"Lithium has for many years been the treatment of choice for bipolar disorder, as it can be effective in smoothing out the mood swings common to this disorder, but its use must be carefully monitored, as the range between an effective dose and a toxic one is small."

"Research has enabled many men, women, and young people with cancer to survive and to lead fuller, more productive lives, both while they are undergoing treatment, and afterwards."

Herbal Therapy


In the past several years, there has been an increase in public interest in the use of herbs for the treatment of both depression and anxiety. The extract from St. Johns wort (Hypericum perforatum), a wild growing plant with yellow flowers, has been used extensively in Europe as a treatment for mild to moderate depression, and it now ranks among the top selling botanical products in the United States. Because of the increase in Americans use of St. Johns wort and the need to answer important remaining questions about the herbs efficacy for long term treatment of depression, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a clinical trial to determine whether a well standardized extract of St. Johns wort is effective in the treatment of adults suffering from major depression of moderate severity. The trial found that St. Johns wort was no more effective for treating major depression of moderate severity than an inert pill (placebo). Another study is underway looking at St. Johns wort for the treatment of minor depression.

Research from NIH has shown that St. Johns wort interacts with some drugs including certain drugs used to control HIV infection. The Food and Drug Administration issued a Public Health Advisory on February 10, 2000, which stated that the herb appears to affect an important metabolic pathway that many prescription drugs use to treat conditions such as heart disease, depression, seizures, certain cancers, and rejection of organ transplants. The same pathway is also responsible for the effectiveness of oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Using the herb may limit the effectiveness of these medications. People taking HIV medications should be especially careful since St. Johns wort may reduce the HIV medication levels in the bloodstream and could allow the AIDS virus to rebound, perhaps in a drug resistant form. Health care providers should alert their patients about these potential drug interactions, and patients should always consult their health care provider before taking any herbal supplement.

"Alcohol including wine, beer, and hard liquoror street drugs may reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants and should be avoided."

Straight Talk TuesdayWhen the Boss Asks
Straight Talk TuesdayWhen the Boss Asks June 19th, 2007 by Dr. Ragan straighttalktuesday2.jpg ... , image, office, job, emotional, psychology, work No Comments
Another sad day
Yesterday I managed to go running, ran for 41 minutes, my record. I was light-hearted while I ran, but it didn't last. I watch a lot of sad American police procedural. It's basically a genre. Sad Cops Show. We have Without a Trace, Cold Case, and CSI treads that ground often, too. For some reason I find solace in them, even when they make me cry
Oh, like, woe is me and stuff.
I'm in one of those moods again. I literally got fifteen bills in the mail today; I was expecting thirteen and completely forgot about both my car registration AND insurance being due next month. Bugger. It's sorted, but bleeech! I thought I was getting to the stage where I was slaughtering my debt and maybe even putting myself in a position to

"If a physical cause for the depression is ruled out, a psychological evaluation should be done, by the physician or by referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist."

Anxiety Disorders Stress

"Research has revealed that people with alcoholism are almost twice as likely as those without alcoholism to also suffer from major depression."

Deal With Stress

"In the past few years, much interest has risen in the use of herbs in the treatment of both depression and anxiety."

Poems About Stress

"Most people who have bipolar disorder take more than one medication including, along with lithium and/or an anticonvulsant, a medication for accompanying agitation, anxiety, depression, or insomnia."

Storm And Stress

"Medication is usually the second choice after a comprehensive and competent trial of psychotherapy."