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Botox For Migraines: Facial Injections To Prevent Headaches?

Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) is a purified toxin derived from fermentation of the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum type A.  Most people are familiar with the cosmetic application of Botox whereby it is injected into facial muscles with the intent of reducing wrinkles, enhancing skin smoothness, and improving facial aesthetics. However, in addition to its cosmetic use, Botox …

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Mixing ZzzQuil and Alcohol: Effects & Dangers

ZzzQuil is an over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aid manufactured by Vicks (a subsidiary of Proctor & Gamble) that initially hit the market in 2012.  When administered on an “as-needed” basis, ZzzQuil is thought to alleviate occasional bouts of insomnia and other sleep disturbances with minimal risk of abuse, addiction, and/or dependence – as compared to pharmaceutical …

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Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) For Anxiety: A Makeshift, Last-Resort Option?

Benadryl is a widely-recognized brand name for popular over-the-counter (OTC) antihistaminergic products containing diphenhydramine (U.S. & Canada), a chemical of the ethanolamine classification.  Diphenhydramine was initially discovered in 1943 by professor and chemist George Rieveschl while attempting to synthesize alternatives to scopolamine.  Just several years after its synthesis, diphenhydramine received FDA approval in 1946 as a …

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Seroquel (Quetiapine) For Anxiety Disorders: An “Atypical” Treatment

Seroquel (Quetiapine) is an atypical antipsychotic engineered in the early 1990s by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.  It was first approved by the FDA in 1997 for the treatment of schizophrenia, and was sequentially approved by the FDA in 2004 for the management of bipolar mania.  Seroquel would also receive subsequent FDA approval in 2009 as …

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Pindolol For Depression: A Useful Antidepressant Adjunct?

Pindolol is a beta blocker initially synthesized by the pharmaceutical company Sandoz in the 1960s.  As of 1977 it received FDA approval for the management of hypertension and was sold under the brand name “Visken.”  Pharmacologically, pindolol acts as a non-selective beta blocker, meaning it competitively binds to all 3 beta-adrenergic receptor sites (Beta-1, Beta-2, …

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L-Tyrosine Benefits & Unestablished Claims (Scientific Research)

Tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid that was discovered circa 1846.  The word “tyrosine” is derived from the Greek word “tyros” which translates roughly to “cheese.” Tyrosine is most commonly cited as “L-tyrosine” or the levorotatory “L” enantiomer due to the fact that L-amino acids are manufactured in cells and used in protein synthesis; dextrorotatory …

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