– This Menu contains links to pages related to various OTHER PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS.
– Some general topics related to psychiatric medications are listed first, followed by articles related to specific categories of psychiatric medications
– Other Main Menus can be found by hovering over the MENUS tab at the top of every page on this website.
– In the Menu below, click on the category (or the arrow to the left of its name) to EXPAND the category and see what is included in it. When you are done, click on the category (or the arrow to the left of it) to COLLAPSE the category back.
Prescribing-related articles
Your patient may be taking a psychiatric medication by another brand name
How to find basic information about medications on this website
Tips for writing prescriptions: for how long, how many refills?
Is e-prescribing worth it?
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs)
Where to look up information on drug shortages
Psychopharmacology in Special Populations
Agitation
Dexmedetomidine (Igalmi™): Basic information
Bariatric surgery
What to do about medications after bariatric surgery
How to manage lithium treatment before and after bariatric surgery
Is bupropion sustained-release OK to use after bariatric surgery?
Why and how to monitor and evaluate for suicide risk after bariatric surgery
Why, who, and how to monitor for increased alcohol use after bariatric surgery
Pregnancy and lactation
Five websites for information regarding psychotropic medications and pregnancy
Lactation and psychotropic medications: Resources
Pregnancy registries for women who become pregnant while on a psychotropic medication
Is lamotrigine use during pregnancy safe?
Tips on using lithium during pregnancy
Are the Z-drugs (zolpidem and others) safe to take during pregnancy?
Are you about to prescribe a medication that could lead to an unwanted pregnancy?
Surgery and anesthesia
What to do about psychotropic medications during elective major surgery
Can patients who are NPO not take medications orally?
Demystified: Potentially very serious interactions between MAO inhibitors (MAOI) and opioid analgesics
What to do about stimulant medications for surgery or other procedures under anesthesia
Other
Are psychiatric medications safe AFTER laser iridotomy for narrow-angle glaucoma?
Medication Interactions with Food
Which psychiatric medications MUST be taken with food?
For medications that must be taken “with food,” how recent does the eating have to be?
Which psychotropic medications should be taken WITHOUT food?
Medications to be taken consistently, either with or without food
Do’s and don’ts regarding mixing medication with food or beverages
Resources for Patients
What is the ONE website that is BEST for all your patient education needs?
FDA-approved “Medication Guides” for patients
Patient handouts: Potential side effects of psychiatric medications
Patient handouts from Simple and Practical
The BEST app for medication reminders/medication management
What are the BEST books on each topic related to psychiatry/ mental health?
Antianxiety Medications
Antidepressant Medications
Agitation medications
Anti-Addiction medications
Acamprosate
Benzodiazepines for alcohol withdrawal
Which benzodiazepines for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS)?
Benzodiazepine regimens for preventing or treating alcohol withdrawal
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine (Subutex® and Suboxone®): Basic Information
Clinical pearls on prescribing buprenorphine (Suboxone®)
Clinical pearls about prescribing buprenorphine: Part Two
Disulfiram
Disulfiram—Why and How
How to use disulfiram to help with alcoholism
Disulfiram: A shortcut to sobriety?
Tips on offering disulfiram for alcohol use disorder
Disulfiram—Avoiding “hidden” sources of alcohol
Principles to help patients starting on disulfiram avoid hidden sources of alcohol
Specific tips to give to patients about how to avoid “hidden” alcohol in food and beverages
What are “non-alcoholic,” “alcohol-free,” “low alcohol,” and “reduced alcohol” beverages?
Where to find/ buy non-alcoholic or alcohol-free beer
Non-alcoholic or alcohol-free beer in patients with past alcohol use disorder?
Do we need to specifically tell persons with alcoholism to avoid drinking kombucha?
Recommend these alcohol-free mouthwash options to patients on disulfiram or with a dry mouth
Patients on disulfiram may appreciate being told about these alcohol-free options for fragrances
Disulfiram—Side Effects
How common is liver toxicity with disulfiram, and when does it occur?
When and how often should hepatic function tests be done in patients on disulfiram?
Naloxone
Special issues in using naloxone for overdoses involving fentanyl
YouTube video on how to use Evzio®
Naltrexone
Naltrexone (Revia®, Vivitrol®): Basic Information
Tips on using naltrexone for alcohol use disorder
How high can we go with naltrexone for alcohol use disorder?
What if a patient on naltrexone is in acute pain?
Does naltrexone cause insomnia OR does it cause sleepiness?
Naltrexone extended-release injectable (Vivitrol®)
Naltrexone (Revia®, Vivitrol®): Basic Information
Tips on using naltrexone extended-release injectable (Vivitrol®)
Could extended-release naltrexone injection work for alcohol use disorder even if oral naltrexone did not?
How to order, store, and administer naltrexone extended-release injection (Vivitrol®)
Find a Vivitrol® prescriber
Low-dose naltrexone (LDN)
What is low-dose naltrexone (LDN), and should it be used for anything?
Nicotine replacement therapy
A practical guide to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
How exactly should nicotine patches be used?
How exactly should nicotine gum be used?
How exactly should nicotine lozenges be used?
How exactly should nicotine oral inhalers be used?
How exactly should nicotine nasal spray be used?
Thiamine (for prevention of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome)
Varenicline
Varenicline (Chantix®): Basic Information
Are varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion safe for smoking cessation in persons with mental disorders?
A practical guide to using varenicline (Chantix®) for tobacco (smoking) cessation
Other
How to learn addiction psychiatry
A practical guide to the management of tobacco use disorder
Do electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) work for smoking cessation?
What “authorities” say about e-cigarettes for tobacco use disorder
What are electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)?
Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol, revised (CIWA-Ar)
Bupropion for cocaine use disorder?
APA Practice Guideline for the Pharmacological Treatment of Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder
Should we consider gabapentin for alcohol use disorder?
Antiamyloid antibodies
Antiamyloid antibodies—General articles
New, “disease-modifying” treatments for Alzheimer’s disease
Why amyloid-β and amyloid plaques are so important
Antiamyloid antibodies—Lecanemab
Untangling exactly whom lecanemab (Leqembi®) is FDA-approved for
How well does lecanemab (Leqembi®) work?
Should we recommend treatment with lecanemab (Leqembi®)?
Lecanemab (Leqembi®) carries an important boxed warning
Antiamyloid antibodies—Donanemab
A brief review of donanemab (Kisunla®) for Alzheimer’s disease
Anticholinergic medications
Should we routinely prescribe an anticholinergic with an antipsychotic?
Anticholinergic medications prescribed by mental health clinicians: Menu of options
Clinically important differences between anticholinergic medications
For how long should anticholinergics be given for antipsychotic-induced parkinsonism?
After a few months, try to reduce/ stop anticholinergic medication
How does toxicity from anticholinergic medications present clinically?
Cholinergic rebound syndrome: Why we should NOT stop anticholinergic medications abruptly
An anticholinergic medication for antidepressant discontinuation (withdrawal)?
Topical anticholinergics for localized hyperhidrosis
Antipsychotic medications
General
Antibiotics, antipsychotics, and QTc prolongation
Which antipsychotics to prefer in patients with catatonia
Antipsychotics and QTc prolongation
How often should we order ECG (EKG) during treatment with a psychotropic medication?
Avoid these three antipsychotics in women with breast cancer
The patient who “demands” TWO antipsychotics
Practice guideline: Antipsychotics for agitation/psychosis in dementia
Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics
General
Second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotics (List)
Second-generation antipsychotics: Dose equivalents
Dose adjustment for second-generation antipsychotics based on drug interactions
Do adolescents have more metabolic side effects with second-generation antipsychotics?
Does weight gain with second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics plateau after the first few months?
Do adolescents have more metabolic side effects with second-generation antipsychotics?
What should I be doing to monitor patients who are on an antipsychotic?
The patient who “demands” TWO antipsychotics
Aripiprazole (Abilify®)
FDA issues new warning about aripiprazole (impulse control problems)
Aripiprazole (Abilify®): Basic Information
Aripiprazole with sensor (Abilify Mycite®): Basic Information
Can aripiprazole *worsen* psychosis?
How exactly to add aripiprazole for hyperprolactinemia with risperidone
Resolution of hyperglycemia after switching to aripiprazole
What dose of aripiprazole as an adjunct for OCD?
What is the risk of tardive dyskinesia with LOW-dose aripiprazole?
Aripiprazole—Long-acting injectable (LAI) preparations
Aripiprazole (Abilify Maintena®): Basic Information
Aripiprazole lauroxil (Aristada®): Basic Information
Aripiprazole lauroxil (Aristada Initio™): Basic information
Aripiprazole extended-release injectable suspension (Abilify Asimtufii®): Basic Information
Aripiprazole lauroxil (Aristada®) versus Aripiprazole (Abilify Maintena®)
How to convert from oral to long-acting injectable (LAI) aripiprazole
Be careful in converting from Abilify Maintena® to Aristada®
Why does Abilify Maintena® have an FDA indication for bipolar disorder but Aristada® does not?
Asenapine (Saphris®)
Brexpiprazole (Rexulti®)
Cariprazine (Vraylar®)
Cariprazine (Vraylar®): Basic Information
Cariprazine (Vraylar): Potential side effects
Activity of cariprazine (Vraylar®) on dopamine D3 and D2 receptors
Cariprazine (Vraylar®): Organized list of references
Clozapine (Clozaril®)
Clozapine—General information
Clozapine (Clozaril®): Basic Information
Why we must refer more patients for clozapine treatment
What can we do about the underutilization of clozapine and delays in starting it?
Where can I find someone who prescribes clozapine?
Clozapine for schizophrenia in children?
Changes in rules about clozapine
Clozapine—Serum level
How to check and interpret clozapine levels
Are the clozapine-norclozapine ratio and norclozapine level useful?
Can oral contraceptives affect clozapine levels?
Caffeine can significantly change serum clozapine levels
Clozapine—Side effects
Potential side effects of clozapine (Clozaril®) handout
Key information about seizures with clozapine
Clozapine-induced hypersalivation (sialorrhea)
Clozapine-induced hypersalivation (sialorrhea): Treatment
Management of clozapine-induced constipation
Benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN)
Iloperidone (Fanapt®)
Lumateperone (Caplyta®)
Lumateperone (Caplyta®): Basic information
Is lumateperone (Caplyta®) really different from other atypical antipsychotics?
Potential side effects of lumateperone (Caplyta®) handout
Is lumateperone less likely to cause extrapyramidal symptoms (including parkinsonism or akathisia)?
Can lumateperone (Caplyta®) cause metabolic side effects?
Lurasidone (Latuda®)
Lurasidone (Latuda®): Basic Information
Lurasidone (Latuda®): Pharmacological Effects
Lurasidone (Latuda®): Efficacy
Lurasidone (Latuda®): Drug Interactions
Lurasidone (Latuda®): Adverse Effects
What are the possible risks of using lurasidone (Latuda®) during pregnancy
Which psychiatric medications MUST be taken with food?
Does lurasidone (Latuda®) really have a low risk of increasing serum prolactin?
Olanzapine (Zyprexa®)
Olanzapine (Zyprexa®): Basic Information
Does olanzapine (Zyprexa®) really have a low risk of increasing serum prolactin?
Olanzapine—Long-acting injectable (LAI) preparation
Olanzapine (Zyprexa Relprevv®): Basic Information
Extended-Release Olanzapine (Zyprexa Relprevv®): REMS
Olanzapine-Samidorphan (Lybalvi®)
Olanzapine and samidorphan (Lybalvi®): Basic information
Samidorphan versus naltrexone: What’s the difference?
How much better is olanzapine-samidorphan (Lybalvi®) than olanzapine alone? Part 1
Paliperidone (Invega®)
Paliperidone (Invega®): Basic Information
Potential side effects of paliperidone (Invega®): Patient handout
Paliperidone—Long-acting injectable (LAI) preparations
Paliperidone palmitate (Invega Sustenna®): Basic Information
Paliperidone palmitate 3-month (Invega Trinza®): Basic Information
Paliperidone palmitate 6-month (Invega Hayfera™): Basic Information
Pimavanserin (Nuplazid®)
Pimavanserin (Nuplazid): Basic Information
What is pimavanserin (Nuplazid®)?
Pimavanserin (Nuplazid®): Potential adverse effects
Quetiapine (Seroquel®)
Quetiapine (Seroquel®, Seroquel XR®): Basic Information
Which psychotropic medications should be taken WITHOUT food?
The dose of quetiapine is NOT the same for each disorder
Is quetiapine (Seroquel®) a reasonable option for treating insomnia?
Why it matters that quetiapine’s metabolite is a *norepinephrine* reuptake inhibitor
Risperidone (Risperdal®)
Risperidone (Risperdal®): Basic Information
News: July 6, 2016. Make sure you are discussing the increased risk of gynecomastia with risperidone
How exactly to add aripiprazole for hyperprolactinemia with risperidone
Risperidone—Long-acting injectable (LAI) preparations
Equivalence of risperidone oral and long-acting injection (RLAI; Risperdal Consta®)
Ziprasidone (Geodon®)
Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics: General articles
(For our articles about long-acting injectable preparations of specific antipsychotics, please look under that antipsychotic on this page.)
Long-acting injectable antipsychotics: Overview
Dose equivalents of long-acting injectable second-generation antipsychotics
How *NOT* to offer long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics to patients
Which injections can only be given in the gluteal muscle—and why?
How to choose between injecting into the deltoid or gluteal muscles
CPT billing code for administration of injections
When is it appropriate to combine two antipsychotics?
First-generation (typical) antipsychotics
Antipsychotics—Side effects
Antipsychotics—Metabolic Side Effects
Does weight gain with second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics plateau after the first few months?
How long does antipsychotic-induced hyperglycemia take to resolve?
Resolution of hyperglycemia after switching to aripiprazole
Do adolescents have more metabolic side effects with second-generation antipsychotics?
Do adolescents have more metabolic side effects with second-generation antipsychotics?
What should I be doing to monitor patients who are on an antipsychotic?
Amantadine for antipsychotic-induced parkinsonism
Amantadine (Symmetrel): Basic Information
Is TD less likely with second-generation (“atypical”) antipsychotics?
Does any atypical antipsychotic have a lower risk of tardive dyskinesia?
Management of tardive dyskinesia: First-line options
Management of tardive dyskinesia: Second-line options
Be careful if a person is on both a stimulant and an antipsychotic
What could happen when changing from an antipsychotic to a stimulant?
Key information about seizures with clozapine
Can we use topiramate to treat medication-induced weight gain?
Potential risks of second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics in pregnancy
Akathisia: Treatment with a beta-blocker
Antipsychotics—Drug interactions
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists
Off-label treatments for schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders
Beta-blockers
Clinical tips on using a beta-blocker for performance anxiety (“stage fright”)
Beta-blockers for panic disorder?
Akathisia: Treatment with a beta-blocker
Beta-blockers for lithium-induced benign tremor
What are the different types of beta-blockers?
Can beta-blockers cause depression or is this a myth?
CNS side effects of beta-blockers
Beta-blockers can either worsen or improve erectile dysfunction
Which beta-blockers in persons with diabetes?
Are beta-blockers contraindicated in asthma?
Bibliotherapy
Bibliotherapy: Recommend books to your patients and their families
BEST Books on Depressive disorders: for patients and families
BEST books on how to change habits
BEST books about how to lose weight
An Unquiet Mind
BEST books on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
BEST books on Adult Asperger’s Syndrome
Best books on adult ADHD: For patients and families
Book review: Mindfulness prescription for Adult ADHD
Book review: ADHD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life
Best book for choosing a rehab
Cholinesterase Inhibitors—see Cognitive Enhancers
Cognitive Enhancers
Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Alzheimer’s disease: Medications
How to choose a cholinesterase inhibitor
Switch cholinesterase inhibitors?
Medications for dementia: Alternative preparations
Donepezil (Aricept®, Aricept ODT®): Basic Information
Galantamine (Razadyne, Razadyne ER): Basic Information
Rivastigmine (Exelon®, Exelon® Patch): Basic Information
Memantine
Digital therapeutics
Dopamine Agonists
Dopamine agonists—General articles
Can a dopamine agonist (pramipexole, ropinirole) and a stimulant be combined?
Dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome (DAWS)
Pramipexole
Pramipexole: Basic information
Pramipexole for major depressive disorder or bipolar depression
Tips on using pramipexole for mood disorders
Potential adverse effects of pramipexole
Can a dopamine agonist (pramipexole, ropinirole) and a stimulant be combined?
Important! Dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome (DAWS)
Ropinirole
GABA-A positive modulators
Hypnotics
Hypnotics—General Articles
FDA-approved medications for the treatment of insomnia (hypnotics)
Non-addictive sleep medications
Is quetiapine (Seroquel®) a reasonable option for treating insomnia?
Best hypnotics in elderly patients?
Hypnotics to avoid in the elderly (older adults)
Which hypnotics to use or avoid in persons with sleep apnea
Benzodiazepines
Doxepin
Melatonin receptor agonists
Melatonin
Does melatonin work for insomnia?
Low-dose preparations of melatonin
Which brand and preparation of melatonin to recommend
Melatonin agonists for preventing and treating delirium?
What are the potential side effects of melatonin?
Does melatonin need to be gradually tapered off when stopping it?
Can melatonin have negative effects on puberty?
Can melatonin increase blood sugar?
What drug interactions can occur with melatonin?
Ramelteon
Pros and cons of ramelteon (Rozerem®) as a hypnotic
Ramelteon (Rozerem®): Basic Information
Orexin receptor antagonists
What is the orexin system, and why is it so important?
An overview of dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs)
How do we choose which dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA) to prescribe?
Potential side effects of dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs)
Do dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) have a low risk of abuse or dependence?
Are dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) safe in obstructive sleep apnea?
Daridorexant (Quviviq®): Basic information
Lemborexant (Dayvigo®): Basic information
Suvorexant (Belsomra®): Basic information
Z-drugs
Practical tips on using hypnotics: the Z drugs
How to match the patient with the right Z-drug
Give all these instructions while prescribing zolpidem
Are the Z-drugs (zolpidem and others) safe to take during pregnancy?
Hypnotic if waking up in the middle of the night?
Eszopiclone (Lunesta®): Basic Information
Zolpidem (Ambien® and Ambien CR®): Basic Information
Zaleplon (Sonata®): Basic Information
Non-Medication Interventions for Insomnia
Ketogenic diet and psychotropic medications
Medications for treating feeding and eating disorders
Medications for treating obsessive-compulsive and related disorders
SSRIs for OCD
Higher than usual doses of SSRIs for OCD?
SSRIs for OCD: How high can we go?
Clomipramine versus SSRIs for OCD
Add clomipramine to an SSRI for OCD?
Concerns about combining clomipramine and SSRIs
How exactly to add clomipramine to an SSRI
When and how to check the clomipramine level
How to interpret clomipramine and desmethylclomipramine levels
OCD: Second-line medications
Antipsychotic “augmentation” for OCD
Is fluvoxamine more effective for OCD than other SSRIs?
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Poor man’s vortioxetine
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Pharmacological treatment
How to use serotonin reuptake inhibitors to treat body dysmorphic disorder
How to treat excoriation (skin picking) disorder: Pharmacological treatment
Medications for treating sexual dysfunction
General
Beta-blockers can worsen or improve erectile dysfunction
Cyproheptadine (Periactin®) for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction (ADISD)?
Which antidepressant for the treatment of premature ejaculation?
Treatment of premature ejaculation with antidepressants—daily or as-needed?
Flibanserin
Flibanserin (Addyi®)
Flibanserin (Addyi®) in postmenopausal women
Flibanserin (Addyi®): Basic information
Flibanserin (Addyi®): Systematic list of references
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5 inhibitors)
Medications for treating trauma and stress-related disorders
Does prazosin work for PTSD? If so, for which symptoms?
How exactly should we dose prazosin in PTSD?
Warning! Prazosin can lead to hypotension/ syncope after the first dose
PTSD-associated nightmares: Menu of treatment options
Are psychostimulant medications contraindicated in persons with PTSD?
Melatonin receptor agonists
Melatonin
Melatonin: An introduction
Does melatonin work for insomnia?
What are the potential side effects of melatonin?
Can melatonin have negative effects on puberty?
Can melatonin increase blood sugar?
Low-dose preparations of melatonin
Which brand and preparation of melatonin to recommend
Ramelteon
Miscellaneous
Mood Stabilizers
Mood stabilizers—General articles
How many days to wait before measuring the blood level of any medication
When to measure serum levels of mood stabilizers
Combination therapy (mood stabilizer plus antipsychotic) for acute mania?
A practical guide to the management of bipolar disorders with mixed features
Does gabapentin work for bipolar disorder?
Encourage pregnant women on an antiepileptic drug to enroll in these registries
Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine
Carbamazepine
Carbamazepine (Equetro®, Tegretol®-XR): Basic Information
Carbamazepine for neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with dementia?
How should carbamazepine be discontinued?
What to do about contraception in women on carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine
HLA antigens and psychotropic drugs
Oxcarbazepine
Does oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®) work?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Trileptal® (oxcarbazepine) versus Tegretol® (carbamazepine)
How to start, titrate, and dose oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®)
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®): Plasma levels
What to do about contraception in women on carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine
Divalproex (or valproate or valproic acid)
How to prescribe divalproex
Also see: Mood stabilizers—General articles
Divalproex (Depakote®, Depakote ER®): Basic Information
Divalproex (Depakote®) or valproic acid (Depakene®) preparations
Divalproex (valproate) loading dose
What lab tests should we do in patients on divalproex (Depakote)?
All about when and how to order a FREE valproic acid level?
What is the optimal serum valproic acid (valproate) level?
Ketogenic diet and valproate
How to add valproate to lamotrigine
Efficacy of divalproex for different conditions
Does divalproex (valproate) work for bipolar depression?
Valproate for neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia?
Side effects of divalproex
Valproate and hair loss (alopecia)
Valproate-induced pancreatitis
False-positive elevation of plasma ammonia
Valproate (Depakote®) and elevated serum ammonia level (hyperammonemia)
L-carnitine (levocarnitine; Carnitor®): Basic information
What to do if a patient develops thrombocytopenia during treatment with valproate
Drug interactions of divalproex
Lamotrigine
Lamotrigine—General articles
Lamotrigine (Lamictal®): Basic Information
Can lamotrigine monotherapy be used for maintenance treatment in bipolar I disorder?
Lamotrigine: No additional benefit at 400 mg per day?
Why don’t we routinely prescribe lamotrigine extended-release (Lamictal XR®)?
How to add valproate to lamotrigine
Tips on using lamotrigine for mood disorders: Interview with Dr. Nassir Ghaemi
Lamotrigine—How to start
How to start and titrate lamotrigine (Lamictal®)
Dermatological precautions when starting lamotrigine
Lamotrigine—How to restart
Restarting lamotrigine
If lamotrigine is missed for a few days
Restarting lamotrigine: how many days?
Restarting lamotrigine: A case study
Lamotrigine—Skin rash
Dermatological precautions when starting lamotrigine
Is it a benign or dangerous skin rash?
How common are benign and serious rashes with lamotrigine?
Lamotrigine rechallenge after a skin rash?
Lamotrigine—Side effects (other than skin rash)
Can lamotrigine levels predict adverse effects?
What to do about the risk of arrhythmias with lamotrigine
Can lamotrigine cause psychiatric side effects?
Can lamotrigine cause bruising?
Is the use of lamotrigine during pregnancy safe?
Oral sores in a patient on lamotrigine
Lamotrigine—Drug interactions
5 Action Items about OCs and lamotrigine
Does lamotrigine decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives?
How to reduce lamotrigine when an inducer is stopped
Folic acid may counteract the benefit of lamotrigine
Lithium
Lithium: Therapeutic use
Also see: Mood stabilizers—General articles
How to know who will respond better to lithium
Lithium: In how many doses per day?
“Simple and Practical” patient education about lithium
Is the extended-release preparation of lithium carbonate better?
Should we prescribe low-dose lithium?
Lithium augmentation in major depressive disorder: How much?
Lithium augmentation in major depressive disorder: How long
Let’s not stop lithium abruptly or rapidly
If serum lithium levels vary unexpectedly, consider these possible causes
How to manage lithium treatment before and after bariatric surgery
When and how to prescribe lithium citrate oral solution
What should we tell patients who ask about lithium orotate?
Lithium: Side effects and their management
Lithium toxicity
Clinical tips for identifying lithium toxicity clinically
Lithium: Hyperparathyroidism
Lithium induced hyperparathyroidism
How to screen for lithium-induced hyperparathyroidism
Lithium-induced hyperparathyroidism: Management
How to calculate corrected serum calcium
Sensipar® (cinacalcet) Prescribing Information
Lithium: Hypothyroidism
An introduction to lithium-induced hypothyroidism
How common is lithium-induced hypothyroidism?
How should lithium-induced hypothyroidism be evaluated?
How should lithium-induced hypothyroidism be managed?
Lithium: Renal impairment
Lithium-induced renal impairment: Clinical recommendations
Case: Rising serum creatinine in a patient on lithium
Case: Elevated serum creatinine that remained stable for many years
Is the extended-release preparation of lithium carbonate better?
Which preparation of lithium is less likely to harm the kidneys?
Lithium-induced polyuria and diabetes insipidus
Lithium-induced polyuria and diabetes insipidus: Evaluation
Lithium-induced polyuria and diabetes insipidus: Treatment
24-hour urine for creatinine clearance
How to collect a 24-hour urine sample
Lithium: Skin/ hair-related side effects
All about lithium-induced hair loss
Acne is a potential side effect of lithium
Lithium and psoriasis
Lithium: Tremors
Lithium-induced benign tremor: Introduction
Lithium-induced benign tremor: Evaluation
Lithium-induced benign tremor: Treatment
Beta-blockers for lithium-induced benign tremor
Vitamin B6 for lithium-induced benign tremor?
Lithium: Miscellaneous
Lithium’s effects on the electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG)
Tips on using lithium for bipolar disorder during pregnancy
Lithium: Drug interactions
Topiramate
Muscarinic agonist
Xanomeline+Trospium (Cobenfy™)
The rationale for xanomeline+trospium (Cobenfy™), approved for the treatment of schizophrenia
Efficacy of xanomeline+trospium (Cobenfy™) and comparison with second-generation antipsychotics
Xanomeline+trospium (Cobenfy™): Side effects
Psychedelics
Considerable beneficial effects are reported by psilocybin users
What side effects can psilocybin have?
Can psilocybin lead to suicide or other self-harm?
Is psilocybin addictive?
Can psychedelics cause serotonin toxicity (syndrome)?
Can a psychedelic be taken along with lithium?
What we need to know about hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD)
Stimulant (Psychostimulant) Medications
Thyroid hormones
Thyroid hormones for psychopharmacologists: What’s what
Pros and cons of liothyronine (T3) and levothyroxine (T4)
Levothyroxine (T4) for augmentation of antidepressants?
Thyroid hormone for adjunctive treatment (augmentation) with an SSRI?
Liothyronine (T3) adjunctive treatment: How much and for how long?
Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) Inhibitors
Deutetrabenazine
Valbenazine
General
Vitamins and Minerals
Multivitamin/ multimineral
Do’s and don’ts for taking a multivitamin
Which vitamins might cause harm even in commonly used doses?
Daily Value (DV) for vitamins and minerals
Biotin
When to consider recommending biotin supplementation
Biotin can interfere with many laboratory tests—and lead to serious misdiagnosis
Iron
Instructions for WHEN and HOW to take iron supplements
Which foods are rich in iron?
How to maximize absorption of iron supplements
Laboratory testing to identify iron deficiency
What is the best single test for checking the body’s iron stores?
How to order and interpret iron studies
Are we missing iron deficiency without anemia?
Let’s ask about heavy menstrual bleeding
How to improve the tolerability of iron supplementation
Iron deficiency, pica, and restless legs syndrome associated with blood donation
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and iron deficiency
Magnesium
Basic facts about magnesium for mental health clinicians
Commonly used medications that can cause magnesium deficiency
Magnesium supplement for suspected alcohol/ medication-induced deficiency?
Which type of magnesium supplement to recommend
When should we worry that our patient is taking too much magnesium?
Vitamin B12
How to evaluate a person’s vitamin B12 status
Vitamin B12 and mental health
Testing for B vitamins in persons with cognitive impairment
A patient with a low vitamin B12 level
Which supplements to recommend with a vegetarian or vegan diet
Elevated vitamin B12 levels are common and could be very serious
Vitamin D
What is vitamin D?
How should vitamin D status be measured?
Don’t order the test “calcitriol (1, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D)”
How to interpret the results of testing for vitamin D deficiency
How should we define vitamin D insufficiency (deficiency)?
How should vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency be treated?
Does vitamin D supplementation increase the risk of kidney stones?
Ultraviolet A and B: Implications for vitamin D production
Can vitamin D treat clinical depression?
Vitamin E
Vitamin E: A primer for clinicians
Does vitamin E work for tardive dyskinesia?
Vitamin E: Potential adverse effects and drug interactions
Vitamins and Minerals—Other Articles
Which vitamin supplements should we be cautious about recommending?
Kosher medications, vitamins, and supplements: Specific products
Also see: L-methylfolate, folate, and related compounds
Wakefulness-promoting agents
Armodafinil
Modafinil
Modafinil for ADHD?
Modafinil as an adjunct for major depressive disorder?
Do modafinil/ armodafinil need cardiovascular monitoring
Modafinil (Provigil®): Basic Information
Solriamfetol
Weight-loss medications and treatments
Overview
Why it is important to treat obesity
Medications for weight loss?
Medications for the treatment of obesity: Overview
Naltrexone and bupropion
Bupropion plus naltrexone (Contrave®): Basic information
A generic alternative to naltrexone/bupropion (Contrave®)?
Does naltrexone alone work to produce weight loss?
Metformin
Metformin to prevent or treat metabolic adverse effects due to antipsychotics
Who is more likely to benefit from metformin for the management of metabolic adverse effects?
Metformin for antipsychotic-induced weight gain in children and adolescents?
Potential adverse effects of metformin
Tips on prescribing metformin
Metformin AND topiramate for metabolic adverse effects?
Metformin for weight gain or obesity unrelated to antipsychotic medications?
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists—Therapeutic Use
A simple primer on what GLP-1 agonists are
Semaglutide injection (Wegovy®) for weight loss in obesity and overweight
Does tirzepatide (Zepbound®) produce *even more* weight loss than semaglutide (Wegovy®)?
Will patients regain weight after GLP-1 receptor agonists are stopped?
GLP-1 receptor agonists in patients on antipsychotic medications?
GLP-1 receptor agonists may reduce alcohol craving/ use
GLP-1 receptor agonists for binge eating?
Semaglutide injection (Wegovy®): Basic information
Tirzepatide (Zepbound®): Basic information
Liraglutide (Victoza®, Saxenda®)
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists—Side Effects
Semaglutide injection (Wegovy®): Side effects
Tips for reducing or managing nausea/ vomiting associated with GLP-1 agonists
What to tell patients about lean muscle loss due to GLP-1RAs and GIP/GLP-1RAs
Semaglutide injection (Wegovy®): Serious side effects, warnings, and contraindications
Are GLP-1 receptor agonists associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation/ behavior?
Could the GLP-1 receptor agonist be causing your patient’s insomnia?
GLP-1 receptor agonists may worsen eating disorders or precipitate disordered eating
Orlistat
Orlistat (Xenical®): Basic Information
Phentermine
Phentermine (Adipex-P®, Lomaira™): Basic information
Phentermine-topiramate combination (Qsymia) for weight loss
Phentermine and topiramate
Phentermine and topiramate extended-release (Qsymia®): Basic Information
Topiramate
Can we use topiramate to treat medication-induced weight gain?
Metformin AND topiramate for metabolic adverse effects?
Bariatric surgery
What to do about psychotropic medications after bariatric surgery
How to manage lithium treatment before and after bariatric surgery
Is bupropion sustained-release OK to use after bariatric surgery?
Why and how to monitor and evaluate for suicide risk after bariatric surgery
Why, who, and how to monitor for increased alcohol use after bariatric surgery
Cost of Medications
How to find out the price of medications, compare prices, and get the lowest possible price
Tips on reducing the cost of medications by using higher-strength pills
Should we encourage patients to use independent pharmacies?
A simple way to significantly reduce the cost of l-methylfolate (Deplin®)
Prescription drug plans
What is the procedure for obtaining an early medication refill?
Prior authorization for medications
Pharmacy benefit managers
Online pharmacies
Should we recommend Costplusdrugs.com for lowering the cost of medications?
Medication prices on Costco.com versus on Goodrx.com
Can patients who have Medicare Part D use GoodRx coupons or CostPlusDrugs.com?
Medications from Canadian pharmacies?
Using a Canadian pharmacy can reduce the cost of some medications
Formulations of medications
Formulations of medications—General articles
Abbreviations for controlled-release formulations are out of control!
Antidepressants: What are the alternatives to the oral route?
Formulations of medications—Capsules
Do sustained-release preparations have fewer adverse effects?
Extended-release preparations of psychotropic medications
Can extended-release capsules be opened?
When a patient has difficulty getting off venlafaxine
How can duloxetine be tapered very slowly?
Two patients for whom opening medication capsules was helpful
Formulations of medications—Tablets
Are bupropion SR and bupropion ER the same thing?
Why, when, and how to split medication tablets
Recommended pill cutters and pill crushers
Which tablets are actually extended-release formulations and so should not be cut?
What if patients report seeing intact pills in their stools?
Formulations of medications—Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs)
Orally disintegrating tablets (ODT) can be useful
Tips on using clonazepam orally disintegrating tablets (ODT)
Formulations of medications—Sublingual
Psychotropic medications are sometimes given sublingually
Formulations of medications—Liquids
Which antidepressants come in liquid forms?
Inactive Ingredients (Excipients) in Medications
Gluten in medications
Can lactose in medication pills cause intolerance?
How to find out whether a medication contains ingredients of animal origin
Generic medications
Are generic medications really equivalent to brand-name medications?
Generic and “authorized generic” medications
Which manufacturers of generic versions of psychotropic medications are better or worse?
Which generics of Concerta® (methylphenidate extended-release) to recommend
Is generic bupropion as effective as brand-name Wellbutrin®?
Can generic dextromethorphan and bupropion be used instead of the brand-name combination?
A generic alternative to naltrexone/bupropion (Contrave®)?
Laws and Regulations About Medications
Laws about prescriptions for psychostimulants
Can I take my medication with me when I travel to another country?
What patients taking a stimulant medication must know before visiting Japan
Off-Label Prescribing
We prescribe “off-label” more often than we think
Important! Off-label prescribing is of many different types
Off-label prescribing: Clinical recommendations
Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
Which medications are mostly excreted unchanged, and why is this important?
Some medications have a low “therapeutic index”. What exactly is that?
Psychiatric medications with a long half-life
ABCB1 polymorphisms and psychotropic medications
Why is dextromethorphan combined with a CYP 2D6 inhibitor?
What does the Ki (inhibition constant) for a drug mean?
A simple guide to serotonin receptors
Dopamine receptors: A primer for clinicians
Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) and weight gain
Miscellaneous articles
What to do about old prescriptions
Short answers to questions from our Members
Can persons on psychotropic medications donate blood?
What do the es-, the levo-, and the dex- mean in drug names?
Flibanserin (Addyi®)
Milnacipran (Savella®): Basic Information
Copyright © 2018 to 2025, Simple and Practical Medical Education, LLC. All rights reserved. The content on this website may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission.
Disclaimer: The material on this website is provided as general education for medical professionals. It is not intended for patients or other laypersons, nor is it a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients must always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding their diagnosis and treatment. Healthcare professionals should always check this website for the most up-to-date information.
What articles do you have on treatments for perimenopausal mood and vasomotor symptoms?
Specifically I am looking for article on SSRIs and SNRIs and other non-hormonal options.
Many thanks
I went to our Main Menu for “Disorders/ Conditions” and, in that Menu, to the category of “Women’s mental health”. It showed that we have the following two articles about perimenopausal symptoms and their treatment:
Tips on managing perimenopausal symptoms
Adjunctive estrogen for perimenopausal depression?