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Whole-Body Hyperthermia For Depression: Turning Up The Heat To Enhance Mood?

Hyperthermia is defined as supraphysiological body temperature resulting from absorption and/or production of more heat than is dispelled.  Medically, local hyperthermia is often used as an adjunct to radiation and/or chemotherapy for the treatment of cancers.  It is thought that deliberate induction of hyperthermia to a cancerous region of the body increases the sensitivity of …

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Belviq (Lorcaserin) Side Effects & Adverse Reactions (List)

Belviq (Lorcaserin) is an anorectic medication manufactured by Arena Pharmaceuticals for the long-term management of obesity.  As of 2012, the FDA approved lorcaserin to promote weight loss in adults with: BMIs exceeding 30 or BMIs exceeding 27 plus [at least] one weight-related medical comorbidity such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and/or hypertension.  Upon administration, lorcaserin functions primarily …

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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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Phentermine For Depression: Does It Improve Mood?

Phentermine is a sympathomimetic amine [derived from amphetamine] initially approved by the FDA in 1959 for the treatment of obesity.  Its usage in the treatment of obesity was considered ideal due to the fact that phentermine suppressed appetite through central modulation of norepinephrine, and peripherally mobilized fat stores through catecholaminergic upregulation. That said, in the …

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Phentermine For ADHD: An Uninvestigated Treatment

Phentermine is an anorectic medication utilized principally for the short-term treatment of obesity as an adjunct to caloric restriction, dietary modifications, and physical exercise.  It is formally classified as a psychostimulant due to the fact that it increases mental and physical arousal [via sympathomimetic mechanisms].  Specifically, phentermine facilitates central and peripheral catecholamine release (primarily of …

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Phentermine Side Effects & Adverse Reactions (List)

Phentermine is a natural monoamine alkaloid derivative that was initially approved by the United States FDA in 1959 as an anorectic (appetite suppressant) for the treatment of obesity.  It was popularized throughout the early 1970s under the brand name medication “Fastin,” marketed by King Pharmaceuticals.  In the late 1990s phentermine was discontinued from pharmaceutical circulation, …

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Qsymia Side Effects & Adverse Reactions (List)

Qsymia is a weight loss drug engineered by the California-based pharmaceutical company Vivus Inc.  It was initially approved by the FDA in 2012 for weight reduction among adults with BMIs (body mass indexes) exceeding 30 kg/m² as an adjunct to interventions such as caloric restriction, dietary modification, and regular exercise.  Qsymia is also approved for …

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