MentalHealthDaily

Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) For Anxiety: A Makeshift, Last-Resort Option?

by GLOOM

Benadryl is a widely-recognized brand name for popular over-the-counter (OTC) antihistaminergic products containing diphenhydramine (U.S. & Canada), a chemical of the ethanolamine classification. Diphenhydramine was initially discovered in 1943 by professor and chemist George Rieveschl while attempting to synthesize alternatives to scopolamine. Just several years after its synthesis, diphenhydramine received FDA approval in 1946 as a …

Seroquel (Quetiapine) For Anxiety Disorders: An “Atypical” Treatment

by GLOOM

Seroquel (Quetiapine) is an atypical antipsychotic engineered in the early 1990s by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. It was first approved by the FDA in 1997 for the treatment of schizophrenia, and was sequentially approved by the FDA in 2004 for the management of bipolar mania. Seroquel would also receive subsequent FDA approval in 2009 as …

Lithium For Anxiety Disorders: An Unconventional, Underinvestigated Intervention

by GLOOM

Elemental lithium was first discovered by Johann August Arfvedson in 1817 and was later isolated via electrolysis of lithium oxide (Li2O) through a joint effort of William Thomas Brande and Sir Humphrey Davy. In the 19th century, scientists discovered that lithium was capable of dissolving uric acid crystals isolated from kidneys, and for this reason, …

Magnesium For Depression: An Underexplored Treatment

by GLOOM

Magnesium is regarded as an essential mineral for humans and functions as a cofactor in upwards of 300 biochemical processes throughout the body. For example, magnesium is implicated in: ATP production, blood pressure regulation, bone development, glucose modulation, heart rhythm normalization, muscle and nerve function, plus protein synthesis. Knowing that magnesium is essential for optimal …

Niacin & Weight Loss or Gain? How Vitamin B3 Affects Body Weight

by GLOOM

Niacin (vitamin B3), also referred to as nicotinic acid, is a human nutrient that functions as a precursor to NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NADP (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). NAD is a coenzyme recognized for its involvement in the catabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, as well as sending signals for DNA repair. NADP is …

Niacin For Depression: Does Vitamin B3 Improve Mood?

by GLOOM

Niacin (vitamin B3) is a colorless hydrophilic organic compound classified as an essential dietary nutrient among humans. Foods highest in niacin include: organ meat (liver, heart, kidneys), chicken, beef, fish, venison, and whole grains. For human adults, the daily recommended allowance of niacin falls within the range of 12 mg to 16 mg per day, …

Transcranial Photobiomodulation For Depression: Near-Infrared Light & Laser Therapy

by GLOOM

Photobiomodulation involves the targeted administration of light frequencies to modulate biological function for the treatment of medical conditions and/or to expedite healing in the aftermath of a physical injury. It was Niels Ryberg Finsen who was among the first to showcase the potential of photobiomodulation when he proved that sunlight rays were capable of killing …