Depression is a growing epidemic that affects the lives of nearly 15 million Americans. The number of individuals diagnosed with depression will continue to grow as a result of population growth, poor diet, environmental toxins, genetic polymorphisms, and other unique neurophysiological factors. As a result of depression, it is estimated that nearly 1 out of …
We’ve all heard the media-driven dogma that everyone needs at least 8 hours of sleep per night for optimal neurophysiological performance. Striving for 8 hours of sleep is generally a healthy rule of thumb [for most people], but shouldn’t be considered a utopian amount for everyone. Many individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) sleep …
Rhodiola rosea is a perennial plant in the Crassulaceae family that grows in cold, mountainous regions and/or on cliffs. Rhodiola is most commonly extracted from regions such as the Arctic, Central Asia, as well as the Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathian mountains. The flower produced by rhodiola rosea is visible as a yellowish or yellow-green color, …
Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine) is a drug developed by Shire Pharmaceuticals as a successor to Adderall. Vyvanse was first approved for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 2007. In 2015, Vyvanse was approved for binge eating disorder and was found to successfully minimize appetite and number of binge eating episodes per week compared to a placebo. …
When most people think of nicotine, they think of smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products. Since tobacco products are linked to various types of cancer (e.g. lung cancer from smoking), many people assume that nicotine is inherently evil. While nicotine is considered one of the most addictive drugs, there isn’t significant evidence supporting the idea …
Trazodone (Desyrel) is classified as an atypical antidepressant, functioning specifically as an SARI (serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor). It is considered a second generation antidepressant, and is still utilized primarily for the treatment of depression in patients that don’t respond well to newer medications (e.g. SSRIs). The drug also is used on an off-label basis …
Since the early 2000s, supplementation of fish oil has significantly increased in part for the touted antidepressant effects. Many studies have found correlations between people who eat diets high in fish and lower incidences of depression. This has lead many Americans and others to look for ways to possibly mimic this antidepressant effect. One shortcut …