Introduction to Benzodiazepines

Welcome back! Today we are embarking into the first of hopefully several episodes on the importance of vitamins and minerals in mental health. We will specifically be looking at the role of iron deficiency in psychiatry and do an overview on some of the recent research that's been published. References: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557376/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0268960X25000827#bb0165https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2823909https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389945717315599https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40841680/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1677067/https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00463-7/fulltexthttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6139360/

Welcome back! Today our topic is Nutritional Psychiatry and we've invited a special guest - Dr. Laura Lachance, who has done extensive research in the field. Along with Dr. Drew Ramsey, she has published a paper looking at an Antidepressant Food Score or AFS and more recently, she was a part of the EASe-GAD trial, a study looking at the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on anxiety. Antidepressant Food Scale (AFS): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30254980/EASe-GAD Trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39316026/Gluten and Psychosis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24368154/Nutrition Worksheet for Patients: https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-021-03575-7Dr. Lachance's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preventivepsychiatry/

Welcome back! Today, we are hosting the highly accomplished Dr. Robert Sapolsky, PHD, a professor of professor of biology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Stanford University. He has had extensive research particularly in the field of neuroendocrinology and chronic stress, which has acted as one of the foundations of modern psychoneuroendocrinology. He is also a research associate at the Institute of Primate Research in Kenya, with over 30 years of field research in Africa. He is also a renowned author, with major works including but not at all limited to Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst, and most recently, Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will, which challenges us to reconsider free will, morality, and mental health itself through a scientific lens. More about Dr. Sapolsky: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_SapolskyDr. Sapolsky's Open Stanford Course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PpDq1WUtAw&list=PL848F2368C90DDC3DDr. Sapolsky's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APOCFEDr. Sapolsky's Own Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wDrkkznSB8S84kKuK9HCoApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/robert-sapolsky-father-offspring-interviews/id1782280922

One hundred episodes later, let’s take it back to one of our very first, the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors - with a much-needed update. Thank you to our guests, fans, and listeners.References: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4428540/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10333979⁠⁠https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3663330/⁠

Welcome back! Today we have a very special episode on Alprazolam, brand-name Xanax. This benzodiazepine is one of the most commonly-prescribed and sought out psychotropic medications. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538165/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6769182/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5846112/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6141930/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17514187/

Today, we are talking about a very popular, yet controversial class of medications - the Benzodiazepines . Let's look at their mechanism of action, clinical indications, pharmacology, risks, withdrawal syndromes, and prescribing guidance. And of course, we'll be tackling the question: what are the risks and benefits of long-term use? References: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30098211/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32252539/https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rateshttps://aapp.org/guideline/benzohttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40526204/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6097846/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470159/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/benzodiazepines-for-anxiety-disorders-maximising-the-benefits-and-minimising-the-risks/43A366723CD1B3616BAB08F69FF65A88

Welcome to an introductory episode on anxiety disorders as requested by a long-time listener. References:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5832062/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5573565/https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/175862/Nesse%20Anxiety%20Disorders%20in%20Evolutionary%20Perspective%202022.pdf?sequence=1

Join us as we talk about Loxapine, an older medication that’s stood the test of time and found a niche in psychiatric practice. This is a revision of an earlier episode, after Dr. Bradley Miller chatted with Dr. Jonathan Meyer at the 2025 APA Conference. Dr. Meyer joins us at the beginning to provide an addendum to the original episode.

Welcome back! Today, we will be talking about Pregabalin, brand-name Lyrica, a similar medication to Gabapentin, and we will specifically be focusing on its use in psychiatry. What are its benefits and drawbacks compared to Gabapentin? Sources:- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33563173/- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39989902/- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3699256/- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33563173/

Welcome back! Today, we will be talking about Gabapentin, brand-name Neurontin, one of the most commonly-prescribed medications in the United States, and we will specifically be focusing on its use in psychiatry. It is commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders, alcohol use disorder, and sometimes even bipolar disorder! But what does the evidence say?Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3619699/#:~:text=The%20FDA%20approved%20gabapentin%20enacarbil,legs%20syndrome%20(RLS)%20symptoms.https://journals.lww.com/intclinpsychopharm/Abstract/2017/01000/Pregabalin_for_generalized_anxiety_disorder__an.8.aspxhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9507147/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4732322/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9263379/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28988943/https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7119a3.htm