hit counter

causes

Lamictal & Weight Gain vs. Loss: What Should You Expect?

by

Lamictal (lamotrigine) is an anticonvulsant medication prescribed for the prophylaxis and/or management of epilepsy and bipolar disorder.  Research suggests that Lamictal modifies neurochemistry by: inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels, blocking various calcium channels (L-type; N-type; P-type), antagonizing sigma and 5-HT3 receptors, upregulating GABA signaling, and suppressing the release of glutamate and aspartate.  Through the aforementioned mechanisms …

Read more

Lithium & Weight Gain: How Much? (And Why It Happens)

by

Lithium is a naturally occurring element that’s commonly prescribed in the format of “lithium carbonate” for the prophylaxis and/or management of bipolar disorder.  Additionally, lithium is sometimes prescribed as an adjunct to treat refractory cases of major depressive disorder and schizophrenia.  Throughout treatment, lithium is understood to modulate numerous aspects of a user’s neurophysiology to …

Read more

Humira (Adalimumab) & Weight Gain: A Common Reaction

by

Humira (Adalimumab) is a biologic, immunosuppressant medication sold and marketed by the pharmaceutical company AbbVie Inc.  More specifically, Humira functions as a TNF inhibitor whereby it binds to and blocks the physiologic effect of the proinflammatory cytokine known as “TNF-alpha.”  Blockade of inflammation induced by TNF-alpha makes Humira useful for the treatment of many autoimmune …

Read more

Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments

by

Magnesium deficiency was first documented by Hirschfelder and Haury (1934) in a report entitled Clinical Manifestations of High and Low Plasma Magnesium.  Since the publishing of this report in the 1930s, our understanding of magnesium deficiencies has advanced significantly.  We now know that hypomagnesemia (serum magnesium below 1.7 mg/dL) is not always indicative of an …

Read more

Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

by

Trichotillomania is psychiatrically classified as subtype of obsessive compulsive disorder characterized chiefly by the urge to pull out one’s own hair.  The condition, also known as “hair pulling disorder,” affects upwards of 2.5 million individuals in the United States at some point during their lives.  Onset of trichotillomania occurs most frequently between 9 and 13 …

Read more

Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

by

Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is regarded as a subtype of impulse control disorder characterized by impulsive, uncontrollable explosive outbursts of anger, aggression, and/or rage – sometimes accompanied by violence.  To be considered intermittent explosive disorder, the explosive outbursts of anger must be triggered in situations and/or conditions in which such anger is unjustified.  In other …

Read more