Which Antidepressant Causes the Most Hair Loss?

If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

If you’re reading this, you might be wondering how it’s possible that a medication intended to help with depression can actually end up doing some harm. You’re not alone, and learning about the relationship between antidepressants and hair loss may help you make decisions that could stop or even reverse this troubling issue. 

Research from the National Center for Health Statistics shows that the rate of antidepressant use among teens and adults in the United States increased by almost 400% between 1988–1994 and 2005–2008 (Pratt, 2011).

• 60% of Americans who are taking antidepressant medication have been on it for two or more years, with 14% having taken the medication for at least ten years.
• Of the five major classes of antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the most commonly prescribed for first-line treatment.
• Many antidepressants have been linked to insomnia, nausea, and dizziness, but hair loss is usually a rare side effect.
• If hair loss is believed to be linked to an antidepressant, your healthcare provider may choose to reduce or eliminate the drug for several months in order to observe any regrowth.

The same report found that more than 60% of Americans who are taking antidepressant medication have been on it for two or more years, with 14% having taken the medication for at least ten years (Pratt, 2011). 

Judging by this information, it seems safe to say that these medications are here to stay. And similar to any medical decision that might have a long-term impact on your life, it’s important to make informed choices when it comes to choosing an antidepressant.

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An antidepressant is a type of drug used to help treat depression. Of the five major classes of antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the most commonly prescribed for first-line treatment. SSRIs help to alleviate symptoms by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain, while SNRIs block the reabsorption of both serotonin and norepinephrine.

Examples of SSRIs include:

• Sertraline (brand name Zoloft)
• Paroxetine (brand name Paxil)
• Fluoxetine (brand name Prozac)
• Escitalopram (brand name Lexapro)
• Fluvoxamine (brand name Luvox)
• Vilazodone (brand name Viibryd)
• Citalopram (brand name Celexa)

Examples of SNRIs include:

• Duloxetine (brand name Cymbalta)
• Venlafaxine (brand name Effexor)
• Levomilnacipran (brand name Fetzima)
• Desvenlafaxine (brand name Pristiq)
• Milnacipran (brand name Savella)

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) prevent the breakdown of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in the brain and other parts of the body. Notable MAOIs include phenelzine (brand name Nardil), selegiline (brand name Emsam), and tranylcypromine (brand name Parnate).

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are another class of drugs used to treat depression by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. Imipramine (brand name Tofranil) and amitriptyline (brand name Elavil) are two common types, and TCAs, in general, tend to have more side effects. 

The final category of antidepressants is called atypical antidepressants; each medication influences serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels in unique ways. We’ll learn more about one of the most commonly prescribed medications, bupropion (brand name Wellbutrin), later in the article.

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Many antidepressants have been linked to insomnia, nausea, and dizziness, but hair loss is usually a rare side effect.

A team of researchers in New Zealand conducted a study to better understand how a group of 180 long-term antidepressant users felt about the experience. The five most commonly selected adverse effects were withdrawal effects (73.5%), sexual difficulties (71.8%), weight gain (65.3%), emotional numbness (64.5%), and failure to orgasm (64.5%). Hair loss didn’t make the list (Cartwright, 2016).

A 2018 comparative retrospective cohort study examined a large U.S. health claims database from 2006 to 2014 to review the risk of hair loss among various antidepressants (Etminan, 2018). Among one million people on ten different antidepressants, researchers found an increased risk of alopecia among those taking bupropion (Wellbutrin) compared with SSRIs and SNRIs.

Compared with bupropion (an atypical antidepressant), all other antidepressants had a lower risk of hair loss, with fluoxetine (brand name Prozac) and paroxetine (brand name Paxil) showing the lowest risk. Conversely, fluvoxamine (brand name Luvox), had the highest risk compared with Wellbutrin (Etminan, 2018).

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Antidepressants typically cause a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. It is one of two types of drug-induced hair loss and can develop as a possible side effect of many widely used medications and supplements. The second type of drug-induced hair loss is called anagen effluvium.

Telogen effluvium occurs when hair follicles are in the resting phase and fall out too early. It’s more common than anagen effluvium, which involves actively growing hair and affects not only hair on the scalp, but eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body hairs as well.

Normally, around 85% of a person’s hair follicles are in the actively growing (anagen) phase, and the remaining 15% are resting hair in the telogen phase. During telogen effluvium, roles can reverse with as many as 70% of the anagen hairs can be precipitated into telogen (Cherry Chang, 2019).

The resting hairs are attached to the hair follicles on the scalp. Then, once the medication triggers the telogen effluvium, the new hairs will push out the resting hairs. This will result in an increase in hair loss within 2–3 months. The good news is that telogen effluvium usually occurs without any scarring and is typically reversible.

Prior to starting a new antidepressant medication, it’s helpful to have a list of questions prepared for your healthcare provider. As it relates to hair loss, these might include:

• What side effects could the new medication have?
• Will the new medication have any effect on hair growth?
• If so, is there an alternative medication that doesn’t lead to hair loss?

You can also research the side effects of any drugs you’re taking on RXList.com.

If you’re already taking the medication when you begin to notice signs of hair loss or hair thinning, it’s just as important to bring your questions to your provider.

They’ll likely start off by taking a comprehensive medical history, which will include all symptoms and hair loss timeline. There are countless potential reasons for hair loss—genetics, diet, illness, stress—so it’s important to differentiate drug-induced telogen effluvium from other diagnoses.

If the hair loss is believed to be linked to an antidepressant, your provider may choose to reduce or eliminate the drug for several months in order to observe any regrowth. The caveat here is that this should always be done under a healthcare provider’s order and occur gradually as opposed to cold turkey. Abruptly discontinuing an antidepressant medication can lead to something called antidepressant discontinuation syndrome—a temporary flu-like withdrawal reaction to ending a medication (Warner, 2006).

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Once people stop taking an alopecia-inducing medication, they’ll typically see a change within six months. At this point, or maybe even sooner, your healthcare provider will have a better understanding of the growth patterns and whether additional treatment is necessary.

In the meantime, consider these alternative methods for coping with hair loss during treatment for depression.

• Non-medical options like wigs and scarves can be used to camouflage hair loss. Some people, mostly men, may even shave their heads.
• Cosmetic treatments, such as Toppik, can make thinning hair less noticeable. Toppik comes in powder form and is patted over thin spots as purely a cosmetic solution for hair loss.

With more than half of the U.S. population taking antidepressant medication, it’s important to understand any and all side effects. For many people, these drugs make a significant difference in their mental and behavioral health, and although hair loss is a distressing symptom, these concerns should be balanced against one another.

The good news is that telogen effluvium typically occurs without any scarring and is often reversible. It’s possible to work with your healthcare provider to find an alternative antidepressant medication or explore other solutions for treating and managing hair loss.

1. Cartwright, C., Gibson, K., Read, J., Cowan, O., & Dehar, T. (2016). Long-term antidepressant use: patient perspectives of benefits and adverse effects. Patient preference and adherence, 10, 1401–1407. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4970636/#:~:text=The%20five%20most%20commonly%20selected,a%20moderate%20or%20severe%20level
2. Cherry Chang, FL. (2019). Telogen effluvium. Retrieved from https://dermnetnz.org/topics/telogen-effluvium/
3. Etminan, M., Sodhi, M., Procyshyn, R. M., Guo, M., & Carleton, B. C. (2018). Risk of hair loss with different antidepressants: a comparative retrospective cohort study. International clinical psychopharmacology, 33(1), 44–48. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28763345/
4. Pratt LA, Brody DJ, Gu Q. (2011). Antidepressant use in persons aged 12 and over: United States, 2005–2008. NCHS data brief, no 76. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db76.htm
5. Warner, C.H. Bobo, W. Warner, C. Reid, S. Rachal, J. (2006). Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome. Am Fam Physician, 74(3):449-456. Retrieved from https://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0801/p449.html

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Medications & Drugs That Cause Hair Loss

Medications are designed to treat a variety of health conditions, but sometimes they can have unwanted side effects. Certain drugs can contribute to excess hair growth, changes in hair color or texture, or hair loss.

Drug-induced hair loss, like any other type of hair loss, can have a real effect on your self-esteem. The good news is that in most cases, it’s reversible once you stop taking the drug.

How Do Drugs Cause Hair Loss?

Drugs cause hair loss by interfering with the normal cycle of scalp hair growth. During the anagen phase, which lasts for two to seven years, the hair grows. During the telogen phase, which lasts about three months, the hair rests. At the end of the telogen phase, the hair falls out and is replaced by new hair.

Medications can lead to two types of hair loss: telogen effluvium and anagen effluvium. Learn more about other causes of baldness.

Telogen effluvium is the most common form of drug-induced hair loss. It usually appears within 2 to 4 months after taking the drug. This condition causes the hair follicles to go into their resting phase (telogen) and fall out too early. People with telogen effluvium usually shed between 30% to 70% more than the normal 100 and 150 hairs a day.

Anagen effluvium is hair loss that occurs during the anagen phase of the hair cycle, when the hairs are actively growing. It prevents the matrix cells, which produce new hairs, from dividing normally. This type of hair loss usually occurs within a few days to weeks after taking the medication. It’s most common in people who are taking chemotherapy drugs for cancer and is often severe, causing people to lose most or all of the hair on their head, as well as their eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body hairs.

The severity of drug-induced hair loss depends on the type of drug and dosage, as well as your sensitivity to that drug.

What Types of Drugs Cause Hair Loss?

Many different types of drugs are thought to cause hair loss, including:

Chemotherapy drugs often lead to the anagen effluvium type of hair loss. As these drugs kill cancer cells throughout the body, they also can damage healthy cells, including hair matrix cells. The hair typically starts to fall out within two weeks of starting chemotherapy and progresses more rapidly after one to two months, according to the American Cancer Society. Hair loss is more common and severe in patients taking combinations of chemotherapy drugs than in those who take just one drug.

Chemotherapy drugs that tend to cause hair loss include:

How Is Drug-Induced Hair Loss Treated?

It’s important to review any medications you take, and discuss their potential side effects with your doctor and pharmacist. When hair loss does occur from a drug you’re taking, there is a good chance that the hair will grow back on its own after you stop taking the medication. If stopping the drug does not improve hair thinning, you may need to be treated with finasteride (Propecia) or minoxidil (Rogaine), medications that slow hair loss and can stimulate new hair growth. Learn more about how finasteride treats alopecia.

One technique may help prevent hair loss during chemotherapy. It’s called scalp hypothermia, and it involves placing ice packs on the scalp a few minutes before — and for about a half-hour after — chemotherapy treatment. Cooling the scalp reduces blood flow to the hair follicles, making it harder for the chemotherapy drugs to get into the follicular cells. Cooling also reduces biochemical activity, making the hair follicles less susceptible to damage from chemotherapy drugs. One concern with this technique is the risk of cancer recurrence in the scalp, as perhaps this area did not receive the full dose of medication due to cooling vasoconstriction.

After chemotherapy treatment, the hair usually grows back in very quickly, but it may change in texture. In rare cases, the hair will stay thin even after treatment has been stopped. Minoxidil can help regrow hair that is slow to return. Some chemotherapy patients wear a wig or hat to hide their hair loss until their hair grows back.

Wellbutrin (Bupropion) and Hair Loss (Alopecia)

Have you been wondering whether or not the antidepressant Wellbutrin may cause hair loss? What might cause the loss of hair—also called alopecia—on Wellbutrin (bupropion) and other antidepressants? Does this mean you need to stop taking your medication even if it is working well?

Wellbutrin Uses and Advantages

Wellbutrin (bupropion) is a commonly prescribed medication. It is used for clinical depression, but also for smoking cessation (marketed under the name Zyban). One reason Wellbutrin is commonly used is that it has a lower risk of sexual side effects such as erectile dysfunction, lack of desire, or difficulty with arousal or orgasm. 

Hair Loss on Wellbutrin

Hair loss can be a side effect of treatment with Wellbutrin. Hair loss is not limited to Wellbutrin. Other antidepressants may cause hair loss as well.

Timing of Hair Loss

Hair loss related to antidepressant medications is commonly noted around two to four months after starting or changing a medication. With this type of hair loss, known as telogen effluvium, hair loss commonly begins three to four months after a trigger (such as stress, a medical condition, or a medication change).

The Hair Growth and Loss Cycle

To understand the type of hair loss related to Wellbutrin, it helps to talk about the phases of the hair cycle. Our hair actually goes through four distinct phases between the “birth” of a hair and when it falls out: anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. The first phase, anagen, determines how long hair will become and lasts from two to six years. Nearly 90% of the hairs on your head are in the anagen phase. 

Catagen is a shorter transition phase in which the hair follicle loses its blood supply and stops growing. It then enters the telogen phase, where it stays for three or four months. Exogen is the final phase, in which the hair is shed. Around 10% of your hair is normally in the telogen phase, but this can be much higher if your hair is prematurely shifted to the telogen phase by a physical or emotional stressor.

The type of hair loss experienced by some people on Wellbutrin and other antidepressants is telogen effluvium. It is characterized by widespread thinning of the hair. Often, more hair loss occurs near the front of the head, above the forehead.

Causes of Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium happens when the body is stressed (or shocked) in a number of ways. You may have heard people talk about hair loss occurring after childbirth or after a major surgery.

Other conditions which may result in this type of hair loss include an illness, poor nutrition, crash dieting, or starting a number of different medications. The mental stress of clinical depression, or whatever event precipitated depression in someone with situational depression, can cause telogen effluvium.

Telogen effluvium occurs when hair follicles go into their resting state of growth (telogen) too early and stay there. Since a larger than normal number of hair follicles are in the telogen phase, hair loss can occur diffusely, all over the scalp. Humans normally shed around 100 hairs daily, but this number can be greatly increased with telogen effluvium.

The good news is that hair loss on Wellbutrin is temporary and completely reversible. There are several distinct types of telogen effluvium. The one related to Wellbutrin is caused by a temporary disruption in the hair cycle.

There is another type of telogen effluvium in which the trigger (whatever caused the disrupted hair cycle) is ongoing. Some people with thyroid problems or nutritional deficiencies experience this type of telogen effluvium, which is more gradual than other types but lasts longer.

Other Side Effects of Wellbutrin

In addition to the uncommon side effect of hair loss, there are some common side effects of Wellbutrin. Unlike most antidepressants, you are more likely to lose weight than gain while taking it. Unfortunately, most antidepressants carry the risk of side effects, and you will need to work with your doctor to balance these side effects with the benefits you get from the medication.

Discontinuing Medication to Stop Hair Loss

You may need to stop taking your medication in order to stop your hair loss. If you do not wish to discontinue your medication, however, talk with your doctor about the possibility of taking a lower dose or changing to a different brand of bupropion. It could be that you are reacting to one of the inactive ingredients in the pill, rather than the bupropion itself.

An inactive ingredient is not a compound that has no actions; the term “inactive” simply means that the ingredient does not play a role in the purpose for which the medication is prescribed. These inactive ingredients have been known to cause side effects as well as allergic reactions at times. If this is the case, it could be that your hair loss is caused only by the generic version of the drug, or vice versa.

Keep in mind that another hair-loss trigger may have occurred at the same time (or close to the same time) at which you started the medication. Stress alone may sometimes cause telogen effluvium.

Preventing or Stopping Hair Loss

Using a special shampoo or changing the way you care for your hair will not prevent telogen effluvium or stop the process once it is underway. Stopping Wellbutrin is the surest way of stopping future hair loss. Working to decrease stress in your life, however, may reduce one of the triggers for this kind of hair loss.

Telogen effluvium hair loss usually resolves around six months after the stressor which started the process is removed. For example, without any intervention, hair loss usually resolves around six months after delivery of a baby, after the resolution of an illness, or after a new medication is stopped.

A Word From Verywell

The bottom line on hair loss with Wellbutrin is that it may occur, but it is temporary. There are other options available for treating depression. There are also several options to help you cope with hair loss, ranging from different hairstyles to wearing a scarf or wig.

Complete List of Antidepressants That Cause Hair Loss by Dr Himanshi

Hair is also called the crowning glory because plays an extremely important role in giving a person a unique physical appearance. Hair loss or any other kind of hair and scalp problems can evoke sense inferiority of lack self-esteem among patients since these problems are easily visible to all. Before understanding what hair loss is and a list of antidepressants that cause hair loss, it will be worthy to know some basic terms and phases of normal hair growth.

Hair Growth Phases

Each hair on the scalp can be at a different phase at a time. Right from hair growth to falling, hair goes through the following 4 phases:

• Anagen Phase (Growing Phase) – This phase lasts for 2-7 years. Length of the hair depends on this phase

• Catagen Phase (The Transition Phase) – This phase lasts for about 10 days. The hair follicle shrinks and detaches from the dermal papilla

• Telogen Phase (Resting Phase) – This lasts for about 3 months. New hair begins to grow

• Exogen Phase (New Hair Phase) – Old hair sheds and new hair continue to grow. About 50-100 hair are expected to shed daily during the phase

What Is Hair Loss?

Hair loss is also called alopecia in medical terms. Alopecia can occur due to a variety of causes, either singly or in combination. Although hair loss can be quite distressing, it is, in fact, one of the most common problems among both men and women.

Types Of Hair Loss

Hair loss types can be divided into 3 categories

1.Cicatricial

This is an irreversible type of hair loss in which the stem cell reservoir present in the middle of the hair shaft is destroyed completely. Causes for the cicatricial type of hair loss include:

• Fungal or bacterial infection of the hair follicles
• Discoid lupus erythematosus
• Scarring bullous disorders
• Lichen planopilaris
• Neoplastic disorders

2. Non-Cicatricial

This is often a reversible type of hair loss which can be divided further into the following types:

• Telogen Effluvium – It is also called shedding of hair. Patients complain of an increase in a number of hair on the shower drain or pillow. With telogen effluvium, people tend to shed around 150-400 hairs per days. Following are the causes for the shedding of hair can be
• After febrile illnesses
• Following childbirth
• Chronic systemic illnesses
• Poor diet
• Use of heparin and other medications
• Mental and emotional stress
• Endocrine disorders
• Surgical procedures and anesthesia
• Androgenetic Alopecia – There is progressive thinning of hair. It can begin anytime from puberty to old age. An “M-pattern” hair loss can be seen in both men and women. Strong family history is responsible in most cases.
• Alopecia Areata – This is characterized by patchy and recurrent hair loss. Alopecia areata is thought to be a T-lymphocyte mediated autoimmune disorder. It may also be associated with other autoimmune illnesses like thyroid disorders, SLE and diabetes.
• Traction Alopecia – In this type of hair breaks and is sparse in the frontal area. It is commonly seen in women with curly hair. Other causes include excessive stress on hair using rollers, hair ties, braids, and other devices.

3. Hair Shaft Abnormalities

These present with brittle hair which tends to break easily. Patients present with patchy or diffuse areas of short hair which do not grow beyond a certain length. Following are the causes of hair shaft abnormalities

• Repeated trauma to the hair shaft as from blow drying, straightening, bleaching and coloring
• Inherited disorders

List Of Antidepressants That Cause Hair Loss

Hair loss is one of the commonest complaints after the use of prescription medications. Hair loss can also indirectly be linked to the medical conditions for which medications have been prescribed. Clinically, medication or drug-induced hair loss presents with a diffuse type of non-scarring and reversible hair loss. Women are more commonly affected than men. In drug-induced telogen effluvium, there is a premature interruption of hair growth.

Alopecia due to anti-depressants and other psychotropic medications usually begins 4 – 6 months after starting medications. Apart from hair loss, patients also complain of a change in hair texture after being on medications. Psychotropic medications and anti-depressants are often linked to hair loss as their side effect.

1. Lithium

Increases telogen shedding. It can also cause hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism which also result in hair changes.

2. Sodium Valproate

Hair loss associated with this medicine is dose-dependent, which means reducing its dose also reduces hair loss. Transient hair loss is also reported among pediatric age groups.

3. Carbamazepine

Induced hair loss is a rare occurrence.

4. Fluoxetine

It is the most common antidepressant which causes hair loss. Hair shedding can increase for a few months to even a year after starting this medication.

5. Sertraline

Even a low dose of this medicine is associated with hair loss. Hair loss due to sertraline is unique as patients notice hair loss several years after starting this medicine. Hair loss due to this medicine is also dose-dependent. Stopping of medicine reduces hair loss.

6. Tricyclic Antidepressant

Can occasionally cause hair loss

Medications Other Than Antidepressants That Can Cause Hair Loss

• Anti-Coagulants – Low molecular weight heparin and warfarin

• Cardio-Vascular Drugs – Beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), amiodarone (anti-arrhythmic drug)

• Oral Contraceptives – Telogen effluvium can be observed if long term oral contraceptive therapy is interrupted. Progesterone based oral contraceptives can worsen androgenetic hair loss.

• Retinoids – Commonly used in the treatment of skin diseases. Vitamin A may induce mild hair loss. Acitretin may change hair color and texture.

• Antimicrobials – Anti-tubercular medications, anti-retroviral therapy medicines (for HIV), antibiotics and antifungal medications are associated with alopecia

• Chemotherapy Drugs – Drug-induced hair loss is a relatively common finding among patients. Hair loss is diffuse, nonscarring and generally reversible in nature. In nearly all cases of drug-induced alopecia, hair loss is completely reversed after discontinuation of medicines.

Clinicians and psychiatrists need to keep monitoring patients for hair loss after beginning medications as this is the leading cause of non-compliance by most patients. Reducing the dose of antidepressants or complete cessation of these medications leads to complete hair growth.

Will antidepressants exacerbate my hair loss? — Donovan Hair Clinic

 

QUESTION: Will antidepressants exacerbate my hair loss? Is is possible to get the treatment I need without making things worse, without inciting another TE?

 

Answer

Thanks for submitting this question. This is an important question and a common concern among many people. It’s actually quite an involved question. We’ll begin with the basics and then move into some important points for consideration.  The main point that individuals should be aware of is that the risk of shedding with antidepressants is a lot lower than most would think. It doesn’t mean there’s no risk, but it is far more likely that a person will NOT get shedding from their anti-depressant than actually experience shedding. 

Antidepressants are the third most common prescription medication in North America (behind cardiovascular drugs and anti-cholesterol drugs). Recent surveys estimate that one out of every six North Americans use some sort of psychiatric medication. About 12 % of these drugs are antidepressants.  Studies by the  National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) have showed that the rate of antidepressant use in the United States among teens and adults increased by almost 400% between 1988–1994 and 2005–2008. Nearly 1 in 10 individuals in the United States use antidepressants. The age group with the highest use was women 40-50 where nearly 1 in 4 women between 40 and 50 taken antidepressants. Statistics in other countries around the world indicate that antidepressant use is on the rise. Antidepressant use in the UK is similar to the United States where 1 in 11 individuals used antidepressants last year. Citalopram (Celexa) and Sertraline (Zoloft) were the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the United States. 

There are several classes of anti-depressants including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI’s), tricyclic antidepressants (TCA’s), Wellbutrin and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s).

Let’s take a look at what is known about the risk of shedding (telogen effluvium) with these medications. 

 

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Common SSRI’s include fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) and escitalopram (Lexapro). Litt’s Drug eruption Manual estimates that shedding with SSRI’s occurs in less than 1 in every 100 users. 

 

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta) are common SNRI-based anti-depressants.  Litt’s Drug eruption Manual estimates that shedding with SNRI’s occurs in less than 1 in every 100 users. 

 

Wellbutrin

Wellbutrin is an anti-depressant that affects dopamine. Litt’s Drug eruption Manual estimates that shedding with Wellbutrin occurs in less than 1 in every 100 users. 

 

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

Tricyclic antidepressants include a wide variety of drugs. Some preferentially inhibit the reuptake of serotonin (such as clomipramine, imipramine). Others preferentially inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine (such desipramine and nortriptyline). Others yet are fairly balanced reuptake inhibitors of serotonin and norepinephrine (such as amitriptyline).  Litt’s Drug eruption Manual estimates that shedding with TCA’s occurs in less than 1 in every 100 users. 

 

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

MAOI’s used in depression include Isocarboxazid (Marlin), Phenelzine (Nardil), Selegiline (Emsam), Tranylcypromine (Parnate). The exact incidence of telogen effluvium with these drugs is unclear, but MAOI’s are generally thought to have the lowest shedding risk of all antidepressants (well under 1:100). 

 

Shedding with Antidepressants – Key Considerations

When a patient comes in to see me with worries that their antidepressant is causing hair loss, there are several things that need to be consider. I’ll address each in turn

 

Possibility 1. The antidepressant is truly causing a “telogen effluvium” type hair loss

Typically, if an anti-depressant is truly implicated in a person’s hair loss, the shedding starts in 4-8 weeks after starting the anti-depressant. It’s a diffuse type shedding, meaning that the shedding occurs all over the scalp equally. Patients who experience shedding 6-8 months after starting the antidepressant or notice more hair loss in one area of the scalp than another probably do not have antidepressant related hair loss. Some other cause is implicated. 

 

Possibility 2. A telogen effluvium is present but it’s not due to the antidepressant

One must always rule out other causes of excessive hair shedding in anyone who feels they are losing more hair on a daily basis.  Causes of shedding include high stress, low iron, thyroid problems, medications, dieting and internal illness. A patient who has depression from a thread problem may be shedding from the thyroid issue rather than the antidepressant they were started on.  A patient who has depression from lupus may be shedding from the autoimmune disease itself rather than the antidepressant they were started on. A careful history is essential. It is also mandatory that anyone with depression have blood tests as part of their work up for depression. All patients with depression should have already had blood tests. Similarly, it is mandatory that anyone with excessive hair shedding also have blood tests as part of their work up for excessive shedding. Many of the tests for excessive shedding are similar to the tests they may have had as part of their depression evaluation. The relevant hair related tests include hemoglobin, thyroid studies (TSH), ferritin (iron storage). Other tests may also be relevant depending on the person’s specific history.  

 

Possibility 3. The patient has a hair condition that is different than telogen effluvium but is a close mimicker

A variety of conditions can mimic (i.e. closely resemble) “telogen effluvium” including androgenetic alopecia and diffuse alopecia areata. These need to be carefully ruled out by a dermatologist. Similarly, other scalp issues which can be worsened by depression such as seborrheic dermatitis can increase the amount of daily shedding a person experiences. 

 

Summary

Anti-depressants can most certainly cause hair loss. However, when a patient says to me “I think my anti-depressant is causing my hair loss” – more often than not it’s actually due to another cause. Individuals with depression who have experienced previous episodes of telogen effluvium should speak with their physicians about whether the risks and benefits of both antidepressants and hair shedding. Individuals who are considering antidepressants can weigh the less than 1 % chance of developing hair shedding from the drug against the potential life altering benefits of being treated properly for depression. 

 

Reference

1) Litt ‘s Drug Eruption Reference Manual 14th edition 2008

2) Moore TJ, et al. Adult Utilization of Psychiatric Drugs and Differences by Sex, Age, and Race.JAMA Intern Med. 2017.

3) Laura A. Pratt et al.  Antidepressant Use in Persons Aged 12 and Over: United States, 2005–2008. NCHS Data Brief No. 76, October 2011.  https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db76.htm (accessed Jul 2 2018)

 

 

Medications That Can Cause Hair Loss – Hair Loss Center

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Types of Medications That Can Cause Hair Loss

The reason that some medications cause you to lose your hair is that they are toxic to the hair follicles — the cells responsible for hair growth. When hair follicles become damaged, the normal cycle of hair growth is disrupted, which eventually leads to hair loss.

The medications listed below most commonly cause hair loss:

Anticoagulants (blood thinners). Anticoagulant medications, which can help stave off blood clots and prevent complications in people with certain conditions, including heart disease, can also cause hair loss. The type of hair loss caused by anticoagulants is known as telogen effluvium, which is hair loss that can affect the entire scalp, rather than just a specific area. Hair loss typically begins after about 12 weeks of taking a medication. Anticoagulants that can lead to hair loss include warfarin sodium (Panwarfarin, Sofarin, Coumadin) and heparin injections.

Gout medications. Allopurinol, a medication used to treat a form of arthritis known as gout, can also lead to telogen effluvium. Brand names include Lopurin and Zyloprim.

Beta blockers. Beta blockers are medications that reduce the workload of your heart and help to lower blood pressure. Beta blockers are known to cause telogen effluvium, and include:

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or ACE inhibitors, are another type of blood pressure medication. ACE inhibitors, such as those listed below, can lead to telogen effluvium as well:

Vitamin A. When taken in large doses, vitamin A may lead to telogen effluvium. The acne medication isotretinoin (Accutane) is derived from vitamin A.

Female hormones. Taking female hormones can trigger hair loss. Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) and hormone replacement therapy can lead to hormonal changes that may cause your hair to fall out. Hormonal medications that been known to cause telogen effluvium and female pattern baldness include birth control pills, estrogen, and progesterone.

Male hormones. Male hormones can also trigger hair loss. Men who take testosterone or anabolic steroids may experience male pattern balding.

Antidepressants. Certain medications used to treat depression and anxiety are also known to cause telogen effluvium, including:

Anticonvulsants. Anticonvulsants, or anti-seizure medications, can also lead to diffuse hair loss. These medications include trimethadione (Tridione) and valproic acid (Depakote).

7 Things to Avoid if You Have Hair Loss

Even though quite a few medications can cause your hair to fall out, the good news is that this form of hair loss is usually temporary. Talk with your doctor to find out if a medication could be causing your hair loss. If so, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medication or recommend a treatment that will help minimize your hair loss.

It’s not clear if antidepressants cause hair loss

5 March 2021

What was claimed

Antidepressants may cause hair loss

Our verdict

Hair loss is listed as an uncommon side effect by NICE, but the evidence is uncertain, and the research in this article does not compare the risk of hair loss in people who take antidepressants with the risk in people who don’t.

“Hair loss may be a side effect of antidepressants”

The Express, 4 March 2021

The headline of an article on the Express website says that antidepressants may cause hair loss. The headline originally said that hair loss “may be a side effect” of antidepressants, but has since been edited to say that hair loss “may be triggered” by them. The article reports research on the subject, which it says “compared 11 different medications to identify the most risky”.

The research in question, however, only compared the risk of hair loss between groups of people taking different antidepressants. It did not look at whether they were generally at higher risk than people not taking antidepressants at all

The NHS does not list hair loss as a possible side effect of these drugs, as the Express itself notes later in the article.

What does the study say?

The research, published in the journal International Clinical Pharmacology two years ago, involved gathering the medical records of about a million people in the US who were prescribed any of 10 different antidepressants between 2006 and 2014. It then measured how many of these people had a doctor’s appointment about hair loss, according to which drug they were prescribed.

The researchers say: “We sought to carry out a comparative safety study to examine the risk of hair loss with different antidepressants.”

However, the study does not compare its data with the risk of hair loss among similar people who were not prescribed antidepressants.

In other words, it doesn’t tell us whether taking these drugs increases the risk of hair loss, or even lowers it. The research only compares the risk with different drugs. And even these comparisons are uncertain, because the people who take these different drugs might have a different risk of hair loss anyway, for reasons that the researchers could not take account of.

For example, the researchers did not control for a family history of male-pattern baldness.

Do antidepressants cause hair loss?

Hair loss, also called alopecia, can be caused by many things, including stress and a wide variety of different drugs.

It is listed as an uncommon side effect of some modern antidepressants, but the evidence around the link is unclear, and it is not supported by the research described in this article.

The most common cause of hair loss is hereditary pattern baldness, which is a natural condition.

90,000 Hair loss. Medicines and vitamins for hair loss. Hair loss in women

Indeed, by opening a medical reference book with the word “abortion” and closing it with the word foot-and-mouth disease, one can make sure that the causes of hair loss are absolutely nonspecific. And in order to reduce confusion, it is customary to distinguish several types of alopecia. Let’s get to know them.

Hair loss is a natural process that accompanies a person throughout his life.Normally, a person drops out up to 80 hairs per day, which have outlived their own and give way to new growing hairs. However, if the daily loss rate is exceeded, and even more so if new hairs are in no hurry to grow in place of the hairs that have fallen out, the person is most likely dealing with some kind of deviation.

There can be several reasons for increased hair loss: genetic predisposition, hormonal disruptions, stress, improper lifestyle, fatigue and lack of vitamins. The main thing is to identify the problem in time and establish its cause, then you will almost certainly be able to find an effective treatment.

The phenomenon of hair loss is called the medical term “alopecia” and, depending on the causes of hair loss, alopecia are divided into several types.

Diffuse alopecia

It is one of the most common types of hair loss. Often diffuse alopecia is associated with natural causes and does not require special treatment, however, during such periods, you need to pay more attention to your health and the state of the body.

• Diffuse alopecia in newborns usually appears several weeks after delivery. On the child’s head, zones may appear in which hair begins to actively fall out. This phenomenon is due to the fact that in a newborn, all hair follicles are in the same growth phase, which means that at first a significant amount of hair can fall out at the same time. Alopecia usually goes away on its own after a few months.
• Increased hair loss in women after childbirth may be due to the fact that during pregnancy, hair becomes stronger and falls less, and after childbirth, the body returns to its previous state, and hair that normally should have fallen out in previous months begins to actively ” make up for lost time. “Hair loss in recently given birth can also be associated with hormonal changes, stress, a lack of certain elements in the body – which means that in each case it is necessary to look for the cause and select the treatment individually, although often no special therapy is required for young mothers at all.

However, if a woman has a predisposition, normal hair loss after childbirth can develop into androgenetic alopecia, when the hair follicle is destroyed by DHT.This condition, as well as any other hormonal disorders, must be identified and treated.

Therefore, after giving birth, a woman should monitor the condition of her hair and, in case of alarming symptoms, consult a doctor and receive treatment after passing the necessary tests.

Most often, young mothers are prescribed professional remedies for hair loss based on the placenta. These preparations are rich in biologically active substances, vitamins and minerals necessary for a weakened female body.They have a positive effect on hair growth and condition, and the effect becomes noticeable in record time.

However, placenta-based preparations must be absolutely sterile and undergo special processing that excludes the possibility of containing hormones in the finished serum, the effect of which on the body can be unpredictable, and microorganisms. When deciding to use a placenta-based drug, choose only high-quality products from reputable manufacturers.

If hair loss is associated with androgenetic alopecia, it is necessary to opt for drugs that protect the hair follicle from the action of dihydrotestosterone and thus prevent hair loss.

Alopecia caused by intoxication of the body

Hair is highly sensitive to negative external factors, and their condition directly depends on the general condition of the body. The following factors can cause alopecia:

• Diseases causing general intoxication of the body – influenza, ARVI, poisoning, intestinal infections.The condition of the hair is negatively affected by a body temperature above 39, a sharp decrease in weight or blood loss. Usually, hair loss does not become noticeable immediately – interruption of the growth phase at an unfavorable moment for the body leads to hair loss and slowing down of new hair growth, on average, several months after the illness.
• An excess of vitamin A, which is recommended during a number of diseases, can provoke hair loss. Therefore, such drugs should be treated with caution and not exceed the permissible doses.
• Groups of drugs, which include beta-blockers, drugs for high blood pressure, some anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents, antipsychotics, antidepressants, antibiotics and a number of other substances can also negatively affect the condition of the hair. Therefore, any medicinal products are recommended to be used only under the supervision of a physician and in compliance with the recommended doses.
• Hair can be adversely affected by oral contraceptives.The effect of drugs of this group on the hair follicle has not yet been fully studied, however, a connection has been noticed between their use and a decrease in the absorption of vitamin B12, which is necessary for healthy hair growth. When taking contraceptives, hair can become thinner, change its structure and shape. Often, the condition of the hair does not improve even several years after drug withdrawal. The sensitivity of the hair follicle to hormones may increase, which causes a condition similar to androgenetic alopecia, a predisposition to which is formed in humans at the genetic level.
• The relationship between hair loss and the intake of nicotinic acid has been noted. Standard courses lasting a month and a half usually do not lead to such an effect, but long-term use of drugs in high doses can cause alopecia.
• High doses of systemic corticosteroids can also adversely affect hair.
• Alopecia can be caused by intoxication with elements such as boron and its salts, barium, mercury, bismuth, thallium.

Deficiency of substances leading to hair loss

Often, the development of alopecia is associated with a lack of certain elements in the body.Iron deficiency is most often the culprit – a fairly common occurrence, especially common in women.

More than 70 percent of people with diffuse alopecia have been found to have a link between hair loss and a lack of iron in the body. Iron deficiency can be both an independent cause of hair loss, and a factor that aggravates the situation against the background of another reason. At the same time, hair can become thinner, lose vitality and shine. The appointment of iron preparations in most cases allows you to solve the problem and significantly improve the condition of the hair.

In addition, a lack of vitamins and minerals in the body can lead to hair loss:

• The content of manganese directly depends on the concentration of iron, and the lack of this element negatively affects the condition of the hair and causes a slowdown in its growth.
• With a lack of potassium, the hair becomes weak and loses its shine
• Zinc, which has an antiandrogenic effect and reduces the activity of the sebaceous glands, also has a significant effect on the condition of the hair.A deficiency can lead to baldness.
• Silicon is an element that makes hair look durable and strong. A lack of silicon has an extremely negative effect on the condition of hair and nails.
• Selenium is also essential for maintaining healthy hair, and a lack of it can cause active hair loss
• Copper is an important element for hair, participating in the formation of pigment and keratinization of the hair, giving the hair shine and elasticity.
• Cobalt is a constituent of vitamin B12, the effect of which on the health and strength of hair is significant and indisputable.

Negatively affects the condition of the hair and can provoke their loss, the lack of vitamins in the body. First of all, this applies to vitamins of group B. Thus, vitamin B5 promotes the regeneration of the hair follicle, B1 and B2 normalize the emotional state, helping to fight stress and depression, which are common causes of increased hair loss.B12 stimulates hair growth by supplying oxygen to the scalp. Lack of folic acid, biotin and vitamin B6 can also cause alopecia.

Vitamins E and C work on the hair to stimulate hair growth and improve blood circulation to the scalp. Of course, the best solution is to consume foods rich in vitamins, but in severe cases, vitamins are used to treat hair, containing a complex of compounds necessary to strengthen and heal them.

Alopecia due to psychosomatic factors

The direct effect of stress on hair condition and the intensity of hair loss has been proven. The state of chronic stress and a variety of depression negatively affect the course of alopecia, making patients weakly responsive to the main methods of its treatment.

This is primarily due to endocrine disorders in the body, in which hair invariably suffers. In addition, sudden and intense stress can lead to involuntary muscle contraction and constriction of the hair follicle, which can damage it.

Chronic stress weakens the body as a whole, which means that it can have a very negative effect on the condition of the hair.

90,000 What we treat

Alopecia (baldness, from ancient Greek ἀλωπεκία through Latin alopecia – baldness, baldness) – pathological hair loss, leading to their thinning or complete disappearance in certain areas of the head or trunk.

The most common types of alopecia are androgenetic (androgenetic), diffuse or symptomatic (effluviums), focal or nested (areata), scarring (scarring).

Androgenetic alopecia.

Grades of androgenetic alopecia.

Androgenetic alopecia (androgenic – incorrectly) is a thinning of hair, leading in men to baldness of the parietal and frontal regions, in women – to thinning hair in the central part of the head with spread to its lateral surfaces.

The severity of androgenetic alopecia is characterized for men on the Norwood scale, for women – on the Ludwig scale.

Over 95% of all cases of male pattern baldness are caused by androgenetic alopecia. Data on the frequency of manifestation of androgenetic alopecia in women differ significantly – from 20% to 90% of all cases of hair loss, which is associated with a less noticeable and more difficult to diagnose manifestation of this alopecia in women.

The reasons for the development of androgenetic alopecia lie at the gene level and consist in the damaging effect on the hair follicles of the active form of the male sex hormone testosterone – dihydrotestosterone, formed under the influence of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme found in the hair follicles.Dihydrotestosterone, penetrating into the cells of the follicles, causes dystrophy of the latter and, accordingly, dystrophy of the hair they produce. The hair on the head remains, but it becomes thin, short, colorless (vellus hair) and can no longer cover the scalp – a bald spot is formed. 10-12 years after the onset of alopecia, the mouths of the follicles are overgrown with connective tissue, and they can no longer produce even vellus hair.

Since testosterone and 5-alpha reductase are also present in the female body, the development of androgenetic alopecia in women is basically the same as in men, differing mainly in the clinical picture.

The sensitivity of hair follicles to dihydrotestosterone depends mostly on the set of human genes, i.e., is determined by heredity. It is believed that the tendency to hair loss in 73-75% of cases is inherited through the maternal line, in 20% – through the paternal, and only 5-7% of those predisposed to androgenetic alopecia are the first in the family. [5] Recently, it has been possible to determine which features in a person’s DNA are most likely to cause hair loss, and these data are already being used in practice to determine the tendency to hereditary baldness in both men and women.[6]

Modern medicine offers three approaches to combat androgenetic alopecia : drug therapy, laser therapy and hair transplantation.

Of the drugs to date, only two have been clinically proven to be effective and safe in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and have been approved by the European Medicines Agency and the United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) – a drug for topical use minoxidil (Regaine in Europe, Rougaine in the USA) and a drug for internal use finasteride (trade mark of propecia – finasteride 1 mg), the latter is recommended only for men. The drugs do not help everyone and are not able to cure androgenetic alopecia, but only make it possible to maintain an acceptable hair condition while the therapy is being applied. After stopping the drug intake, the hair returns to its original state within a period of several months to a year.

Low Intensity Laser Light has also been clinically proven and approved by the above authorities for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia by using the HairMax LaserComb at home. More powerful clinical laser systems are used in medical centers. The efficiency of the laser comb is low. Clinical laser systems give a much more pronounced effect. As with drug therapy, discontinuation of laser therapy results in hair degradation to its original state.

Own hair transplant is a surgical way to solve the problem. The surgeon takes hair follicles from the occipital and lateral parts of the scalp, where the follicles are not affected by dihydrotestosterone (androgen-independent zones), and transfers them to the areas of baldness. After the transplant, the follicles continue to function normally, and normal healthy hair grows from them, which lasts until the end of life. However, not all hair transplant candidates are suitable for this operation, and the long-term results of the operation are not always satisfactory.

Currently, the world is actively developing promising methods of hair restoration for androgenetic alopecia. The greatest expectations for those interested in this issue are associated with the technology of hair cloning and stimulation of new hair growth.

The essence of the first technology consists in cloning hair follicles taken from androgen-independent areas of the scalp surface, with the subsequent introduction of the resulting clones into bald areas of the scalp using a special technique.

The development of the second technology is based on the established fact that during the healing of wounds in areas of the skin with hair, a protein called Wnt is activated, which somehow contributes to the appearance of new hair follicles at the site of injury. The hair emerging from them goes through all development cycles normally. Scientists believe Wnt can be made to produce new follicles on intact skin

Diffuse alopecia.

Diffuse alopecia is characterized by severe, uniform hair loss over the entire scalp in men and women as a result of the failure of hair cycles.Since diffuse alopecia is a consequence of disturbances in the work of the whole body, it is sometimes called symptomatic. In terms of prevalence, diffuse alopecia is second only to androgenetic alopecia. Women are more susceptible to it than men.

Allocate telogen and anagen forms diffuse alopecia. With the more common telogen form, after the cause that provoked alopecia, up to 80% of the hair follicles go into the telogen (rest) phase ahead of time, stopping the production of hair.

Telogen shape alopecia can cause:

• nervous stress;
• hormonal disorders, for example, as a result of thyroid disease, pregnancy, taking unsuccessful hormonal contraceptives;
• long-term use of antibiotics, antipsychotics, antidepressants and a number of other drugs;
• surgical operations, acute infectious and severe chronic diseases;
• diets with a lack of vital elements for the body.

Anagenic form of diffuse alopecia occurs when the body, and hair follicles in particular, are exposed to stronger and faster-acting factors, as a result of which the hair follicles do not have time to “hide” in the resting phase, and hair begins to fall out immediately from the growth phase (anagen ). Such factors are usually radioactive radiation, chemotherapy, poisoning with strong poisons.

In most cases, after the disappearance of the cause of diffuse alopecia, the lost hair is completely restored within 3-9 months, since here, unlike androgenetic alopecia, there is no death of hair follicles.Therefore, the treatment of diffuse alopecia is aimed, first of all, at finding and eliminating the cause that caused it. After the cause disappears, various stimulators of hair growth are used for faster hair restoration – minoxidil, medicinal balms, physiotherapy.

Alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata (alopecia areata) appears in the form of one or more rounded foci of alopecia of different sizes, located on the scalp, in the region of the eyebrows, beard, eyelashes or trunk.With the development of the disease, the foci, increasing, can merge with each other, forming lesions of arbitrary shape.

If, as a result of the progression of the disease on the scalp, its complete baldness occurs, alopecia is called total. Sometimes there is a complete loss of hair all over the body – then alopecia is called universal.

According to various sources, the frequency of manifestation of alopecia areata among all types of alopecia is from 0.5% to 2%.

Alopecia areata is characterized by rapid development and often spontaneous termination of the disease with complete hair restoration.However, in about 30% of cases, the disease either constantly progresses or lasts in the form of hair loss-restoration cycles.

The causes and mechanism of development of alopecia areata are poorly understood. It is believed that such causes can be disorders in the immune system, genetic predisposition to disease, stress, poor ecology, physical trauma and acute illness.

There are no specific drugs or approved treatments for the treatment of alopecia areata.The most common treatment for alopecia is the use of corticosteroids in various forms – creams, injections, and oral medications. However, being able to stimulate hair growth in the affected areas, corticosteroids do not cure the disease itself and cannot prevent the emergence of new foci of baldness.

Cicatricial alopecia.

A common feature of various forms of cicatricial alopecia is irreversible damage to hair follicles and the appearance of connective (scar) tissue in their place.In the structure of types of baldness, cicatricial alopecia is 1-2%.

Cicatricial alopecia can be caused by infections (viral, bacterial, fungal) that cause inflammatory reactions around the hair follicles, where connective tissue appears as a result. If the infection is treated in a timely manner, hair may persist.

Cicatricial alopecia often occurs as a result of physical trauma – wounds, thermal or chemical burns.

There is only one way to treat the formed alopecia – a surgical one. Either the sites of baldness are removed, if they are not too large, or healthy follicles are transplanted into these sites from areas not affected by alopecia.

There are a number of more rare forms of alopecia.

90,000 Side effects of psychopharmacological drugs, psychotropic drugs

SIDE EFFECTS OF NEUROLEPTICS.

Neuroleptic syndrome.

Signs : stiffness in the muscles of the body (more often in the arms and legs, sometimes in the chest, jaw muscles), restlessness (constant need to walk, shifting from foot to foot), drooling (primarily during sleep) , trembling of fingers, “internal trembling”.Possible cramping, a twisting sensation in the neck, involuntary rolling of the eyes. Poor facial expressions (“frozen face”), mincing shuffling gait are also possible.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms :

First of all, these are haloperidol, triftazine, moditen and clopixol

Much less often such symptoms are caused by: ethaperazine, fluanksol, neuleptil, rispolept and zyprexa (only in large doses)

How to help yourself? If the symptoms are not intense, it is sometimes sufficient to drink coffee to relieve them.However, if such complaints arise, it is better to contact a specialist who will prescribe a “corrector” (a medicine that relieves neurolepsy) or change the drug to a more suitable one.

Attention ! These symptoms can also occur or worsen with abrupt withdrawal of antipsychotics, therefore it is strongly recommended to cancel or replace the drug with the assistance of a competent psychiatrist.

Excessive sedation

Signs : drowsiness, lethargy, lethargy, expressed to a large extent.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms :

First of all, these are: chlorpromazine, tizercin, clopixol, azaleptin

Slightly less common and less pronounced: chlorprothixene, neuleptyl, zyprexa

Much less common: haloperidol, seroquel (only in high doses)

How to help yourself? Excessive sedation occurs most often in the early stages of treatment and is necessary in order to “calm down” the psyche, relieve it of unnecessary overload, and relieve anxiety.That is, in itself, drowsiness and lethargy are fraught with a healing effect. If so, give yourself some rest for a while. Get plenty of rest, do not fight for a “fresh head”. Remember: these symptoms will go away with the disease, and in the future, when the condition improves, the doctor will select such a dosage at which drowsiness will not occur. If the state of health has already leveled off, the painful symptoms have gone, and drowsiness continues to bother, consult a specialist about changing the treatment.

Attention ! Patients taking these drugs are advised to refrain from activities that require high concentration of attention (driving, etc.)n.)

Anticholinergic effect

Signs: dry mouth, dilated pupils, combined with blurred and blurred vision, constipation, difficulty urinating, delayed ejaculation.

Drugs that cause these symptoms most often: chlorpromazine, tisercin, sonapax, neuleptyl, azaleptin

How can I help myself? Without the participation of a doctor, you can effectively cope with only one (and by the way, the most common symptom – severe dry mouth.It is usually recommended to rinse your mouth more often, suck on hard candy, or chew gum. This is required to avoid infection of the salivary gland ducts.

Attention! Preparations with a pronounced anticholinergic effect are highly undesirable for elderly patients. Such drugs are contraindicated in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and glaucoma.

Decrease in blood pressure

Signs: dizziness and darkening in the eyes, especially when getting out of bed (that is, when moving from a horizontal position to a vertical one), weakness, palpitations, possible fainting.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms:

The leader is aminazine . No other drug has these effects so strongly.

Somewhat less often, but also often: tisercin, azaleptin, neuleptil, clopixol

Less common and less pronounced: rispolept, zyprexa, seroquel

How can I help myself? If symptoms of low blood pressure occur, it is advisable to lie quietly for a while: the pressure will rise.If this side effect bothers most of the time and is significantly pronounced, consult a doctor – he will prescribe you a “corrector” of therapy (a drug that increases vascular tone) or change the main treatment.

Depression

Signs: usually upon recovery from an acute psychotic or other acute state while taking antipsychotics (especially in cases where neurolepsy phenomena have occurred (see above), patients may feel depressed, reduced interest in what is happening around, lack of initiative and desire for something) either do.In such cases, you can suspect depression, which has developed as a result of taking antipsychotics.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: chlorpromazine, haloperidol, moditen, clopixol, rispolept

How can I help myself? It is important to remember that depression is temporary and will soon subside. Remind yourself of this more often to avoid irreversible actions during this period.

Attention! Finding such symptoms in yourself is not a guide to quitting taking medications (this can only worsen the condition).See your doctor – he will help you overcome depression and, if necessary, change the drug to another that does not cause similar effects.

Hyperprolactinemia

Signs: different in women and men. The common thing is an increase in the level of the hormone prolactin in the blood, which gives the external manifestations of this side effect.

In women, signs of hyperprolactinemia are: menstrual irregularities (absence of menstruation or infrequent menstruation, engorgement and enlargement of the mammary glands with white discharge from the nipples (sometimes abundant, as after childbirth), infertility, weight gain, and increased male pattern hair growth ( hair growth on the face, chest, back)

In men, the signs of hyperprolactinemia are: impaired sexual functions (decreased libido, impaired potency, delayed ejaculation), possibly swelling of the mammary glands (gynecomastia), infertility, weight gain.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms:

First of all, these are: solian, eglonil, haloperidol, rispolept

Less common: clopixol, fluanksol, tiapride, zyprexa

Much less often: seroquel, zeldox

Attention! The appearance of these symptoms depends not so much on the dose of the drug as on the characteristics of the organism. Therefore, you should not reduce the dose of the drug. It is better to consult a doctor: he will prescribe corrective therapy for you and select an adequate replacement for the drug.

Weight gain

Signs: an increase in body weight while taking the drug, most often associated with an increase in appetite and the consumption of more food than before.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms:

First of all, these are: haloperidol, clopixol, azaleptin, zyprexa

Much less often: rispolept, seroquel

Attention! If you are overweight and have an unfavorable heredity in terms of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, and you are prescribed one of these drugs for a long time, consult your doctor about the possibility of changing the treatment.

Metabolic disorders (dyslipidemia, drug-induced diabetes mellitus)

Signs: abnormalities in the lipid ratio (an increase in unwanted lipids that contribute to the development of atherosclerosis) and an increase in glucose levels (drug-induced diabetes) found in biochemical blood tests (from a vein).

Drugs that can cause these symptoms:

First of all, these are: azaleptin, zyprexa

Much less often: rispolept, seroquel

Attention! If you are overweight, shifts in the indicators of the biochemical blood test (increased glucose levels, atherogenic lipids) and unfavorable heredity in terms of diabetes and atherosclerosis, and you have been prescribed one of these drugs for a long time, consult your doctor about the possibility of changing the treatment.

If you are taking antidepressants

Antidepressants are medicines, the main effect of which is the treatment of pathologically depressed mood. However, depression is not the only indication for their prescription. Antidepressants successfully treat diseases associated with panic attacks, various kinds of anxiety and fears (including social phobia), certain types of obsessions, anorexia nervosa and bulimia, psychosomatic disorders (where bodily suffering comes to the fore).

SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTI-DEPRESSANTS.

Anticholinergic effect

Signs: dry mouth, dilated pupils, combined with blurred and blurred vision, constipation, difficulty urinating, delayed ejaculation.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms:

First of all, these are: amitriptyline, anafranil

Less common: melipramine, ludiomil, paxil

Much less often: cipralex, zoloft (sertraline, asentra)

Drugs causing dry mouth (as an isolated symptom): pyrazidol, aurorix, coaxil, ephevelone, prozac, incazan

How can I help myself? Without the participation of a doctor, you can effectively cope with only one (and by the way, the most common symptom – severe dry mouth.It is usually recommended to rinse your mouth more often, suck on hard candy, or chew gum. This is required to avoid infection of the salivary gland ducts.

Attention! Preparations with a pronounced anticholinergic effect are highly undesirable for elderly patients. Such drugs are contraindicated in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and angle-closure glaucoma.

Initial alarm

Signs: This is the name of anxiety that occurs or intensifies in the initial period of taking some antidepressants.In this case, excitement, agitation, fussiness, restlessness, irritability, and sleep disturbances are possible.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: Prozac (fluoxetine), Ephevelone, Paxil (Rexetine), Zoloft (Sertraline), Pyrazidol, Aurorix, Melipramine, Indopan

Warning: An increase in anxiety levels in the first 2-3 weeks of antidepressant treatment does NOT indicate a worsening of the condition. It is important to be prepared for the occurrence of such a symptom and, if it occurs, seek help from a specialist who will prescribe a “cover” for this time in the form of an anti-anxiety drug.The appointment of such a drug should NOT be carried out on your own, because it is necessary to take into account the interaction of drugs, and this can only be correctly carried out by a doctor.

Insomnia

Signs: As a rule, difficulty falling asleep, which appeared or worsened when taking an antidepressant.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: Prozac (fluoxetine), Cipralex, Paxil (Rexetin), Zoloft (Sertraline), Melipramine, Amitriptyline, Ephevelone, Simbalta, Ixel, Brofaromin, Indopan, Aurorix .

How can I help myself? Often, redistribution of the drug intake with an emphasis on the morning and afternoon hours helps. If, in this case, sleep disturbances continue to bother you, see your doctor.

Attention: do not stop taking the drug due to sleep disturbances. Insomnia is a short-term and surmountable condition. As your general well-being improves, your sleep will also improve when you take an antidepressant.

Excessive sedation

Signs: drowsiness, lethargy, lethargy, dizziness, increased fatigue, weakness, lethargy and slowing down of the speed of mental and motor reactions.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms – antidepressants with a pronounced sedative effect:

First of all, these are: amitriptyline, anafranil, lerivon, remron

Less common and less pronounced: fevarin, trazodone (trittico), ludiomil

How can I help myself? It must be firmly remembered that excessive sedation while taking an antidepressant is directly related to the relief of such an unpleasant symptom as anxiety. The drugs that work best with anxiety are the drugs that cause sleepiness.Therefore, you should have plenty of rest, give the body time for positive restructuring.

Attention! Patients taking these drugs are advised to refrain from activities that require high concentration of attention (driving vehicles, etc.)

Convulsive syndrome

Signs: the development of seizures while taking the drug.

Drugs that can provoke these symptoms: melipramine, fevarin, ephevelon, lerivon, simbalta

Attention! The drugs themselves do not cause seizures, but they help to lower the seizure threshold, as a result of which in people prone to seizure reactions, the occurrence of these reactions when taking the drug may be alleviated.At the same time, the drug should not be abruptly canceled, it is enough to reduce the dose under the supervision of a physician.

Violation of cardiac conduction

Signs: changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG) in the form of a slowing of cardiac conduction, detected by a doctor.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: amitriptyline, anafranil, melipramine, antidepressants belonging to the group of MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors

Attention! If such changes are detected on the ECG, it is necessary to consult a psychiatrist about the possibility of changing the drug

Rapid heartbeat, arrhythmias

Signs: subjective palpitations or “irregularities” in the work of the heart.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: amitriptyline, anafranil, melipramine, ludiomil, pyrazidol, befol, indopan, zoloft

Attention! If such symptoms are found, it is advisable to make an ECG and consult a psychiatrist about the possibility of changing the drug

Decrease in blood pressure

Signs: dizziness and darkening in the eyes, especially when getting out of bed (that is, when moving from a horizontal position to a vertical one), weakness, palpitations, possible fainting.Decrease in blood pressure (blood pressure) numbers below the usual by more than 10 mm Hg.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: amitriptyline, melipramine, ludiomil, remeron, brofaromin, incazan

How can I help myself? If symptoms of low blood pressure occur, it is advisable to lie quietly for a while: the pressure will rise. In most cases, this unpleasant side effect disappears within a few days after starting therapy.If this side effect bothers most of the time and is significant, consult your doctor with a question about changing the drug.

Increased blood pressure (occurs very rarely)

Signs: palpitations, facial flushing, tinnitus, increase in blood pressure (blood pressure) numbers higher than usual by more than 20 mm Hg.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: ephevelon, zoloft, simbalta, indopan

In most cases, this unpleasant side effect disappears within a few days after starting therapy.If this side effect bothers most of the time and is significant, consult your doctor with a question about changing the drug.

Inversion of affect (change of mood pole)

Signs: transition from a depressive state to a state of excessive unusual uplifting mood. It is not a sign of recovery, since excessive elevation is a condition as painful as excessive depression and depression. Requires treatment, as it depletes mental resources and ultimately leads to a reverse “throw” into depression.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: melipramine (the greatest ability to invert mood), anafranil, amitriptyline, ludiomil, prozac

Attention! If you now suffer from depression, but in the past you have had at least one episode of unusually agitated and elevated state, be sure to inform your doctor about it. This will help to choose the right drug for treatment and avoid such an undesirable phenomenon as inversion of affect.

Hand tremor

Signs: trembling of fingers or all hands at rest and / or while doing something. Dose-dependent effect (that is, it decreases or disappears with a decrease in the dose of the drug).

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: melipramine, anafranil, pyrazidol, befol, coaxil, remron, drugs belonging to the SSRI group

Gastrointestinal disorders

Signs: nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, flatulence.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: paxil, fevarin, zoloft, ephevelon, ixel, azafen, pyrazidol, befol, aurorix, coaxil

Attention! You should not give up the drug with these side effects, since they usually occur at the very beginning of therapy and soon disappear on their own.

How can I help myself? If these side effects are expressed to a significant extent, temporary intake of gastrointestinal drugs to alleviate the condition is permissible.For example, with severe nausea, a temporary symptomatic intake of cerucal is possible.

Decreased appetite

Signs: loss of appetite due to nausea, or simply loss of appetite without concomitant dyspeptic symptoms. Against the background of a smaller (than usual) meal, weight loss is possible.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: Prozac, Fevarin, Zoloft, Coaxil, Simbalta

Attention! These drugs are NOT taken for weight loss purposes.However, if weight gain and excess food intake are associated with diseases such as depression, bulimia, these drugs may be the drugs of choice in treatment.

Increased appetite

Signs: increased appetite with concomitant excess food intake and weight gain. An increase in appetite is usually given by antidepressants with a pronounced sedative (calming, relieving tension and anxiety, causing drowsiness) effect.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: lerivon, remon, amitriptyline, anafranil, rarely – trazodone (trittico)

Such drugs are especially good for depression, proceeding with severe anxiety, loss of appetite and a drop in body weight below normal.

Excessive sweating

Signs: increased sweating at normal body temperature, not associated with changes in ambient temperature.

Drugs that can cause these symptoms: Anafranil, Simbalta, SSRI antidepressants (Paxil, Zoloft)

Sexual dysfunction

Signs: impaired potency, delayed ejaculation in men and anorgasmia in women, decreased libido.

Drugs that can cause potency disorders in men: amitriptyline, anafranil, melipramine

Drugs that can cause a decrease in libido in women and men, delayed ejaculation in men and anorgasmia in women: Ephevelone, Ludiomil, Paxil, Zoloft, Fevarin, Prozac, Simbalta

Drugs that do NOT cause sexual dysfunction: trittico (trazodone), aurorix (moclobemide), remron (mirtazapine), coaxil (tianeptine)

Headache

Drugs that can cause headache: azafen, fevarin, Prozac

If you are taking tranquilizers (anxiolytics, anti-anxiety drugs)

Tranquilizers are the least toxic of psychopharmacological drugs.The main effect of these drugs is anti-anxiety: they eliminate states of emotional stress, excitement, anxiety, increased suspiciousness, a tendency to obsessive doubts, phobias.

They are an important component of the complex treatment of neurotic disorders, where psychotherapy is the leading method. Tranquilizers are also used by healthy people experiencing difficult psychological situations, states of emotional stress, anxiety, anxiety. The hypnotic effect, expressed in the so-called “night” tranquilizers (such as nitrazepam, reladorm, rohypnol, dormicum), as well as hypnotics (zopiclone, zolpidem) is used for sleep disorders and beyond neurotic states.The anticonvulsant effect of some drugs (clonazepam, relanium, nitrazepam, reladorm) of this group is very pronounced, which makes it possible to use them in the treatment of patients with epilepsy. Some tranquilizers have a mild antidepressant effect (alprazolam, etc.). The muscle relaxant effect of tranquilizers allows them to be used as correctors of side extrapyramidal disorders in neuroleptic therapy (see neuroleptic syndrome). Vegetative stabilizing effect (relanium, phenazepam, alprazolam) is manifested in the removal of such unpleasant symptoms as palpitations, blood pressure lability, sweating, functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (good effect in functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome)

The well-known division into “day” and “night” tranquilizers is due to the predominance in some of the mild activating, energizing action (clorazepate, rudotel, grandaxin, strezam), in others – mainly a mild inhibitory and hypnotic effect (phenazepam, lorazepam, meprobamate ).

The duration of taking most tranquilizers should not exceed 2 – 3 weeks. Clonazepam and alprazolam can be taken for a maximum of three months.

Table of synonyms for tranquilizers and hypnotics.

International drug name	The names of this drug that are found in pharmacies (the most common dosage forms in pharmacy chains are highlighted)
Drugs for the treatment of sleep disorders
Zopiclone	Somnol , Imovan , Relaxon , Piclodorm, Sleepwell, Thorson, Zolinox, Milovan
Zolpidem	Sanval , Iwadal , Hypnogen, Snovitel, Zolsana, Zonadin, Nitrest
Midazolam	Dormikum
Nitrazepam	Radedorm, Nitrosan, Nitrazadone, Berlidorm, Eunoktin
Flunitrazepam	Rohypnol
Estazolam	Estazolam
Diazepam + Cyclobarbital	Reladorm
Preparations with predominantly sedative effect
Alprazolam	Alprazolam, Xanax, Alzolam, Alprox, Zoldak, Zolomax, Kassadan, Neurol, Frontin, Helex
Diazepam	Relanium, Relium, Seduxen, Sibazon, Valium , Faustan, Diapam
Clonazepam	Clonazepam, Antelepsin, Clonotril, Rivotril
Lorazepam	Lorafen , Loram, Trapex, Kalmese, Merlit, Tavor, Ativan
Meprobamate	Apo-meprobamate, Meprotan
Phenazepam	Phenazepam
Chlordiazepoxide	Elenium, Librium, Napoton, Radepur, Chlosepid
“Daytime” tranquilizers, non-sedating
Buspirone	Buspirone, Buspar, Spitomin
Hydroxyzine	Atarax
Clorazepate	Apo-clorazepate, Tranex, Tranxen
Medazepam	Rudotel, Mezapam, Nobretem, Nobrium
Morpholino-ethylthioethoxy-benzimidazole	Afobazol
Oxazepam	Tazepam, Nozepam, Serax
Tofisopam	Grandaxin
Etifoxine	Stresam

SIDE EFFECTS OF TRANQUILIZERS

(ANTI-ANTIFICIAL PRODUCTS).

Development of addiction and formation of drug dependence

Signs: the first sign of addiction to the drug is the desire to increase the dose of the drug used, since the previous amount of the drug stops giving the desired effect and no longer relieves unpleasant symptoms. In the future, dependence manifests itself in the inability to “get off” the drug: when trying to cancel the drug, a “withdrawal syndrome” occurs: anxiety, low mood, irritability, heaviness in the head, insomnia, severe weakness, loss of appetite, trembling hands, palpitations, increased blood pressure …Leg cramps and even major epileptic seizures, daytime urinary incontinence may occur.

Drugs that are addictive and addictive:

Most common: relanium (seduxen, sibazon), lorazepam (lorafen), alprazolam

Reliably less common: elenium, clonazepam, tazepam (nozepam)

What to do if you become addicted to the drug? It is very difficult to stop taking a tranquilizer on your own with a formed dependence due to the duration of the “withdrawal syndrome” (about three weeks), a gradual increase in symptoms by the end of the first week of abstinence, and the possible development of dangerous complications (epileptic seizures).It is most advisable to reduce the dose of the drug very slowly under the supervision of a physician, who, in addition to monitoring, will be able to select a therapy aimed at accelerating the elimination of the drug from the body and relieving unpleasant and painful symptoms.

Attention! Signs of drug dependence formation appear within 1 – 1.5 months after the start of taking the above drugs (especially Relanium, lorafen and alprazolam). Most often, dependence on tranquilizers occurs during self-medication, therefore it is strongly NOT recommended to prescribe these drugs to yourself without the participation of a doctor.

Deterioration of memory and attention, impaired coordination of movements, increased effects of alcohol

Signs: These side effects are collectively referred to as “behavioral toxicity” of tranquilizers. A person feels less efficient, it is difficult for him to concentrate attention for a long time, it is difficult to think quickly and find answers in a conversation, he can immediately forget the facts that are being told to him. There is a feeling of insufficient “involvement” in the situation. There may be motor awkwardness, lack of coordination of movements.

Drugs that most often cause these symptoms: diazepam, clonazepam, lorazepam, nitrazepam, phenazepam, elenium (librium), estazolam

Attention! For the period of treatment, alcohol is prohibited. You should refrain from activities related to the management of mechanisms and vehicles.

Excessive sedation

Signs: drowsiness, lethargy, difficulty waking up in the morning.

Drugs that most commonly cause these symptoms: flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), nitrazepam (Radedorm), clonazepam, phenazepam, lorazepam, diazepam (Relanium, seduxen)

Muscle relaxation

Signs: general weakness, or weakness in certain muscle groups (for example, in the arms), relaxation in the body, unwillingness to move again.

Drugs that most often cause these symptoms: diazepam (relanium, seduxen), clonazepam, phenazepam, nitrazepam, lorazepam

Paradoxical reactions

Signs: instead of calming and relieving anxiety, opposite reactions to taking a tranquilizer may occur: increased anxiety, motor restlessness, fussiness, irritability and even aggression. Such reactions are rare and depend on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body.

“Paradoxical” reactions have not yet found definitive confirmation of their connection with the use of certain tranquilizers. However, there is evidence that triazolam, for example, quite often contributes to the emergence of pronounced aggressive behavior. In isolated cases, paradoxical reactions in the form of a feeling of anxiety and sleep disturbances were observed in patients taking buspirone ..

Drugs that do not cause excessive sedation, muscle relaxation and impairment of memory and attention: oxazepam (tazepam, nozepam), grandaxin, strezam, buspirone, atarax, afobazole, mezapam (rudotel), clorazepat.

If you are taking normotimics (mood correctors)

Mood correctors are drugs with the ability to influence both pathologically reduced and pathologically increased mood. The ability to regulate mood is manifested in the elimination of pronounced affective disorders, and then in the stabilization of mood at a certain average level. Thus, the main indication for the appointment of normotimics is the presence of depressive and manic attacks, recurring quite often.

Most mood correctors (other than lithium preparations) are also anticonvulsants used in the treatment of epilepsy.

In addition, normotimics are successfully used in treatment:

– personality disorders, accompanied by explosiveness, conflict, irritability, aggression

– depression in alcoholic patients

– migraines

The normotimics include:

– lithium salts (sedalite, micalit, lithosan, contemnol, quilonum retard preparations)

– valproic acid (drugs depakin, konvuleks, encorat, apilepsin, convulsofin, dipromal, orfiril, everiden)

– carbamazepine (synonyms: finlepsin, tegretol, actinerval, gen-karpaz, zagretol, zeptol, carbadak, carbalepsin, carbapin, karbasan, carbatol, karzepin-200, mazepin, novo-carbamaz, stazepin, storylate, epizepin)

SIDE EFFECTS OF NORMOTIMICS.

Side effects of lithium preparations (sedalite, micalit, lithosan, etc.)

At the initial stage of preventive therapy with lithium salts, mild side effects may appear in the form of increased fatigue, disorders of the digestive system (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), and occasional slight tremors of the hands. At permissible concentrations of lithium in the blood (in the range of 0.5 – 0.8 meq / l), these phenomena do not require dose reduction and usually disappear as the body adapts to the drug.

With a relative duration of treatment (over several months and years), the following may appear:

– diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland

– a noticeable increase in body weight

– minor edema

– temporary deterioration in visual clarity.

In these cases, it is sometimes necessary to reduce the dose or switch from using a prolonged (long-acting) drug to taking short-acting drugs in the same dose 2-3 times a day.

The main complication that can occur with prolonged use of lithium preparations is intoxication with lithium salts.

Early signs of lithium overdose: increased thirst and trembling of the fingers. Then lethargy, weakness, drowsiness appear. Then vomiting, diarrhea join, swelling increases, speech difficulties, heart rhythm disturbances appear.

At the first signs of intoxication, it is necessary to immediately discontinue the drug and consult a psychiatrist, who will prescribe treatment aimed at accelerating the elimination of lithium from the body and relieving symptoms of intoxication.

Provoking factors that increase the concentration of lithium in the blood: diet with restriction of sodium chloride and liquid, combination with indomethacin, some antibiotics (ampicillin, tetracycline)

Attention! Treatment with lithium preparations is carried out with regular monitoring of the concentration of lithium in the blood plasma:

– in the acute period (treatment aimed at “breaking off” a painful attack): the concentration of lithium in the blood is monitored daily, while it should not exceed 1.2 – 1.4 meq / l

– selection of a daily dose for prophylactic admission (treatment is aimed at preventing repeated attacks of depression or manic states) requires determining the concentration of lithium in the blood, first once a week for the first month, then 1 – 2 times a month, after 7 months of therapy – 1 every 3 – 4 months.The concentration of lithium, providing a preventive effect, should be in the range of 0.5 – 0.8 meq / l

Side effects of valproic acid preparations (Konvulex, Depakin, Encorat, etc.)

The most common side effects of valproic acid therapy are gastrointestinal disorders: nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite.

Excessive sedation is possible in the form of drowsiness, slowing down of thought processes.

Also possible: tremor (trembling of hands), impaired coordination of movements.

When using prolonged drugs, applied once a day (for example, depakin chrono), side effects occur more often, it is possible to develop not a decrease, but an increase in appetite, sometimes hair loss is observed.

To prevent these phenomena, it is advisable to combine valproic acid with a daily intake of multivitamins with a set of trace elements, including, in particular, selenium and zinc.

Side effects of carbamazepine (finlepsin, tegretol)

When carrying out therapy with carbamazepine, side effects are expressed in headaches, dizziness, impaired coordination of movements, drowsiness, dermatitis or itching, sometimes double vision, blurred vision.

Like other normotimics, side reactions are possible in the form of nausea and vomiting.

However, in most cases, carbamazepine is well tolerated, even with prolonged use.

If you are taking nootropics (means that improve nutrition and brain function)

Nootropics – drugs that stimulate mental activity, improve memory, accelerate learning processes.

Application: decrease in general activity, asthenic conditions of various origins, brain damage (vascular, traumatic, alcoholic, infectious), conditions after strokes, coma, dementia, in children’s practice: with intellectual disability, developmental delay, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD), tics, enuresis.

Nootorpes are always used in the treatment of alcoholism.

Effects of nootropics (present in different drugs in different volumes):

– Psychostimulating (increasing the activity of the sphere of motives) – used in states of decreased activity, inactivity and apathy, intellectual inhibition

– Antiasthenic (reduction of weakness, increased physical and mental exhaustion)

– Increasing the level of wakefulness of consciousness – used in states of oppressed or darkened consciousness

– Adaptogenic – increasing the resistance of the body and psyche to various harmful environmental factors, including intoxications

– Nootropic (strengthening the functions of thinking, memory)

– Antiepileptic (for some drugs)

– Antiparkinsonian (used not only for Parkinson’s disease, but also to relieve unpleasant side effects of antipsychotic therapy – see.above)

– Vegetotropic (stabilization of the autonomic nervous system)

Table of synonyms for nootropic drugs.

International drug name	The names of this drug that are found in pharmacies (the most common dosage forms in pharmacy chains are highlighted)
Preparations with a predominance of stimulating, activating action (cannot be taken at night, i.e.as may worsen sleep)
Meclofenoxate	Acefen, Centrophenoxine, Cerutil
Phenylpiracetam	Phenotropil
Ethylthiobenzimidazole	Bemitil
Pyritinol	Encephabol, Pyriditol, Cerebol, Enerbol
Piracetam	Nootropil, Piracetam, Lucetam, Memotropil, Oikamid, Cerebril, Stamina, Escotropil, Piratropil
Piracetam + cinnarizine	Fezam, Combitropil, NooKam, Omaron, Piracesin
Piracetam + Vinpocetine	Vinpotropil
Deanola aceglumate	Demanol, Noocleryl
Gamma-aminobutyric acid	Aminalon
Glutamic acid	L-Glutamine, Calcium glutamate, Epilapton, Acidogen, Glutane
Hexobendine + Etamivan + Etophylline	Instenon
Ginkgo biloba	Tanakan, Bilobil, Gikoba, Ginkyo, Memoplant
Preparations with balanced action
Methionyl-glutamyl-histidyl-phenylalanyl-prolyl-glycyl-proline	Semax
Cerebrolysin	Cerebrolysin
Choline alfoscerate	Gliatilin
Preparations with a predominance of sedative, sedative effects
Ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate	Mexidol
Aminophenylbutyric acid	Phenibut
Nicotinoyl gamma-aminobutyric acid	Picamilon
Hopantenic acid	Pantogam
Sodium oxybutyrate	Sodium oxybutyrate
Glycine	Glycine

SIDE EFFECTS OF NOTROPES

Nootropics are low-toxic agents and are usually well tolerated by patients.

Of the side effects, sleep disturbances, increased irritability may be noted. Such effects are inherent in nootropics with a predominance of stimulating action. These include (in descending order of stimulating effect): acefen, phenotropil, bemitil, encephabol, nootropil (piracetam), demanol, aminalon.

On the contrary, drugs with a predominance of a mild sedative (calming) effect do not increase irritability, anxiety and sleep disturbances, and even relieve these unpleasant symptoms.Nootropics with a predominance of a calming effect include Phenibut, Mexidol, Picamilon, Pantogam.

Other side effects of nootropics (occur quite rarely, are unstable and pass quickly): headache, nausea, stool disorders, fluctuations in blood pressure

90,000 How to deal with hair loss

Hair loss and hair regrowth remedies are very popular in pharmacies and cosmetic stores. If men are depressed by severe hair loss, then a woman with such a problem feels deep despair.How not to lose heart if hairs constantly fly off from thinned hair like autumn leaves, remaining on the bed, in the comb, the drain hole of the bath after each shampooing. All this means that you need qualified scalp treatment and referral to an experienced trichologist.

To understand the severity of the problem, you need to do a little test. Moderate hair loss is a natural process. The daily norm is when 80-150 hairs remain on the comb.To understand whether or not a hair loss treatment is required, gather your hair into a fist, run your hand from root to tip. As a result, 2-3 hairs should remain on the fingers.

If, after combing, 15-16 hairs remain on the ridge, then this volume is considered normal. If you lose 20 or more hairs, you should consider hair treatment. And one more thing: consider the hair that has fallen out. If you have fragility rather than loss, then there are no translucent bulbous bags at the ends. If the follicles are transparent, light, then there are no serious diseases.If the bulbs are dark, almost black in color, this means that hair is falling out for a serious reason and treatment is urgently needed. A trichologist is necessary, because with severe hair loss, competent treatment is necessary so as not to go bald.

Causes of hair loss in women

Why does alopecia occur, the treatment of which should be complex and long-term? For women and men, the reasons are different. The lady is losing her hair:

• due to a stressful situation – during experiences, the vessels narrow, the blood circulation of the follicle is disturbed.The bulbs do not receive nutrition, oxygen, weaken and die off;
• lack of vitamins, minerals – low hemoglobin causes anemia, hair suffers. The condition of the hair is worsened by strict diets, gastrointestinal ailments;
• fungus – spores on the skin prevent the follicles from feeding, destroy the bulbs, causing baldness in the affected areas of a round shape;
• hormonal disruption – the thyroid gland does not work well or the woman enters menopause. Problems are observed in adolescents during the period of restructuring of the body, during pregnancy;

90,015 drug use – antidepressants, hormone preparations, oral contraceptives, as well as aspirin, laxatives, with prolonged use, negatively affect hair density;

• poisoning by smoking, alcohol, dirty air – it is harmful for hair to live near highways, industrial workshops, chemical plants;
• violations of the rules of hair care – refusal to wear a headdress in the cold season, constant use of styling products, tight hairpins, rough combing, frequent dyeing, perm, excessive consumption of coffee;
• weakening of immunity, latent ailment – diseases of the heart and blood vessels negatively affect the appearance of the hair, lack of estrogen, polycystic ovary;
• heredity – baldness also comes due to hereditary factors.

The problem can be seasonal – in spring and autumn, hairs fall out more actively. It is difficult to establish the cause on your own, so it is better to go to a specialist trichologist. You need to prepare for the fact that one visit to the doctor will not do. We’ll have to donate blood – general analysis and biochemistry to determine the amount of iron. The doctor can refer you to a consultation with an oncologist, gynecologist, endocrinologist and dermatologist. And only after that he will tell you what the root of the problem is, and then help you deal with it competently.⁠

90,000 MEDICINES CAUSING HAIR LOSS: LIST AND WHAT TO DO – MEDICAL

Alopecia is the medical term for baldness. Many different factors contribute to this condition, including some medications. Doctors call side-by-side baldness

Contents:

Alopecia is the medical term for baldness.Many different factors contribute to this condition, including some medications. Doctors refer to medication-induced baldness as medication-induced baldness.

Drug-induced alopecia can affect any part of the scalp or body. The extent and duration of hair loss depends on the medication the person is taking, as well as the dosage.

Chemotherapy drugs may be the most well-known cause of alopecia areata.However, hair loss is a possible side effect of many different medications.

Read to find out what medications can cause hair loss and how to stop or reverse hair loss.

Signs of alopecia areata

The effects of alopecia areata often appear within 3 months of starting a particular medication.

A person with drug-induced pattern baldness usually experiences thinning hair rather than partial hair loss.However, hair loss may be more noticeable on the top of the scalp.

Other early signs of alopecia include a noticeable increase in hair loss on combs, shower drains and pillows.

List of drugs causing hair loss

Various drugs cause hair loss at different stages of the hair growth cycle. Some medications affect the hair during the resting phase (telogen), while others affect the hair during the growing phase (anagen).

Telogen hair loss

Most drugs that cause hair loss act on the hair in the resting phase.

It is normal for people to lose at least 100 telogen hairs per day. However, certain stressors such as fever, dietary imbalances, and certain medications can cause this number to rise.

Medicines associated with telogen hair loss include:

• amphetamines
• angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• antidepressants, including paroxetine (paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (
• zoloft)
• antidepressants anticonvulsants
• beta-blockers that doctors use to treat heart problems and glaucoma
• birth control pills
• anticoagulants, including heparin (brand name varies by form) and warfarin (Coumadin)
• cholesterol-lowering drugs such as clofibrate (Atromid-S) and gemfibrozil (Lopid)
• drugs for treating thyroid problems
• famotidine (pepcid) and other drugs that treat stomach problems
• hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• isotretinoin (Accutane) and other preparations based on vitamin A.
• levodopa (Atamet) and other drugs for Parkinson’s disease
• naproxen (Naprosyn) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• steroids

Anagen hair loss

Certain hair loss drugs affect hair growth stage. The most striking example is chemotherapy drugs.

Hair loss may start within 2–5 weeks after starting chemotherapy. However, people who take the same medications and receive the same treatment may experience baldness in different ways.

In rare cases, medications that contain the following ingredients can also cause hair loss during the anagen phase:

• arsenic
• bismuth
• boric acid
• thallium

Colchicine (Colcrys), which doctors use to treat gout can also occasionally cause hair loss during the growth stage.

Can You Stop or Reverse Hair Loss?

Whenever possible, the best way to treat alopecia areata is to stop taking medications that cause hair loss.However, people should not stop taking medications without the consent of their doctor.

The doctor will discuss any alternative treatment options and make sure the person is safe to switch to any new drugs.

After a person stops taking the medication that caused alopecia, it may take six months for hair to stop falling out.

People usually notice new hair growth within 3-6 months. However, cosmetic hair restoration can take up to 18 months.

Diagnosing alopecia areata

People who think they may have alopecia areata should talk to their doctor.

Early signs of excessive hair loss include:

• Noticing hair on pillows
• Looking for extra hair in combs or combs
• More hair loss than usual when showering

When diagnosing drug-induced baldness, a doctor must draw up a complete medical history that takes into account the following factors:

• any new drugs that the person is taking, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
• any change in the dosage of drugs
• general health and nutrition of the person
• either recent illnesses or surgeries
• Whether there is a family history of hair loss

The doctor may also perform the following tests to help diagnose:

• Hair pull test and exam , in which a small section of hair is pulled to see how many strands are separating from the scalp.People with alopecia often have about 10-15 hair loss.
• Scalp test , during which the doctor will examine the scalp for flaking, redness and hair loss.
• Scalp biopsy is a procedure that involves taking skin samples from areas of the scalp where hair loss has occurred and analyzing them. The results can alert the doctor to other possible causes of alopecia.
• Blood Tests : These tests can detect any nutritional or hormonal imbalance that may be causing hair loss.

Summary

Certain medications can cause hair loss at various points in the hair cycle.

People who have noticed a significant increase in hair loss while taking medication should see a doctor. The doctor may reduce the dosage of the medication or prescribe an alternative that is less likely to cause hair loss.

In most cases, drug-induced alopecia is reversible. Human hair usually begins to grow back a few months after the medication is stopped.

90,000 list of the best drugs without prescriptions

Information about the drug that I found on the Internet

Good day! My name is Anna, I am 46 years old. This year, the leadership has changed at work and the rules have been tightened too much. From nervous experiences and constant excitement for my workplace, I developed insomnia. I have even forgotten the last time I had a good sleep – I do not sleep at night, I feel bad during the day.

A visit to the doctor gave me only a prescription for a drug unknown to me. Since I treat all medicines with great caution, before buying Sonapax, I decided to find out in detail about it.

There is a lot of information on the Internet that gives a detailed description of the medicine. I used official sources to get acquainted with the information. So, Sonapax is not a new medicine, but rather a drug that has been known for a long time. The drug is available in tablet form and has two dosage types.The drug has all quality certificates and has passed a number of tests. The main active ingredient in Sonapax is Thioridazine hydrochloride, which has a sedative effect on the central nervous system. The drug has a mild hypnotic effect. Due to its broad spectrum of action on the nervous system, it is prescribed for many health deviations:

• various forms of schizophrenia;
• neuroses;
• feeling anxious;
• depression;
• aggressiveness;
• insomnia.

The site says that Sonapax is also prescribed to children with hyperactivity, but strictly according to the doctor’s prescription. I do not know how it can be prescribed to children, even if it is sold to adults strictly by prescription, perhaps the doctor reduces the dosage to a minimum.

What’s in the antipsychotic agent Sonapax for the central nervous system

I know that most drugs of this kind have a very powerful effect on the human condition and have a lot of side effects. Therefore, I decided to read the composition right away and understand what’s what.I was pleased with the fact that the pill contains only one active ingredient – Thioridazine, it is he who has a therapeutic sedative effect. The composition also contains talc, starch, lactose and gelatin, but all these substances play an auxiliary role and are not important in therapy.

Tablets are available with a dosage of 25 mg and 10 mg Thioridazine.

The presence of one active ingredient gives hope that the likelihood of an allergic reaction and side reactions is small, but still I did not exclude it, therefore I turned to the statements of specialists about Sonapax.

“I have been using Sonapax tablets for a long time in my practice. I prescribe them in many cases, with an individual approach to the condition of each patient. The drug contains Thioridazine hydrochloride due to which it has a sedative and antidepressant effect. Helps to cope with sudden onset of anxiety, insomnia and depression. Has some contraindications and is sold by prescription. I do not advise you to self-medicate, but if necessary, immediately seek advice from a specialist. ”
Yegor Sergeevich, neuropathologist, St.Tyumen

The opinion of specialists seemed to me quite adequate, the doctor said correctly that taking such strong medicines without a doctor’s prescription is at least stupid and dangerous to health. I asked on the site who exactly Sonapax is contraindicated and fell into this category:

• children under 4 years old;
• pregnant and lactating women;
• liver failure;
• traumatic brain injury.

It is clear that in each case the doctor will approach individually and prescribe the appropriate dosage.It became interesting to me to find out the reviews of people who have already taken this tool and are ready to tell in detail about their impressions.

What depression really is

This is a long-term (2 weeks or more) pronounced decrease in mood, which is accompanied by several more additional symptoms: decreased activity, slowed mental activity, lack of joy in life. That is, if you are no longer touched by the usual joys – hobbies, family, gatherings with friends, then this is a reason to think, observe your condition and, possibly, consult a doctor.

If you have ceased to be touched by the usual pleasures, then this is a reason to think about it and, possibly, consult a doctor.

True depression is a serious and often severe illness that requires compulsory treatment by a psychiatrist with the prescription of special medications.

Reviews from the network about Sonapax against insomnia

There are many forums on the Internet where people discuss medications and advise what is effective and what is not even worth spending money on.After reading reviews from several similar communities, I came to the conclusion that a fairly large number of people took Sonapax. To be honest, everyone had different diagnoses, and were both satisfied and not quite. But in general, the number of positive reviews exceeded and people noted a noticeable result.

“Drank Sonapax as prescribed by a doctor, and only thanks to him and sessions with a psychologist, he was able to overcome his depression. I took it once a day, I did not notice any side reactions.Rather, on the contrary, I developed new hobbies and I was able to find a job to my liking and returned to work. Thanks to Sonapax therapy, I again began to enjoy every day and appreciate what I have. Good pills with a quick effect ”

Well what can I say, if Sonapax helps even in a severe mentally depressed state, I hope it will help me cope with my insomnia, and I can sleep well.

SIDE EFFECTS OF TRANQUILIZERS

(ANTI-ANTI-ANTICANTS).

The development of addiction and the formation of drug dependence

Signs: the first sign of addiction to the drug is the desire to increase the dose of the drug used, since the previous amount of the drug stops giving the desired effect and no longer relieves unpleasant symptoms. In the future, dependence manifests itself in the inability to “get off” the drug: when trying to cancel the drug, a “withdrawal syndrome” occurs: anxiety, low mood, irritability, heaviness in the head, insomnia, severe weakness, loss of appetite, trembling hands, palpitations, increased blood pressure …Leg cramps and even major epileptic seizures, daytime urinary incontinence may occur.

Drugs that cause addiction and addiction:

Most often: relanium (seduxen, sibazon), lorazepam (lorafene), alprazolam

Reliably less often: elenium, clonazepam, tazepam (nozepam)

What to do to the drug? It is very difficult to stop taking a tranquilizer on your own with a formed dependence due to the duration of the “withdrawal syndrome” (about three weeks), a gradual increase in symptoms by the end of the first week of abstinence, and the possible development of dangerous complications (epileptic seizures).It is most advisable to reduce the dose of the drug very slowly under the supervision of a physician, who, in addition to monitoring, will be able to select a therapy aimed at accelerating the elimination of the drug from the body and relieving unpleasant and painful symptoms.

Attention! Signs of drug dependence formation appear within 1 – 1.5 months after the start of taking the above drugs (especially Relanium, lorafen and alprazolam). Most often, dependence on tranquilizers occurs during self-medication, therefore it is strongly NOT recommended to prescribe these drugs to yourself without the participation of a doctor.

Impairment of memory and attention, impaired coordination of movements, increased effects of alcohol

Signs: These side effects are combined by the concept of “behavioral toxicity” of tranquilizers. A person feels less efficient, it is difficult for him to concentrate attention for a long time, it is difficult to think quickly and find answers in a conversation, he can immediately forget the facts that are being told to him. There is a feeling of insufficient “involvement” in the situation. There may be motor awkwardness, lack of coordination of movements.

Drugs that most often cause such symptoms: diazepam, clonazepam, lorazepam, nitrazepam, phenazepam, elenium (librium), estazolam

Attention! For the period of treatment, alcohol is prohibited. You should refrain from activities related to the management of mechanisms and vehicles.

Excessive sedation

Signs: drowsiness, lethargy, difficulty waking up in the morning.

Drugs that most often cause these symptoms: flunitrazepam (rohypnol), nitrazepam (radedorm), clonazepam, phenazepam, lorazepam, diazepam (relanium, seduxen)

myorelaxation

muscle groups (for example, in the arms), relaxation in the body, unwillingness to move again.

Drugs that most often cause these symptoms: diazepam (Relanium, seduxen), clonazepam, phenazepam, nitrazepam, lorazepam

Paradoxical reactions

Signs: instead of calming anxiety and relieving anxiety, opposite reactions to anxiety may occur: , motor restlessness, fussiness, irritability and even aggression. Such reactions are rare and depend on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body.

“Paradoxical” reactions have not yet found a final confirmation of their connection with the intake of certain tranquilizers.However, there is evidence that triazolam, for example, quite often contributes to the emergence of pronounced aggressive behavior. In isolated cases, paradoxical reactions in the form of a feeling of anxiety and sleep disturbances were observed in patients taking buspirone. atarax, afobazole, mezapam (rudotel), clorazepat.

If you are taking normotimics (mood correctors)

Mood correctors

are drugs that have the ability to influence both pathologically reduced and pathologically elevated mood.The ability to regulate mood is manifested in the elimination of pronounced affective disorders, and then in the stabilization of mood at a certain average level. Thus, the main indication for the appointment of normotimics is the presence of depressive and manic attacks, recurring quite often.

Most mood correctors (other than lithium preparations) are also anticonvulsants used in the treatment of epilepsy.

In addition, normotimics are successfully used in the treatment of:

– personality disorders accompanied by explosiveness, conflict, irritability, aggression

– depression in alcoholic patients

– migraines

The normotimics include:

– lithium salts sedalite, micalit, lithosan, contemnol, quilonum retard)

– valproic acid (drugs depakin, konvulex, enkorat, apilepsin, convulsofin, dipromal, orfiril, everiden)

– carbamazepinelepsin (synonyms: finretol , Zagretol, Zeptol, Carbadak, Carbalepsin, Carbapine, Carbasan, Carbatol, Carzepin-200, Mazepin, Novo-Carbamaz, Stazepin, Storilat, Timonil, Finzepin, Epial)

SIDE EFFECTS.

Side effects of lithium preparations (sedalite, micalit, litosan, etc.)

At the initial stage of preventive therapy with lithium salts, mild side effects may appear in the form of increased fatigue, disorders of the digestive system (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), occasionally appearing slight tremors of the hands. At permissible concentrations of lithium in the blood (in the range of 0.5 – 0.8 meq / l), these phenomena do not require dose reduction and usually disappear as the body adapts to the drug.

With a relative duration of treatment (for several months and years), the following may appear:

– diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland

– noticeable increase in body weight

– minor edema

– temporary deterioration of vision clarity.

In these cases, sometimes it is necessary to reduce the dose or switch from using a prolonged (long-acting) drug to taking short-acting drugs in the same dose 2-3 times a day.

The main complication that can occur with prolonged use of lithium preparations is intoxication with lithium salts.

Early signs of lithium overdose: increased thirst and trembling of the fingers. Then lethargy, weakness, drowsiness appear. Then vomiting, diarrhea join, swelling increases, speech difficulties, heart rhythm disturbances appear.

At the first signs of intoxication, it is necessary to immediately discontinue the drug and consult a psychiatrist who will prescribe treatment aimed at accelerating the elimination of lithium from the body and relieving symptoms of intoxication.

Provoking factors that increase the concentration of lithium in the blood: diet with restriction of sodium chloride and liquid, combination with indomethacin, some antibiotics (ampicillin, tetracycline)

Attention! Treatment with lithium preparations is carried out with regular monitoring of the concentration of lithium in the blood plasma:

– in the acute period (treatment aimed at “breaking off” a painful attack): the concentration of lithium in the blood is monitored daily, while it should not exceed 1.2 – 1 , 4 meq / l

– selection of a daily dose for prophylactic administration (treatment is aimed at preventing recurrent attacks of depression or manic states) requires determining the concentration of lithium in the blood, first once a week for the first month, then 1 – 2 times a month, after 7 months of therapy – 1 time in 3 – 4 months.The concentration of lithium, providing a prophylactic effect, should be in the range of 0.5 – 0.8 meq / l

Side effects of valproic acid preparations (Konvulex, Depakin, Encorat, etc.)

The most common side effects of valproic acid therapy are disorders from the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite.

Excessive sedation is possible in the form of drowsiness, slowing down of thought processes.

Also possible: tremor (trembling of hands), impaired coordination of movements.

When using prolonged-release drugs applied once a day (for example, depakin chrono), side effects occur more often, it is possible that not a decrease, but an increase in appetite, may develop, sometimes hair loss is observed.

To prevent these phenomena, it is advisable to combine valproic acid with a daily intake of multivitamins with a set of trace elements, including, in particular, selenium and zinc.

Side effects of carbamazepine (finlepsin, tegretol)

During carbamazepine therapy, side effects are expressed in headaches, dizziness, impaired coordination of movements, drowsiness, dermatitis or pruritus, sometimes double vision, blurred vision.

Like other normotimics, side reactions are possible in the form of nausea and vomiting.

However, in most cases, carbamazepine is well tolerated, even with prolonged use.

If you take nootropics (drugs that improve nutrition and brain function)

Nootropics

– drugs that stimulate mental activity, improve memory, accelerate learning processes.

Application: decrease in general activity, asthenic conditions of various origins, brain damage (vascular, traumatic, alcoholic, infectious), conditions after strokes, coma, dementia, in children’s practice: with intellectual disability, developmental delay, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), tics, enuresis.

Nootorpa is always used in the treatment of alcoholism.

Effects of nootropics (present in different drugs in different volumes):

– Psychostimulating (increasing the activity of the sphere of impulses) – used in states of decreased activity, inactivity and apathy, intellectual inhibition

– Antiasthenic (reduction of weakness, increased physical and mental exhaustion )

– Increasing the level of wakefulness of consciousness – used in states of oppressed or darkened consciousness

– Adaptogenic – increasing the resistance of the body and psyche to various harmful environmental factors, including intoxications

– Nootropic (strengthening the functions of thinking, memory)

– Antiepileptic (for some drugs)

– Antiparkinsonian (used not only for Parkinson’s disease, but also to relieve unpleasant side effects of neuroleptic therapy – see.above)

– Vegetotropic (stabilization of the autonomic nervous system)

Table of synonyms for nootropic drugs.

9012 Hexobendin Etobendin 9182

906 Biladin + Etobendin 9182 9080

11 632

International name of the drug	The names of this drug that are found in pharmacies (the most common drug forms in drugstore chains are highlighted)
Drugs with a predominance of stimulating, activating action 9000 take at night, i.e.k. may worsen sleep)
meclofenoxate	Lucidril, Tsentrofenoksin, Tserutil
phenylpiracetam	Phenotropil
Etiltiobenzimidazol	Bemithyl
Pyritinol	Encephabol, Pyriditol, Cerebol, Enerbol
Piracetam	Nootropil, Piracetam, Lucetam, Memotropil, Oikamide, Cerebril, Stamine3654 932 Fezam, Combitropil, NooKam, Omaron, Piracezin
Piracetam + Vinpocetine	Vinpotropil
Deanola Aceglumate 0 902 Aceglumate 00 902 54	Aminalon
Glutamic acid	L-Glutamine, Calcium glutamate, Epilapton, Acidogen, Glutane
9012 Hexobendin Etobienne 9452
Tanakan, Bilobil, Gikoba, Ginkio, Memoplant
Preparations with balanced action
Methionyl-glutamyl-histidyl-phenyl 906 4 Semiproline-9012 906 906 alanyl-Proline-Proline 902 906 906 Cerebrolysin	Cerebrolysin
Choline alfoscerate	Gliatilin
Preparations with a predominance of sedative, sedative effects
Aminofenilmaslyanaya acid	Phenibutum
nicotinoyl gamma-aminobutyric acid	Pikamilon
hopantenic acid	Pantogam
Sodium hydroxybutyrate	Sodium hydroxybutyrate
Glycine	Glycine

SIDE EFFECTS OF NOTROPES

Nootropics are low-toxic agents and are usually well tolerated by patients.

Side effects may include sleep disturbances and increased irritability. Such effects are inherent in nootropics with a predominance of stimulating action. These include (in descending order of stimulating effect): acefen, phenotropil, bemitil, encephabol, nootropil (piracetam), demanol, aminalon.

On the contrary, drugs with a predominance of a mild sedative (calming) effect do not increase irritability, anxiety and sleep disturbances, and even relieve these unpleasant symptoms.Nootropics with a predominance of a calming effect include Phenibut, Mexidol, Picamilon, Pantogam.

Other side effects of nootropics (occur quite rarely, are unstable and pass quickly): headache, nausea, stool disorders, fluctuations in blood pressure

The main advantages of the drug

Having studied the reviews of specialists and patients about Sonapax, and after reading the information from the manufacturer, I was able to highlight the main advantages of using these pills:

• treats neuroses;
• helps to cope with depression;
• normalizes sleep;
• soothes.

By the way, I also read that when using medium and small doses, the likelihood of adverse reactions is extremely small. Since the doctor prescribed the drug to me and also in a small dosage, I decided to buy and try Sonapax.

What to do?

There are a number of over-the-counter drugs available. They are ineffective for clinical depression, but can help manage stress, short-term sleep disturbances, and irritability. With their help, you can try to alleviate your psycho-emotional state a little:

• Glycine is one of the most popular remedies.It is prescribed, starting from childhood, with stress, overwork, emotional overstrain. Sometimes effective for minor sleep disturbances.
• Afobazole . Has an anti-anxiety effect, eliminates the feeling of fear, tearfulness, irritability. It is used in the treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia and even with alcoholism, to relieve the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Not addictive. It should be borne in mind that children under 18 are contraindicated.
• Novo-Passit . Quite a strong sedative for nervousness and irritability. Effective in reducing concentration, memory, fatigue. Helps to restore the nervous system during periods of increased stress.

Over-the-counter drugs will not cope with clinical depression, but they can relieve psycho-emotional state.

• Stress . Well soothes, relieves irritability, anxiety, improves sleep. Driving and other activities that require increased concentration are not recommended during the treatment period.
• Persen is a herbal medicine. Contains valerian, lemon balm and peppermint extracts. Has a calming and anti-anxiety effect. It helps well with increased excitability, emotional lability, tearfulness. It can be used in the complex therapy of mild anxiety depressive disorders, facilitates the withdrawal of potent drugs.
• Magne B6 . Increases the body’s resistance to stress. Magnesium deficiency can lead to an imbalance of the nervous system, irritability, sleep disturbances, therefore Magne B6 has a positive effect in these cases.
• Tenoten . Provides anti-anxiety, sedative, anti-asthenic effect, helps to cope with stress and psycho-emotional stress. Relieves irritability and tension. It can be used for neurotic conditions.

Instructions for use and whether Sonapax helped me get enough sleep

First of all, I began to consider the packaging in which the medicine was located. The tablets were in a standard white pack, inside there were 60 white pills and instructions for use.How to accept the doctor wrote to me in the appointment, so I skimmed through the instructions. Since in each case the dosage is prescribed individually by the doctor, I will tell you how it was prescribed to me. The doctor prescribed to take one tablet half an hour before bedtime with a glass of water.