Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that was originally synthesized in the early 1960s by Paul Janssen, founder of Janssen Pharmaceutica. The drug initially gained mainstream popularity as a general anesthetic in the 1960s under the brand “Sublimaze”, a compound consisting of fentanyl and citric acid. It wasn’t until the 1990s that fentanyl was approved …
Paxil (Paroxetine) is an antidepressant manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline that hit the market in 1992. It was originally approved by the FDA for the treatment of major depression in adults. The drug has since received FDA approval to treat a variety of other psychiatric and medical conditions including: generalized anxiety disorder, hot flashes, panic disorder, PTSD, …
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 …
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), …
Gabapentin (brand name “Neurontin”) is a drug initially approved by the FDA in 1993 as an adjunct treatment for partial seizures, and 11 years later in 2004, received approval for the treatment of neuropathic pain. It has since gained popularity as an off-label treatment for a variety of conditions including: anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, hot …