Medical: Pharmacological
*Note: These contents are assembled from several web sites, some of whom are now defunct. Although I have the documents in my records, I've provided the current links to available items. Copies of material from defunct sites, as well as my works, are provided below. Copyright belongs to the authors and/or publishers of the material according to the information contained in the documents. An internet search of the titles or of content from the material should be made for referencing purposes. The owner of this web site only claims authorship where indicated within the material.
Adverse Reaction and Medical Device Problem Reporting - Canada
A Guide for Public Child Serving Agencies on Psychotropic Medications for Children and Adolescents 2012 — This document was developed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Committee on Community-Based Systems of Care with partial funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services.*
Analysis of Adverse Behavioral Effects of Benzodiazepines With a Discussion on Drawing Scientific Conclusions from the FDA's Spontaneous Reporting System 1998 — The benzodiazepines can produce a wide variety of abnormal mental responses and hazardous behavioral abnormalities, including rebound anxiety and insomnia, mania and other forms of psychosis, paranoia, violence, antisocial acts, depression, and suicide. These drugs can impair cognition, especially memory, and can result tn confusion.
AN EXAMINATION OF PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION PRESCRIPTION PRACTICES AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION 2005 thesis — While there is an extensive literature on the use of psychotropic medications among individuals with mental retardation, little of it has focused on the reasons for these prescriptions. Researchers have shown that the prevalence of psychotropic medication use among individuals with mental retardation is relatively high when compared to people with other disabilities and that the reasons for these drug prescriptions may not be based on rational pharmacotherapy.
Antipsychotic Drug Guidelines 2006 (Western Australia) — The lowest-effective dose should always be prescribed initially, with subsequent titration according to clinical response and monitoring of effectiveness of dose and ongoing need for therapy.
Behavioral Side Effects of Benzodiazepine Medications in People with Mental Retardation 2006 — Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Minnesota http://mn.gov/omhdd/about/
BENZODIAZEPINES: HOW THEY WORK AND HOW TO WITHDRAW (aka The Ashton Manual) — benzo.org.uk is dedicated to sufferers of iatrogenic benzodiazepine tranquilliser addiction. Launched on July 6, 2000, this web site has always been a work in progress consisting of articles, information, expert medical documents, news stories and personal accounts. (Note: benzodiazepine is very serious in use with the elderly. See http://www.benzo.org.uk/ashop.htm
Benzodiazepines & Older People 2002 — Older people are more sensitive than younger people to the central nervous system depressant effects of benzodiazepines, and indeed to all central nervous system depressant drugs in general.
Best Practice Guideline for Accommodating and Managing Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Residential Care 2012 — The guideline and algorithm are rich resources for all involved in the care of persons with dementia. They reflect the important culture of person-centered interdisciplinary care and decision making that involves physicians, nurses, pharmacists, caregivers, family members, care staff and persons in care.
Child and adolescent psychopharmacology Dr. Konnie Falkenberg (Child Psychologist with child & youth services), Regina Qu-Appelle Health Region Pediatric Psychopharmacology Feb. 1, 2005 — my notes from the UNIVERSITY OF REGINA, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY SEMINAR SERIES
DDMED website — The DDMED consultative program provides a roadmap to healthcare professionals who manage persons with intellectual disability and other health problems such as mental illness or neurological disorders. Categories include: Behavior; Biology of MR; Medical; Pharmacological; Psychiatric
Drug Interactions — This table is designed as a hypothesis testing, teaching and reference tool for physicians and researchers interested in drug interactions
Drug Interaction Tool — Check for potential interactions between drugs. Enter two or more drugs into the field below. The results will tell you whether the two drugs can have harmful interactions. It will also tell you whether they have duplicate ingredients. You can enter one drug and check for any known drug, food, alcohol, or tobacco interactions. This tool also contains information on herbs. by University of Maryland Medical Center
Florida Best Practice Psychotherapeutic Medications Guidelines for Adults 2014 — the guidelines underwent a thorough review of the most relevant literature by the expert panel, are scientifically valid, and incorporate a grading system for displaying the quality of the evidence and strength of the recommendations.
Guidance on the Use of Antipsychotics October 2009 — Provides a flowchart on Suggested Antipsychotic Treatment Plan
Guidelines for Antipsychotic Medication Switches (NHS) 2009 — There are no published controlled trials on switching antipsychotics, therefore clinicians should use these guidelines to aid their practice
GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTICS IN ADULTS 2006
HEALTH NOTES Care of Children & Adults with Developmental Disabilities 2002 — this issue of HEALTH NOTES will be a valuable resource to assist pharmacists and other health care providers to better understand the special health care needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.
History of Psychotropic Medication Use for Consumers withDevelopmental Disabilities — The review of the history of mental healthtreatment for consumers with developmental disabilities and mental healthdisorders provides a broader context for current practice.
Identification of Serious Drug-Drug Interactions: Results of the Partnership to Prevent Drug-Drug Interactions 2004 — The purpose of this study was to develop a list of the clinically important DDIs that are likely to be encountered in community and ambulatory pharmacy settings and detected by a computerized pharmacy system.
Intellectual disabilities - An introduction for pharmacists 2014 — The improved life expectancy among adults with a more severe intellectual disability places an increased demand on the health services and poses new challenges to pharmacists and other health care professionals.
International guide to prescribing psychotropic medication for the management of problem behaviours in adults with intellectual disabilities 2009 — Psychotropic medications are used regularly to manage problem behaviours among people with intellectual disabilities. This causes concern because often these medications are used out of their licensed indications in this context.
International guide to prescribing psychotropic medication for the management of problem behaviours in adults with intellectual disabilities 2009 — Psychotropic medications are used regularly to manage problem behaviours among people with intellectual disabilities. This causes concern because often these medications are used out of their licensed indications in this context. The WPA Section on Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability has recently developed an evidence and consensus-based international guide for practitioners for the use of psychotropic medications for problem behaviours among adults with intellectual disabilities. This guide advises on assessment of behaviours, producing a formulation, initiation of treatment, assessment of outcome and adverse effects, follow-up arrangements, and possibility of discontinuation of treatment.
International guide to prescribing psychotropic medication for the management of problem behaviours in adults with intellectual disabilities 2010 — The rate of prescription of psychotropic medications for the management of PBs (problem behaviours) is a source of concern, due to the scarce evidence concerning their effectiveness and adverse events and their impact on quality of life in people with ID.
Managing anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults with autismspectrum disorders 2014 — case report
Medication, Education and Advocacy: Useful Insights: Improving How People with Developmental Disabilities Use Medication 2013 — Medication use is very common for individuals with developmental disabilities. But medications can also lead to problems when you struggle with how to report whether a medication helps or not, or when others aren’t alert to the impact of the side effects.
Medication & The Risk of Falls in the Older Person — includes chart of Commonly Prescribed Drugs that May Contribute to Falls
Medications and Falls in Older People 2008 — Falls are a major cause of morbidity in older people. Although in most cases falls are multifactorial in aetiology, medications are one of the most easily reversible risk factors that need to be considered in the falls assessment process.
Medications and the Risk of Falling — provides examples of drugs that can increase the risk of falling, or of a serious outcome if a fall occurs (and possible mechanisms)
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome 2013 — Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) refers to the combination of hyperthermia, rigidity, and autonomic dysregulation that can occur as a serious complication of the use of antipsychotic drugs.
Neuropsychopharmacology: The Fifth Generation of Progress 2002 — this world-renowned classic synthesizes the latest advances in basic neurobiology, biological psychiatry, and clinical neuropsychopharmacology. includes in section 5: Chapter 46: Behavioral Phenotypes Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Portals Into The Developing Brain
P450 Drug Interaction Table: Abbreviated "Clinically Relevant" Table — Clinicians and health care providers may find an abbreviated clinical table designed for practical use during prescribing more useful. The table contains lists of drugs in columns under the designation of specific cytochrome P450 isoforms.
Pediatric Psychopharmacology PPT lecture 2005 — Accompanies notes of Dr. Konnie Falkenberg lecture
Pharmacological Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders & Challenging Behaviours 2014 — Powerpoint presentation which also includes the following chapter: Turk, J. (2014). Use of medication in children and young people with intellectual disability and challenging behaviours. In M Lovell & Udwin (Eds), Intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour. ACAMH Occasional Paper 32 (Chap 4, pp. 36-44), doi:10.13056/OP32.g. London: Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Physicians’ Desk Reference – the leading drug resource for over 65 years
Polypharmacy Guidance for 2012 (Scotland) — a national approach to address the issues resulting from the use of multiple medicines in the frail and elderly population. The aim is to improve therapeutic care by reducing the risk of adverse drug reactions associated with polypharmacy.
Potentially Harmful Drugs in the Elderly: Beers List 2012 — The latest version is intended for use by clinicians in outpatient as well as inpatient settings to improve the care of patients age 65 years and older. The new version includes medications that should be used with extra caution, as well as medications that should be avoided, either in all elderly or in certain populations.
Psychopharmacological Treatments in Persons with Developmental Disabilities (DD) — In this chapter, an attempt has been made to: 1. Present the various medication categories mostly used in persons with a dual diagnosis. 2. Discuss possible side effects and how you evaluate them in this group. 3. Create efficient strategies of assessing the needs for medication use and the different ways of prescribing them (i.e., continuously; on a per needed basis; in crisis/emergency care.
Psychopharmacological treatments in persons with dual diagnosis of psychiatric disorders and developmental disabilities 2003 — People with developmental disabilities are at considerable risk for the development of comorbid psychiatric conditions. Psychopharmacological treatments may have a crucial role in a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach to the management of psychopathology in this population.
Psychotherapy vs. Medication for Depression: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom 1993 — Antidepressant medications are the most popular treatment for depression in the United States, despite the fact that there may be more effective and safer alternatives. This paper discusses alternative, effective psychological interventions for unipolar depression.
Psychotropic Drug Interactions 2006 — A drug interaction occurs when the toxicity or effectiveness of a drug is altered by the concurrent administration of another drug.
Psychotropic Medication Issues in Adults with Developmental Disabilities (DD — Primary care of adults with developmental disabilities: Canadian consensus guidelines (2011) addresses severalissues related to psychotropic medication use in this population.
psychotropic medications notes — Pharmacological interventions should used cautiously with S. for a variety of reasons:
REPORT ADVERSE REACTIONS TO PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS — links to report an adverse drug reaction through your country’s drug regulatory agency
Report of the Psychiatric Drugs Panel, Toronto: Inquiry into Psychiatry, 2005 — This report contains various types and levels of recommendations—both general recommendations and very explicit recommendations to different levels of government, including federal and provincial authorities and local boards of health.
Sleep in Older Adults - Pharmacotherapy 2013 — One of the preventive measures related to drug therapy is to identify medications or substances used that might be contributing to sleep problems, and avoiding them or adjusting dosing times to avoid interference with sleep (Table 1).
Standards of Care for the Administration of Psychotropic Medications to Children and Youth Living in Licensed Residential Settings 2009 — the proposed standards are designed to improve the safety and effectiveness of psychotropic medication administration and monitoring
Systematic management approach to pharmacotherapy for people with learning disabilities 2001 — With progressive deinstitutionalisation in many countries, the general psychiatrist is now more frequently requested to provide assistance with behavioural problems in people with learning disabilities.
TDMHMR Drug Formulary 2004; Psychotropic Dosage Guidelines — In general, when treating patients with developmental disabilities, a “go low, go slow” approach is recommended when increasing or decreasing psychotropic medication.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics — Objective, peer-reviewed evaluations of new FDA-approved drugs, and new information on previously approved drugs.
The Side Effects of Common Psychiatric Drugs 2008 — This report is an overview of the side effects of common psychiatric drugs and includes information on drug regulatory agency warnings, studies and other reports that may not appear in the packaging information for the drugs.
The Use of Medications for the Management of Problem Behaviours in Adults who have Intellectual [Learning] Disabilities — Evaluation of the use of medications for the treatment of behaviour disorders, including a summary of do’s and don’ts
Using medication to manage behaviour problems among adults with a learning disability 2006 — This guide has been produced to provide advice to people who are considering prescribing medication to manage behaviour problems among adults with a learning disability.
Using medication to manage behaviour problems among adults with a learning disability 2006 — This guide has been produced to provide advice to people who are considering prescribing medication to manage behaviour problems among adults with a learning disability. It follows the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s (NICE’s) (nice.org.uk) guideline development criteria