Brintellix (Vortioxetine) is an atypical antidepressant manufactured by Lundbeck and Takeda. It was approved by the FDA in 2013 for the treatment of major depressive disorder, but failed to meet clinical trial endpoints for the treatment of anxiety disorder. The drug is sometimes classified as a serotonin modulator and stimulator (SMS) in that it predominantly …
Valium (Diazepam) is a popular benzodiazepine medication prescribed for an array of conditions including: acute anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, insomnia, panic attacks, restless leg syndrome, and seizures. Like other benzodiazepines, diazepam functions as a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of GABAA receptors. Rather than binding to the same (“A”) subunit of GABAA receptors as the neurotransmitter GABA …
DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) is a psychedelic drug derived from the tryptamine family with a similar structure to serotonin and melatonin. When taken orally, DMT is generally regarded as inactive unless simultaneously ingested with an MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor). An MAOI prevents the enzyme “monoamine oxidase” from rapidly oxidizing the DMT, thereby facilitating a psychedelic experience. Psychedelic …
Wellbutrin (Bupropion) is an antidepressant that is hypothesized to function as a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). It is believed to predominantly increase levels of norepinephrine and only affects dopamine to a minor extent. As a result of its noradrenergic mechanism of action, it is considered “atypical” when compared to other serotonergic antidepressants. Unlike serotonergic antidepressants, Wellbutrin has a …
Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine) is an SNRI antidepressant developed by Wyeth as an improved successor to the older drug Effexor (Venlafaxine). Pristiq is engineered to contain solely the pharmacologically active metabolite of Venlafaxine known as “O-desmethylvenlafaxine” in a synthetic format dubbed “desvenlafaxine.” The drug was approved by the FDA in 2008 for the treatment of major depression …
Lyrica (Pregabalin) is a medication approved for the treatment fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, and partial seizures (as an adjuvant). The drug “pregabalin” was engineered by Pfizer as an improved successor to “gabapentin,” a chemical that had been on the market since 1993. Like gabapentin, pregabalin is considered a lipophilic analogue of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), …
Trazodone (brand name “Desyrel”) is a medication originally approved by the FDA in 1981 for the treatment of anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. It is also commonly utilized as a sleep-inducing agent in cases of insomnia, as well as an off-label option for conditions such as: alcohol withdrawal, bulimia nervosa, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, OCD, panic …