Naltrexone is a pure opioid receptor antagonist utilized principally for the treatment of alcohol and opioid dependence. As an opioid receptor antagonist, naltrexone competitively binds to mu-opioid receptor (MOR) and kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) sites with higher affinity than opioid agonists, thereby attenuating receptor activation. Should an individual administer an opioid agonist (e.g. morphine) while taking …
Hydroxyzine is an antihistaminergic drug that was initially marketed in the 1950s by Pfizer. It is manufactured under the brand names Vistaril and Atarax, but widely purchased as a generic. Although hydroxyzine has been on the market for over half a century (50+ years), it is still commonly utilized by medical practitioners in a variety of scenarios …
Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that was discovered in 1846 by Justus von Liebig, a German chemist. The word “tyrosine” is derived from the Greek term “tyros” – meaning “cheese.” L-Tyrosine is commonly taken in the form of a dietary supplement to facilitate catecholamine synthesis. Upon ingestion of L-tyrosine, the body metabolizes it into …
Rhodiola rosea is a perennial plant in the Crassulaceae family that grows in cold, mountainous regions and/or on cliffs. Rhodiola is most commonly extracted from regions such as the Arctic, Central Asia, as well as the Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathian mountains. The flower produced by rhodiola rosea is visible as a yellowish or yellow-green color, …
If you experience depression solely in the winter months, you may have a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also referred to in layman’s terms as “seasonal depression.” Throughout human evolution, it was speculated that mood changes occurred during inclement conditions such as winter months due to the fact that in these conditions, it …
Nortriptyline (Pamelor) is a tricyclic antidepressant that is commonly used as a second-line treatment for major depression. It is also sometimes prescribed for conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, bedwetting in children, migraine headaches, and neuropathic pain. The drug may also be effective for some individuals in managing symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This …
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in many necessary brain functions. It is released when we get rewarded and is linked to feelings of pleasure. The pleasure associated with the release of dopamine is what makes certain behaviors addictive. Any behavior that induces a sense of pleasure such as: gambling and winning, doing certain …