Trazodone (brand name “Desyrel”) is a medication originally approved by the FDA in 1981 for the treatment of anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. It is also commonly utilized as a sleep-inducing agent in cases of insomnia, as well as an off-label option for conditions such as: alcohol withdrawal, bulimia nervosa, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, OCD, panic …
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 …
Tramadol (brand name “Ultram”) is a synthetic drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. It initially hit the market in 1995 as an immediate-release (IR) drug, and was since also engineered into an extended-release (ER) drug in 2005. Compared to many other pain medications, Tramadol is unique in that …
Klonopin (Clonazepam) is a benzodiazepine medication utilized primarily for the treatment of anxiety disorders and acute epilepsy. It is also prescribed off-label for a host of other medical conditions including: acute mania, akathisia, bruxism, insomnia, and restless leg syndrome. As a benzodiazepine, it functions principally by modulating the neurotransmission of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) within the …
Subutex is a drug that was approved by the FDA in 2002 for the treatment of opioid dependence. It is typically utilized as an agent in opioid replacement therapy to help individuals transition off of more potent (often illicit) opioidergic drugs such as oxycodone and heroin. In other words, an individual who was previously ingesting …
Prozac (Fluoxetine) is a drug that was synthesized by Eli Lilly in the 1970s and approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression in 1987. Many regard Prozac as being the single most popular antidepressant medication of all time. As a result of its popularity, when a layman of the general public discusses antidepressants, …
Seroquel (Quetiapine) is a medication that was developed by AstraZeneca from 1992 through 1996. It received FDA approval in 1997 for the treatment of schizophrenia, and has since received approval to treat both acute mania and depressive phases of bipolar disorder. The drug is classified as an atypical, second-generation antipsychotic and exerts pharmacological effects via …