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Amitriptyline For Migraines: An Effective Prophylactic Agent

Amitriptyline (brand name “Elavil”) is a medication that was initially approved by the FDA in 1961 for the treatment of major depressive disorder.  Due to its three-ring chemical structure, it is formally classified as a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA).  Though not formally approved in the United States to treat conditions other than major depression, Amitriptyline is …

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Imitrex (Sumatriptan) Side Effects & Adverse Reactions (List)

Sumatriptan (brand names “Imitrex”) is a synthetic medication that was initially approved in 1991 for the treatment of migraine and cluster headaches.  Chemically, it is classified as a “triptan” or tryptamine-based agent and is identified as a structural analogue of various alkaloids such as bufotenine and DMT (dimethyltryptamine).  When administered following the onset of a …

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Fioricet “High”: Intoxication From Butalbital-Containing Agents

Fioricet is a medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of three specific types of headaches including: tension, muscle contraction, and post-dural puncture.  It contains a unique blend of a barbiturate (butalbital 50 mg), a pain reliever (acetaminophen 300 mg), and a stimulant (caffeine 40 mg); hence the reason it is sometimes abbreviated as Butal-Acet-Caff.  …

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Fioricet For Migraines: A Non-Evidence-Based Intervention

Fioricet is a brand name medication comprised of the following ingredients: butalbital (50 mg), acetaminophen (300 mg), and caffeine (40 mg).  The combination of a barbiturate (butalbital), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (acetaminophen), and central nervous system stimulant (caffeine) – seem to act synergistically to alleviate various types of headaches.  Medically, Fioricet is approved by the …

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Minocycline For Depression: Antibiotics As Antidepressants?

Minocycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic of the tetracycline classification, indicating that its chemical structure consists of 4 hydrocarbon rings.  The fact that minocycline has a broad-spectrum mechanism indicates that it targets a wide-range of pathogenic (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) bacteria.  In fact, when compared to other tetracycline drugs, minocycline is regarded as having the “broadest spectrum” …

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CBD Oil For Anxiety: Is Cannabidiol An Effective Treatment?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is just one of over 85 scientifically-identified cannabinoids (or chemical compounds) derived from the flowering plant cannabis.  Each of the cannabinoids within cannabis elicit unique neurophysiological effects.  Most people are well-aware of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the predominant cannabinoid within cannabis that is ingested by upwards of 230 million people per year as a psychoactive …

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Sinemet (Carbidopa-Levodopa) Side Effects & Adverse Reactions (List)

Sinemet is a pharmaceutical drug engineered by Merck that combines Carbidopa (a peripheral enzymatic inhibitor of DOPA decarboxylase) and Levodopa (an agent that crosses the blood-brain barrier to increase central concentrations of dopamine); hence it is frequently referred to as “Carbidopa-Levodopa.”  The drug was initially approved by the U.S. FDA in 1988 for the treatment …

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