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Medical Cannabis for Generalized Anxiety Disorders & Sleep Disturbances (2023 Study)

Recent research has shed light on the potential benefits of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) in treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), especially in patients with sleep disturbances. Recent research explored the effectiveness of CBMPs on GAD, the role of sleep quality in treatment outcomes, and the incidence of adverse events. Highlights: CBMPs Show Promise in Treating …

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Psychobiotic “Lactobacillus plantarum” (JYLP-326) for Test Anxiety in Students (2023 Study)

Test anxiety among college students is a significant concern, affecting their mental and physical well-being. A new study suggests that a probiotic/psychobiotic intervention (Lactobacillus plantarum) could significantly alleviate anxiety, depression, and insomnia, with changes observed in the gut microbiota and fecal metabolites. Highlights: Prevalence of Test Anxiety: 20%-40% of college students experience test anxiety, often …

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Gabapentin For Sleep & Insomnia: Does It Help?

Gabapentin, sold under the brand name “Neurontin,” is a drug that was first approved by the United States FDA in 1993 as an adjunct treatment for partial seizures in adults.  Thereafter, gabapentin’s indication as a treatment for partial seizures would be extended in 2000 to pediatrics, and subsequently, it would receive FDA approval for the …

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Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is an evergreen tree from the Rubiaceae (coffee) family that produces leaves containing numerous psychoactive compounds, most notably including indole alkaloids: 7-hydroxymitragynine, mitraphylline, and mitragynine.  When ingested by humans, the aforestated indole alkaloids significantly modulate CNS activity primarily via partial agonism of mu-opioid receptors (MORs).  In addition, evidence from pharmacodynamic investigations suggests …

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Clonidine For Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms: Does It Help?

Clonidine is an antihypertensive drug originally synthesized in the early 1960s by chemists employed under the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim.  At the time, the chemists intended to develop a peripherally-active adrenergic nasal decongestant to be administered in the form of nose drops.  In the process, the chemists sought to modify amidines to fit the chemical …

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Kratom For Opiate Withdrawal: A Popular “Natural” Intervention

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical evergreen tree from the coffee family (Rubiaceae) native to Indonesia, Papa New Guinea, Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia.  The kratom tree produces leaves containing psychoactive compounds, and when ingested, these compounds are capable of eliciting opioidergic and/or stimulatory effects.  Although it is estimated that kratom leaves contain …

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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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