A hospital-based addiction consultation service (START) for opioid use disorder improves clinical outcomes at low cost.
A clinical trial is being conducted to evaluate the efficacy of psilocybin administered within a group therapy setting for the treatment of PTSD.
HMNC Brain Health raised $50M in Series B funding to advance its two depression drug candidates into mid-stage clinical trials.
A Phase 1 study confirms the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of TV-46000 (Uzedy), a subcutaneous extended-release risperidone formulation, demonstrating therapeutic plasma levels maintained for up to 56 days with no new safety signals.
This systematic review characterizes the dose-dependent psychedelic effects of dextromethorphan, noting hallucinatory phenomena at 300-400 mg, but concludes evidence is insufficient to define therapeutic parameters for psychiatric use.
Clinical Pearls
Bite-sized clinical takeaways from today's literature (sources from Jan 07 – Jun 15)
- Consider pre-treatment ACKR1 genetic testing for patients prescribed clozapine to mitigate the risk of severe neutropenia.
- Monitor closely for serious psychiatric adverse events in patients using cannabis, given high rates of hospitalization and death in pharmacovigilance data.
- Note that Uzedy (subcutaneous extended-release risperidone) maintains therapeutic plasma levels for up to 56 days with no new safety signals in Phase 1 studies.
- Be aware that dextromethorphan doses of 300-400 mg can induce hallucinatory phenomena, so evidence is currently insufficient to define safe psychiatric therapeutic parameters.
- Consider prucalopride as a potential off-label repurposing option for depression-related cognitive dysfunction, based on early-phase trial data showing improvement in brain fog.
- Evaluate the START hospital-based addiction consultation service model for improving opioid use disorder outcomes at low cost.
- Recognize that single-dose psilocybin has shown promise in providing months of relief from chronic suicidal thoughts in preliminary studies.
- Keep an eye on ongoing Phase 1 trials for TV-46000 to confirm long-term safety and pharmacokinetic profiles before wider clinical adoption.
Substance Use 1
A global pharmacovigilance analysis of nearly 10,000 cannabis-related adverse drug reaction reports reveals that psychiatric and nervous system disorders are the most frequent suspected side effects, with a high proportion of serious outcomes including hospitalization and death.
Diagnosis & Treatment 1
A single dose of psilocybin provided months of relief from chronic suicidal thoughts, highlighting a potential therapeutic application for this psychedelic compound in psychiatry.
Drug Development 1
An early-phase trial suggests the constipation drug prucalopride, a 5-HT4 receptor agonist, may improve cognitive function in individuals with a history of depression, highlighting potential repurposing opportunities for treating depression-related brain fog.
Pharmacogenomics 1
This article advocates for pre-treatment ACKR1 genetic testing to mitigate the risk of severe neutropenia in patients prescribed clozapine, highlighting a pharmacogenomic approach to prescribing safety.