In the final episode of our second psychopharmacology series, we will discuss how to manage antipsychotic side effects. Side effects are quite common for patients taking antipsychotics unfortunately. Knowing how to manage common antipsychotic side effects is incredibly valuable for your patients as it can improve tolerability and treatment compliance. We’ll provide a broad overview for how to conceptualize the treatment of side effects based on which receptors are targeted by the drug. We’ll discuss general principles for managing side effects and then review how to manage specific side effects including extrapyramidal symptoms, hyperprolactinemia, metabolic syndrome, orthostatic hypotension, and more!

Photo Credit: Hernan Pinera, “Move,” Flickr

Episode Music Credits: Javier Suárez, Tumbling Dishes, Better With Music

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In today’s episode of our psychopharmacology series, we will discuss insomnia and treatments for insomnia. Most of the time, sleep medications are not the solution for addressing insomnia! We’ll briefly describe cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), which is THE first line treatment for insomnia.  We will then review 6 different classes of medications used to treat insomnia including benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics (i.e. Z-drugs), melatonin agonists, TCAs, orexin receptor antagonists, and miscellaneous non-FDA approved medications for insomnia. We’ll discuss the evidence base for these medications in treating chronic insomnia (hint: it’s not good) and what factors might make you choose behavioral treatment versus medications. We’ll then review common side effects of sleep medications and test your clinical reasoning with some cases!

Photo Credit: Joao Santos, “Smooth Antelope Canyon b&w,” Flickr

Episode Music Credits: Javier Suárez, Tumbling Dishes, Better With Music

Podcast: Play in new window | Download