Xanax (alprazolam) is a drug of the benzodiazepine class originally developed by Upjohn, a Michigan-based pharmaceutical company (now a subsidiary of Pfizer). In the United States, Xanax first received FDA approval for the treatment of panic disorder and hit the market as a prescription medication in 1981. It eventually received subsequent FDA approval for the …
ZzzQuil is an over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aid manufactured by Vicks (a subsidiary of Proctor & Gamble) that initially hit the market in 2012. When administered on an “as-needed” basis, ZzzQuil is thought to alleviate occasional bouts of insomnia and other sleep disturbances with minimal risk of abuse, addiction, and/or dependence – as compared to pharmaceutical …
Many drugs have anticholinergic properties, meaning they inhibit the neurotransmission of acetylcholine in the brain. Drugs with anticholinergic effects prevent acetylcholine from binding to receptors, resulting in therapeutic effects. There are three major types of anticholinergic drugs including: antimuscarinics, ganglionic inhibitors, and neuromuscular inhibitors – the majority being antimuscarinic. Anticholinergic drugs are often administered for …
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially fatal condition resulting from abnormally high levels of serotonin in the CNS. This may be caused by using various drugs that influence the neurotransmission of serotonin in the brain such as SSRIs, MDMA, various opioids, and even natural substances such as 5-HTP and St. John’s Wort. Typically it is only …
Have you taken the SSRI antidepressant Zoloft (Sertraline) to help with your depression? Millions of people have taken this antidepressant and many have had success with managing depressive symptoms. However, since the drug doesn’t work for everyone and/or individuals may not want to be on an antidepressant for life, they eventually decide to come off …