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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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Magnesium For Depression: An Underexplored Treatment

Magnesium is regarded as an essential mineral for humans and functions as a cofactor in upwards of 300 biochemical processes throughout the body.  For example, magnesium is implicated in: ATP production, blood pressure regulation, bone development, glucose modulation, heart rhythm normalization, muscle and nerve function, plus protein synthesis.  Knowing that magnesium is essential for optimal …

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Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments

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 …

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Ubiquinol Side Effects & Adverse Reactions (List)

Ubiquinol is an electron-rich, highly-bioavailable, fully reduced form of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) that occurs naturally within all of our cells.  When we’re young, the body is well-equipped to synthesize ubiquinone into ubiquinol (via Q Cycle reactions) which elicits an antioxidant effect to reduce free radicals and enhances cellular energy.  However, biological aging interferes with a …

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Probiotics Side Effects & Adverse Reactions (List)

Probiotics are considered living microorganisms that, when ingested in sufficient quantities, are conducive to the health of their host.  The term probiotic is derived from the preposition “pro” (meaning “for”) and “biōtikos” (meaning “fit for life”), and is associated with the introduction of beneficial bacteria, contrasting with the term antibiotic (associated with the destruction of …

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Niacin & Weight Loss or Gain? How Vitamin B3 Affects Body Weight

Niacin (vitamin B3), also referred to as nicotinic acid, is a human nutrient that functions as a precursor to NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NADP (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate).  NAD is a coenzyme recognized for its involvement in the catabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, as well as sending signals for DNA repair.  NADP is …

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