It’s nice when we can get our patients better with a single medication, but that’s not always possible. Sometimes the right combination of meds can do the trick, but studies of polypharmacy are scarce. In this article we dig through that research, small and limited as it is, to highlight a few useful combinations where the drug interaction can benefit your patient.

When it comes to computer alerts for drug interactions, the two issues to pay attention to are toxicity and loss of efficacy. Toxicity is the bigger concern, particularly if the drug has a “narrow therapeutic index,” where modest differences in the level can have dangerous effects.

Akathisia is a sensation of inner restlessness so unpleasant that it independently elevates the risk of suicide. Among atypicals, quetiapine (Seroquel) has the lowest risk of akathisia, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to take.

Probiotics, the so-called “good” bacteria in the gut flora, have become popular as a natural treatment for various disorders. They are taken as capsules or through food sources like yogurt, vinegar, and fermented foods.

Clozapine is often used as a last resort in schizophrenia, even though practice guidelines recommend a trial of this medication after failing 2 antipsychotics. The current study set out to test a treatment algorithm based on those guidelines in patients with first-episode psychosis.

We know that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) works for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but one disadvantage is the length of the treatment sessions.

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

The post-test for this issue is available for one year after the publication date to subscribers only. By successfully completing the test you will be awarded a certificate for 2 CME credits.

From cultural expectations to genetic variations, ethnicity has a strong effect on medication response. In this article, we’ll review five areas where ethnic groups can differ in their biological response to psychiatric medications.