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Taking Lamictal (Lamotrigine) For Anxiety Disorders: Does It Help?

Lamotrigine is a synthetic phenyltriazine chemical with anticonvulsant and analgesic properties initially sold by GlaxoSmithKline under the brand name Lamictal.  It was first approved by the FDA in 1994 for the treatment of partial seizures in adults, and was subsequently approved in 1998 for the management of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome – a severe form of epilepsy …

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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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Lithium For Anxiety Disorders: An Unconventional, Underinvestigated Intervention

Elemental lithium was first discovered by Johann August Arfvedson in 1817 and was later isolated via electrolysis of lithium oxide (Li2O) through a joint effort of William Thomas Brande and Sir Humphrey Davy.  In the 19th century, scientists discovered that lithium was capable of dissolving uric acid crystals isolated from kidneys, and for this reason, …

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Travivo (Gepirone ER) For Depression & Anxiety

Travivo (Gepirone ER) is a pharmaceutical medication of the “azapirone” classification exhibiting a combination of anxiolytic, antidepressant, and libido-enhancing properties, similar to the drug Buspar (Buspirone).  It was originally synthesized in 1986 by the company Bristol-Myers Squibb, and its licensing rights were acquired by the company Fabre-Kramer in 1993.  In 1998, Fabre-Kramer out-licensed Gepirone to …

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Buspar (Buspirone) For Depression: Exploring The Antidepressant Potential

Buspar (Buspirone) is a drug of the azapirone chemical classification that was engineered and patented in the 1970s by Mead Johnson.  It was later acquired by the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb and approved by the FDA in 1986 for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).  What’s unique about buspirone compared to other anxiolytics such …

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10 Best Probiotics For Depression & Anxiety: Gut-Brain Axis Modification

Microbiota is classified as an ecological community of microorganisms that share a specific host.  Within the human body it is estimated that there are trillions of microorganisms, accounting for approximately 1% to 3% of total body mass; equating to an average net weight of around 3 lbs.  Though scientists these days are attempting to elucidate …

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