Psychotropic drug

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

Zonisamide produces weight loss in psychotropic drug-treated psychiatric outpatients

Abstract: This study examined the long-term effectiveness and tolerability of zonisamide for weight control in psychiatric outpatients using various psychotropic medications. We conducted a systematic chart review of 82 psychiatric outpatients with unwanted weight gain after the introduction of psychotropic drugs between January 2008 and September 2009 at Korea University Ansan Hospital. The primary outcome measure was the effect of zonisamide on body mass index (BMI). Additional outcome measures included safety and tolerability as assessed by the clinical global impression-severity of illness scale (CGI-S) and discontinuation rate. The mean final dose of zonisamide was 124.6±53.4 mg/day and ranged from 50mg/day to 300 mg/day. The mean BMI reduction was 0.8±1.7 kg/m(2) and ranged from -2.9 kg/m(2) to 4.7 kg/m(2) (p<0.001). We also observed a significant reduction in CGI-S scores from the baseline (3.8±0.9) to the endpoint (3.3±0.8; p<0.001). Twelve patients (14.6%) discontinued their zonisamide treatment due to its side effects. Patients treated with zonisamide showed significant weight loss. Furthermore, its treatment was generally safe and well tolerated with few negative effects on patients' overall psychiatric symptoms. Additional research is required to confirm these results and to investigate whether patients have rebound weight gains after discontinuing zonisamide.

Behavioral Toxicity of Psychiatric Drugs

Abstract: Psychotropic drugs are prescribed for the express purpose of altering one or more components of the patient’s mood, cognition, or gross behavior, which have become disturbed. Clinicians generally delineate a specific pharmacological action of a drug as its main therapeutic effect and regard other actions as side effects. While this determination may not always be as precise in psychiatry as in internal medicine, given the complexities of human behavior and of the target symptoms, one can usually designate specific drug actions as clinically beneficial and useful.

Subcortical hemorrhage caused by methamphetamine abuse: Efficacy of the triage system in the differential diagnosis

Abstract: A 32-year-old woman was brought to the emergency room with hemiplegia on the left and consciousness disturbance. Her prior medical history and the circumstances of the onset were unknown. Brain computed tomography showed intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with a midline shift of more than 10 mm in the right parietal lobe. Cerebral angiography failed to show any vascular anomalies. Urine analysis with the triage system, a qualitative screening test for psychotropic drug abuse, showed positive reaction for amphetamines. Subsequent laboratory examination confirmed a highly elevated serum concentration of methamphetamine. The patient underwent evacuation of the hemorrhage via a craniotomy, and was discharged 40 days after admission. Abuse of illegal drugs including amphetamines among young adults is increasing in many developed countries, and the suspicion of possible drug abuse should always be raised in young patients with angiographically negative ICH. A urinalysis screening test for psychotropic agents should be a part of routine emergency room diagnostic procedures for such patients.

[Tianeptine, an uncommon psychotropic drug].

Abstract: The pharmacological studies show that tianeptine (Stablon) is an original psychotropic drug. In classical and behavioural pharmacology, tianeptine has a novel antidepressant profile, different from other molecules and an anxiolytic effect but different from the benzodiazepines. Tianeptine does not cause sedation and sleeping troubles. In mice, tianeptine does not impair spatial memory but have facilitating effects on both working and reference memory. Tianeptine also increased the focalization of attention in cat and is active on comportmental adaptation models in stress. The electrophysiological data showed that tianeptine increases activity of the hippocampus pyramidal cells and decreases the recovery time after inhibitory substances application. Neurobiochemical studies showed that tianeptine increases serotonin uptake, in rat brain and in rat and human platelets, after acute and chronic treatment. Neuroendocrinology data showed that tianeptine decreases CRF and ACTH levels. Current research on the effect of tianeptine on acetylcholine could explain its anti-stress and memory facilitation activity.