Brain zaps are commonly reported electrical shock sensations that are often experienced during discontinuation of antidepressant medications. Other common names for brain zaps include: brain shivers, electrical shocks, and brain shocks. People often describe them as feeling electrical current uncontrollably zapping their brains, which can be extremely frightening and uncomfortable. A person experiencing these zaps …
What would you think if the classification of your psychiatric medications changed? Well, a new conference is taking place to address whether drug classification “names” should be changed. Currently, many psychiatric organizations believe there are advantages associated with changing from a “symptom-based” classification to a “pharmacological-based” classification system. This new system will be discussed at …
There is new evidence suggesting that anti-inflammatory drugs like Aspirin may help improve depression. This comes as a surprise, considering a few years ago (2011), a study was conducted that suggested anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants. In 2012, researchers found evidence suggesting that anti-inflammatory drugs do not reduce the efficacy of antidepressants …
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a condition characterized by abnormally high blood pressure within the arteries of the lungs. Your pulmonary arteries are responsible for transporting blood from your heart to your lungs. Among individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension, the arteries within the lungs become constricted, which results in your heart working in overdrive. Because your heart …
New research suggests that increasing your consumption of fatty fish may boost the efficacy of your antidepressant. Most people are aware that there are benefits to be had from increasing consumption of fatty fish. This has lead millions of people to take “fish oil” pills in order to reap various health benefits without eating fish. …
Many people who take antidepressants notice ringing in their ears or “tinnitus.” This tinnitus is usually temporary, and can be a result of changes in levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin. In other cases, the tinnitus may emerge as a result of an ototoxic reaction that a person has to a specific antidepressant. Ototoxicity is …
Addiction is defined as repeatedly engaging in a particular behavior or using a substance to experience pleasure, regardless of the consequences. Some believe that addiction can be a result of environmental experiences and/or various psychological conditions. When most people think of addiction, they think of gambling, illicit drugs (e.g. cocaine), alcohol, and sex. One reason …