Mind/Mood Pill Book

INTRODUCTION How to Use This Book Nearly 1 in every 2 Americans will develop a mental disorder in the course of their lifetimes. Approximately 25 percent of these men, women, and children will take medication as part of their treatment. This book provides concise and easily accessible information about the major mind/mood medications used in the United States. To get the most benefit from this book, begin with Chapter 1, which provides essential information about the drugs described in Chapters 2 through 9. Chapter 1 also discusses the concepts and terms used both in the book and by physicians who prescribe mind/mood medications. Chapters 2 through 9 cover the major categories of psychiatric medications in use today: antidepressants (Chapter 2); medications to treat anxiety (Chapter 3); mood stabilizers, called anti-manic agents (Chapter 4); medications to treat sleep disorders (Chapter 5); antipsychotic medications (Chapter 6); medications for attention deficit disorders (Chapter 7); cognitive-enhancing agents (Chapter 8); and herbal medications with mind/mood effects (Chapter 9). Each chapter begins with a brief introduction about the mental disorders that the medications are designed to treat and provides a general overview of the drugs discussed in the chapter. After reading Chapter 1, turn to the chapter that focuses on the particular category of medication of interest to you. We encourage you to read the chapter introduction first, since this will give you an overview of all medications in the same category. About half of all patients have difficulty tolerating the initial medication prescribed for their problem; about a third find that the medication does not work for them. An overview of the range of medications available may be helpful in evaluating alternatives if they should be needed. Each medication is presented in a uniform format, with an icon that identifies each category of information: Generic name:The chemical or pharmaceutical name of the medication. (The generic names of the drugs profiled in this book are accurate for both the United States and Canada. However, some of these drugs may be marketed under different brand names in Canada, so readers there should check with their physicians for the names of Canadian equivalents.) Available in generic form:Whether or not the medication is available in a generic form. Brand name:The trade name the manufacturer has given the medication for marketing to the consumer. (Source: In Chapter 9, the origin of an herbal medication or "natural" mind/mood pill. These substances are usually sold in health-food stores and are not regulated by the FDA. Drug class:The classification of the drug (for example, tricyclic antidepressant), applicable to a group of drugs similar in chemical formulation, mode of action, and uses. Prescribed for:Indications reasons to take the medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as other accepted "off-label" uses by physicians. General information:An overview of the medication, including how it works, why it was developed, and its general advantages and disadvantages. Dosing information:Concise information concerning how the medication is prescribed, including dosage forms and strengths, when it should be taken, and how the dose should be increased. Many mind/mood drugs are initially given in low doses and then gradually increased. Common side effects:The most common side effects noted during clinical trials and in clinical practice. These listings do not include every side effect listed in the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR), a comprehensive summary of the manufacturers' package inserts of most prescription medications approved by the FDA. It is also possible that you may experienHales, Robert E. is the author of 'Mind/Mood Pill Book' with ISBN 9780553380040 and ISBN 0553380044.