Psychotropic drug

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

Psychotropic drug-induced weight gain alleviated with orlistat: a case series.

Abstract: Weight gain is a common side effect associated with antidepressant, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic drug use. Obesity is a risk factor for several other disorders, including hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. To date, there have been few safe, well-tolerated, and effective pharmacological agents available to alleviate weight gain in general, and virtually no studies specific to psychiatric drug-induced weight gain. This case series looks at the use of orlistat, a reversible inhibitor of lipases approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for obesity management, naturalistically in 13 patients with weight gain secondary to psychotropic drug use. The results showed that orlistat, administered in 3 daily doses with meals, was safe, well-tolerated, and effective, resulting in an average weight loss of 35% during an acute treatment period of about 3 months.

Neuroleptic and benzodiazepine use in long-term care in urban and rural Alberta: characteristics and results of an education intervention to ensure appropriate use.

Abstract: Objectives: To examine the use of psychotropic drugs in 24 rural and urban long-term care (LTC) facilities, and compare the effect of an education intervention for LTC staff and family members on the use of psychotropic drugs in intervention versus control facilities.Methods: Interrupted time series with a non-equivalent no-treatment control group time series. Data on drug use were collected in 24 Western Canadian LTC facilities (10 urban, 14 rural) for three 2-month time periods before and after the intervention. Pharmacy records were used to collect data on drug, class of drug, dose, administration, and start/stop dates. Chart reviews provided demographics, pro re nata (prn) use, and indications for drug use. Subjects comprised 2443 residents living in the 24 LTC facilities during the 1-year study. An average of 796.33 residents (32.7%) received a psychotropic drug. An education intervention on psychotropic drug use in LTC was offered to intervention physicians, nursing staff, pharmacists and family members.Results: Approximately one-third of residents received a psychotropic drug during the study, often for considerable lengths of time. A minority of psychotropic drug prescriptions had a documented reason for their use, and 69.5% of the reasons would be inappropriate under Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) legislation. Few psychotropic drug prescriptions were discontinued or reduced during the study. More urban LTC residents received neuroleptics and benzodiazepines than their rural counterparts (26.1% vs. 15.7%, and 18.0% vs. 7.6%, respectively). The education intervention did not result in any significant decline in the use of these drugs in intervention facilities.Conclusion: The results suggest substantial use of psychotropic drugs in LTC, although rural LTC residents received approximately half the number of psychotropic drugs compared with urban residents. A resource-intensive intervention did not significantly decrease the use of psychotropics. There is a need for better monitoring of psychotropic drugs in LTC, particularly given that voluntary educational efforts alone may be ineffective agents of change.

Psychotropic medication use among adolescents: United States, 2005-2010.

Abstract: Approximately 6.0% of U.S. adolescents aged 12-19 reported psychotropic drug use in the past month. The use of antidepressants (3.2%) and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) drugs (3.2%) was highest, followed by antipsychotics (1.0%); anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics (0.5%); and antimanics (0.2%). Males (4.2%) were more likely than females (2.2%) to use ADHD drugs. Females (4.5%) were more likely than males (2.0%) to use antidepressants. Psychotropic drug use was higher among non-Hispanic white (8.2%) adolescents than non-Hispanic black (3.1%) and Mexican-American (2.9%) adolescents. About one-half of U.S. adolescents using psychotropic drugs in the past month had seen a mental health professional in the past year (53.3%). Prior studies have shown an increase in psychotropic medication use among adolescents. However, most studies were based on clinical samples or high-risk populations. This report provides the estimate of any psychotropic medication use in the past month among U.S. noninstitutionalized adolescents aged 12-19 during 2005-2010, using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Psychotropic medication is a type of drug used to treat clinical psychiatric symptoms or mental disorders. Specific psychotropic drug types addressed are antidepressants; medications for attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD); anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics (ASH); antimanics; and antipsychotics. Adolescents using psychotropic drugs are further examined by sex, race and Hispanic origin, and mental health professional consultation.

Polypharmacy among psychiatric patients.

Abstract: The purpose of the present study is to determine the frequency of polypharmacy among psychiatric patients in Helsinki, and to ascertain whether this practice is supported by clinical trials. The drugs prescribed in 1 day to a sample of patients (n= 694) in mental hospitals and outpatient clinics in Helsinki were studied. 69 % of patients received more than one psychotropic drug in 1 day (61 % received “proper” psychotropic drugs). On the average there were 2.1 different psychotropic drugs per patient, and the maximum was 6. A review of controlled clinical trials on the simultaneous use of more than one proper psychotropic drug in psychiatric diseases (excluding fixed combinations) revealed 14 trials. In only thee trials was the combination better than its single components or placebo. Thus, there seems to be no evidence from clinical trials defending the frequent polypharmacy. A radical reduction in the number of psychotropic drugs prescribed for psychiatric patients is apparently desirable.

Neuropharmacological investigations on muscimol, a psychotropic drug extracted from Amanita muscaria.

Abstract: The effects of muscimol on the EEG and on the spontaneous and conditioned behavior of cats, rabbits, and rats were studied. High voltage 3 c/sec. waves appear in the EEG tracing of rabbits and rats treated with 0.5–1 mg/kg of the drug; after higher doses (2 mg/kg) spikes appear, intermingled with the slow waves. Administration of eserine (0.2 mg/kg) only slightly influences the EEG “synchronization” induced by muscimol. Muscimol-treated rabbits receiving small doses of diazepam or pentobarbital exhibit a flaccid paralysis accompanied by an EEG pattern similar to that of the deep stages of anesthesia. In cats and rabbits trained to an instrumental reward discrimination task, muscimol disrupts the conditioned performance at doses of 0.5–1 mg/kg. Spikes appear on the EEG of the cats treated with the drug and unable to perform the conditioned task. These results are discussed in relation to the hallucinogenic and confusional effects reported for muscimol in man.