribing is rising in most western countries [1–3]. There is particular concern for children and adolescents, who might be exposed to these agents despite the paucity of data showing a favourable efficacy-tolerability profile [4, 5]. In this population, the associated risks could outweigh benefits. A debate has recently focused on a possible association between new generation AD drugs and suicidal behaviour [6] and on risks of treatment with second-generation AP drugs, possibly higher in children and adolescents compared with adults [7]. In most countries, these risks led to restrictions in psychotropic drug use in children and adolescents: in Italy, for example, with the exception of sertraline for obsessive-compulsive disorder, AD agents and second-generation APs are unlicensed paediatric drugs. From a public health perspective, it is therefore of great interest to document and monitor the level of psychotropic drug exposure among children and adolescents. In Lombardy, a region in northern Italy with more than 1.5 million subjects under 19, a regional administrative database includes all community (i.e. outside hospitals) prescriptions reimbursed by the National Health System (NHS) in the population living in this region. Therefore, general practitioner (GP) prescriptions, ambulatory prescriptions delivered by specialists (psychiatrists, neurologists, others) and prescriptions delivered in private care are included in the database if reimbursed by the NHS. In Italy, AD and AP agents are fully reimbursed by the NHS. From this database, we extracted all AD (N05B, N05C and N06A group of the anatomical therapeutic chemical classification system) and AP (N05A group, excluding lithium, of the anatomical therapeutic chemical classification system) prescriptions dispensed from January 1st to December 31st, 2001 to patients under 19. Each record included the anonymised patient code, patient’s sex and age, the number of prescriptions and a code identifying whether the prescription was filled by a GP or by a specialist. Using the patient code, records were attributed to patients receiving one or more prescriptions of one or more AD/AP during the census year. Prevalence data were calculated by dividing AD and AP users by the total number of male and female residents in each age group. During the 12 months surveyed, 4,252 subjects received one or more prescriptions of ADs, yielding a prevalence of use of 2.78 subjects per 1,000 inhabitants (95% CI 2.70–2.87). The prevalence of AD use progressively rose with age in both sexes and a female/male difference was evident in adolescents (table 1). Most patients received one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (2,814/ 4,252) and paroxetine was prescribed to one fourth of those receiving ADs (1,065/4,252); citalopram (755/4,252), fluoxetine (521/4,252), sertraline (512/4,252) and fluvoxamine (137/4,252) were less likely prescribed. Most prescriptions of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (2,253/2,814) were issued by GPs. Similarly, during the 12 months surveyed, 1,477 subjects received one or more prescriptions of APs, yielding a prevalence of use

Psychotropic medications prescribing trends in adolescents: A nationwide population-based study in Taiwan.

Abstract: Objective To describe psychotropic medications prescription patterns among adolescents in Taiwan; focusing on age, gender, duration of treatments and various classes of psychotropic medications. Design A retrospective description analysis. Setting Taiwan National Health Insurance Database. Participants Twelve to seventeen years' patients treated with psychotropic medications. Intervention None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Percentage and duration of treatment with psychotropic medications during the study periods by medication classes and age groups were calculated. In addition, top three prescribed psychotropic medications were also determined. Results A total of 3,120 patients were prescribed psychotropic drugs. The percentage of adolescent patients that received anxiolytics and antidepressants in 2002-2012 were 2.89% and 2.15%, respectively. Also, 851 patients (1.21%) were prescribed hypnotics and 638 (0.91%) were given sedatives. The prevalence rate of the prescription of psychotropic drugs increased steadily with age and females were more treated than males except antipsychotic. Among psychotropic drugs, antidepressants (mean: 8.6 times) were refilled more but antipsychotics (mean 188 days) were the long-term treatment drugs. Additionally, the trend of hospital visits fluctuated over the year while May and December showed a higher rate of visits. Conclusions These findings show that the prevalence of psychotropic drug prescriptions in Taiwanese adolescents is even low but increasing trends in the prescription of these medications raises some concern. As the evidence of psychotropic drug safety and effectiveness in adolescents is still inadequate; we recommend that healthcare providers should consider psychotropic drugs therapy, continuously monitor for outcomes and empower their patients to improve their knowledge, therapeutic outcomes and quality of life.

Oxindole derivatives and psychotropic drugs

Abstract: Psychotropic drug compositions containing compounds represented by general formula (I), pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof or solvates of the same, wherein m is an integer of 1 to 4; R?1, R2 and R3? represent each a substituent; X and Y represent each CH or N; V represents -(CH?2?)n- (wherein n is an integer of 0 to 4) or -O-; and W represents a group selected from the group consisting of those represented by general formulae (i) to (iv), wherein Z represents -(CH2)p- (wherein p is an integer of 0 to 2) or -O-; J represents O, S or NH; and R?4 and R5? represent each a substituent.

Prozac and crime: who is the victim?

Abstract: Prozac has been cited in more medication defense criminal cases in the United States than has any other psychotropic drug. In the majority of these cases, defendants are arguing that they are the victims of the drug. Defendants assert that they are victimized by their own involuntary intoxication or that of witnesses and crime victims who have been adversely influenced by Prozac. This article reviews 12 criminal cases in the United States in which Prozac victimization is a salient theme, and it calls for mental health professional organizations to intervene in a growing legal conundrum.