News

Depression and Anxiety Linked to Minor Lead Exposure

Lead is ubiquitous in our environment and is known to be toxic to the brain.
Researchers report that exposure to lead has been linked to Depression and Anxiety disorders.
This was reported in the December issue of the medical journal Archives of General Psychiatry.
Researchers studied data from almost 2000 adults aged 20 to 39 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2004.  The study authors examined the young adults for evidence of Major Depression, Panic Disorder or Anxiety Disorder.  The participants were also evaluated for blood lead levels.

The researchers report that the young adults in this study who had lead levels of 2.11 ?g/dL or more in their blood were 2.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with Major Depression and five times more likely to be diagnosed with Panic Disorder or Anxiety Disorder compared with lead blood levels of 0.7 ?g/dL or less.

Lead exposure is not uncommon.  Exposure to lead can come from contaminated water, pottery, tobacco smoke, leaded gasoline or paint.

Previous medical studies have indicated that lead blood levels above 6.3 ?g/dL were toxic and were associated with depression and anxiety disorders.  This is an important new finding in that it is teaching us that even very low levels of lead can cause disease and we should be very cautious of any exposure to environmental lead.

Cristopher Geiler, MD
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009;66:1313-1319.

Read more – December 13, 2009

Lupron

· Trade Name
LUPRON

· Generic Name
Leuprolide

· Drug Class
Cancer medication

· How It Works
Medication stops gonadotropin release and suppresses ovarian and testicular function

· Serious Side Effects
bone density loss
paralysis
spinal cord compression
urinary obstruction
arrhythmias
allergic reactions
pulmonary embolism

· Common Side Effects
decreased libido
depression
emotional lability
hot flashes
stomach upset
sweating
headache
vaginitis
generalized pain
joint disorder
edema
weight changes
dizziness
breast tenderness
insomnia
paresthesias
vaginal bleeding

Read more – March 27, 2009

Leuprolide

· Trade Name
Viadur

· Generic Name
LEUPROLIDE

· Drug Class
Cancer medication

· How It Works
Medication stops gonadotropin release and suppresses ovarian and testicular function

· Serious Side Effects
bone density loss
paralysis
spinal cord compression
urinary obstruction
arrhythmias
allergic reactions
pulmonary embolism

· Common Side Effects
decreased libido
depression
emotional lability
hot flashes
stomach upset
sweating
headache
vaginitis
generalized pain
joint disorder
edema
weight changes
dizziness
breast tenderness
insomnia
paresthesias
vaginal bleeding

Read more

Viadur

· Trade Name
VIADUR

· Generic Name
Leuprolide

· Drug Class
Cancer medication

· How It Works
Medication stops gonadotropin release and suppresses ovarian and testicular function

· Serious Side Effects
bone density loss
paralysis
spinal cord compression
urinary obstruction
arrhythmias
allergic reactions
pulmonary embolism

· Common Side Effects
decreased libido
depression
emotional lability
hot flashes
stomach upset
sweating
headache
vaginitis
generalized pain
joint disorder
edema
weight changes
dizziness
breast tenderness
insomnia
paresthesias
vaginal bleeding

Read more

Ribavirin

· Trade Name
Virazole

· Generic Name
RIBAVIRIN

· Drug Class
Anti viral medication
Hepatitis medication

· How It Works
Medication mechanism of action unknown

· Serious Side Effects
bone marrow failure
birth defect
infection
depression
suicidal ideation (thinking of suicide)
autoimmune disorder
lung toxicity
pancreatitis
diabetes
hypothyroidism
hyperthyroidism
heart attack
colitis
retinal thrombosis
allergic reactions

· Common Side Effects
muscle pain
joint pain
fatigue
headache
dizziness
fever
insomnia
hair loss
bone marrow failure
nausea
vomiting
weight loss
depression
itch
dyspnea
diarrhea
impaired concentration
cough
rash

Read more – March 25, 2009

Viread

· Trade Name
Viread

· Generic Name
Tenofovir

· Drug Class
Anti-Viral medication
HIV medication

· How It Works
Medication inhibits viral enzyme

· Serious Side Effects
acidosis
fatty liver
liver toxicity
kidney inflammation
kidney failure
muscle pain
muscle damage
bone density loss
fat redistribution
pancreatitis
shortness of breath
allergic reactions

· Common Side Effects
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
dizziness
fatigue
rash
high cholesterol
headache
pain
back pain
fever
hematuria
depression
anxiety
muscle pain
joint pain
insomnia
pneumonia

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Xanax

· Trade Name
XANAX

· Generic Name
Alprazolam

· Drug Class
Sedative medication
Short-acting benzodiazepine medication

· How It Works
Medication binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain
Medication enhances GABA effects

· Serious Side Effects
coma
syncope
rapid heart rate
seizures
respiratory depression
dependency
abuse potential
withdrawal if abrupt D/C
excessive thoughts of suicide

· Common Side Effects
confusion
nausea
drowsiness
lightheadedness
diarrhea
vomiting
insomnia
dry mouth
depression
headache
constipation
rapid heart rate
nasal congestion
blurred vision
low blood pressure
sialorrhea
rate
passing out
ataxia
amnesia
impaired coordination
irritability
altered libido
dysarthria
appetite change
weight changes
urinary hesitancy

Read more – March 18, 2009

Zoladex

· Trade Name
ZOLADEX

· Generic Name
Goserelin

· Drug Class
Cancer medication

· How It Works
Medication inhibits the release of gonadotropin which suppresses ovarian and testicular steroid production

· Serious Side Effects
congestive heart failure
heart attack
ovarian cysts
ovarian hyperstimulation
pituitary apoplexy
pulmonary embolism
stroke

· Common Side Effects
anemia
chills
emotional lability
hot flashes
depression
headache
sweating
asthenia
gynecomastia
diarrhea
pelvic pain
fever
breast tenderness
hypercalcemia

Read more – February 27, 2009

Zolpidem

· Trade Name
Ambien

· Generic Name
ZOLPIDEM

· Drug Class
Insomnia medication, Anxiolytic/Hypnotic, Non-Benzodiazepam

· How It Works
Interacts with GABA-benzodiazepine receptor

· Serious Side Effects
depression
suicidal ideation
aggressive behavior
complex sleep-related behavior
hallucinations
amnesia
anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions
withdrawal- if abrupt, discontinue

· Common Side Effects
headache
drowsiness
dizziness
lethargy
drugged feeling
back pain
allergic reaction
diarrhea
sinusitis
pharyngitis
dry mouth
lightheadedness
influenza-like symptoms
palpitations
depression
rash

Read more – February 12, 2009

Accutane

· Trade Name
Accutane

· Generic Name
Isotretinoin

· Drug Class
Acne medication

· How It Works
Medication reduces sebum secretion

· Serious Side Effects
pancreatitis
liver toxicity
depression
pseudotumor cerebri
osteopenia
osteoporosis
stroke
seizures
anaphylaxis
hypersensitivity vasculitis
major birth defects
violent behavior/aggression
psychosis
suicidal ideation (thinking of suicide)
suicide attempts
hearing impairment
cataracts
premature closure of bone growth plates
neutropenia
rhabdomyolysis
agranulocytosis
inflammatory bowel disease
vascular thrombosis

· Common Side Effects
dry skin
skin fragility
itching
bloody nose
dry mucous membranes
conjunctivitis
photosensitivity
joint pain
muscle pain
high blood triglyceride levels
peeling skin on palms and soles
hair thinning/loss
nail changes
elevated liver transaminases
contact lens intolerance
decreased night vision
visual disturbances
depression
tinnitus
cheilitis
back pain

Read more – February 9, 2009

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