DepakoteMental HealthBy Lucida TreatmentMarch 12, 2012Depakote is a brand name for valproic acid, an anticonvulsant drug that is commonly used as a mood stabilizer to treat bipolar disorder in both adults and children.
NeurontinMental HealthBy Lucida TreatmentMarch 2, 2012Neurontin? Never heard of it? Neurontin is the brand name of the medication known as Gabapentin. A compound originally created to approximate the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA for short), Gabapentin has several FDA approved medical uses and is also occasionally prescribed for bipolar disorder. While not a common medication, might be helpful to be familiar… Details
RisperdalMental HealthBy Lucida TreatmentMarch 2, 2012Many years ago, the only medications available to help people with psychotic symptoms were major tranquilizers, also referred to as neuroleptics. Thorazine is such one drug in this category. For many people, just the word “Thorazine” conjures images of severe mental illness and severe side effects: the shuffling gait and vacant stare among them. This… Details
AbilifyMental HealthBy Lucida TreatmentMarch 2, 2012Abilify is the brand name of a medication called Aripiprazole. It is a commonly prescribed medication classified as both an antipsychotic and an antidepressant. It comes in several forms, including tablets, injections, and liquid. This medication is quite similar to the other atypical antipsychotics such as Risperdal in that it offers effective control of serious… Details
LithiumMental HealthBy Lucida TreatmentMarch 1, 2012If you remember high school chemistry, then lithium might sound familiar: this medication is made from the naturally occurring lithium element, in combination with carbon and oxygen. The way in which lithium, oxygen and carbon combine is called Lithium carbonate and is classified as a “salt” – not like table salt, which is made from… Details
Medications for Bipolar DisorderMental HealthBy Lucida TreatmentFebruary 22, 2012Psychoactive medications have received a great deal of attention in the media. Drugs like Prozac, Ritalin, or Zoloft have become household words, and many people diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, or no diagnosis at all can list the potential side effects of these medications. We live in a very different world than our parents or… Details
The Secret Lives of Alcoholic MomsAlcohol AddictionBy Lucida TreatmentSeptember 26, 2011She’s hardworking and successful. She’s attentive to her family’s needs. She volunteers in the community and the PTA. Despite all of her accomplishments, this “perfect” woman may be hiding a painful secret: She’s an alcoholic.
Kristin Davis Overcomes Alcohol AddictionAddiction RecoveryBy Lucida TreatmentSeptember 14, 2011Kristin Davis, the lovely 43-year-old actress best known for her six-year role as Charlotte on “Sex and the City,” says that she is a recovering alcoholic who never tastes the many Cosmopolitans sent her way by star-struck fans. On the show, her character favored the drink, but for Kristin Davis it is a risk just… Details
Peer Support As Effective as Medication in Treating DepressionMental HealthBy Lucida TreatmentMarch 9, 2011If you are one of the 19 million Americans suffering from depression, a new treatment is available that may be just as effective as traditional methods of treatment. After analyzing existing data on depression, a new study reveals that peer support helped reduce symptoms of depression better than psychotherapy and anti-depressants and fared almost as… Details
Breathalyzers or Other Drunk Driving Deterrents Could Become Standard on New VehiclesAlcohol AddictionBy Lucida TreatmentOctober 10, 2010In a move that at one point seemed overcautious, auto manufacturers and policy-makers are exploring installing drunk driving deterrents in every vehicle in an effort to save lives on the road. Some are comparing the concept to laws requiring seatbelts, which at first didn’t seem possible, but have become almost second-nature by most drivers. Others… Details