joe

joe

About joe

Joseph Wegmann, R.Ph., LCSW is a licensed clinical pharmacist and a clinical social worker with more than thirty years of experience in the field of psychopharmacology. His diverse professional background in psychopharmacology and counseling affords him a unique perspective on medication management issues. In addition to consulting with numerous psychiatric facilities, he has presented psychopharmacology seminars to thousands of clinicians in 46 states.

A Real-World View of Depression Treatment

It appears that most Americans take the easy way out when it comes to the treatment of depression. Given a choice between talk therapy and taking an antidepressant, the medication wins out. This is one of the key findings of a survey of 1500 readers of Consumer Reports who had sought medical help for depression and/or anxiety between January 2006 and April 2009. Nearly 80 percent of these respondents had received a prescription for an antidepressant after their diagnosis of [...]

2011-06-30T14:54:35+00:00
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is bipolar disorder more difficult to diagnose in children than it is in adults? A. My answer to this question is YES. Bipolar Disorder is very hard to diagnose in children because childhood onset presentations differ a bit from what would typically be seen in adults. The salient features of childhood onset BPD are: Frequent, short periods of intense mood changes accompanied by demonstrable irritability and pronounced agitation Daily mood cycling is more common in children, less common in [...]

2011-06-30T14:55:16+00:00
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Independence Day

On July 4, two hundred thirty four years ago, influential members of the Continental Congress, affectionately referred to as our founding fathers, were hard at work pursuing the arduous process task of declaring independence from the abusive, arrogant and autocratic governance of King George III. What I find strikingly poignant was how painful this ordeal was for Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence was subjected to more than 80 changes during the period that the Continental Congress [...]

2017-01-29T15:38:57+00:00
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5 Reasons For Medication Non Compliance And How Healthcare Professionals Can Help

The basic tenet of non-compliance is the failure to take medication according to prescribed directions. But it’s more than non-adherence to directions, non-compliance is also indicative of the misuse of medication. Here are five common causes of non-compliance and how healthcare professionals can help. Side Effects. In a “perfect drug” scenario, medications would zero in on their intended target systems generating only desired, therapeutic effects, then metabolize and leave the body. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, as medications produce unintended [...]

2021-04-12T14:19:32+00:00
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Valdoxan: The First Melatonergic Antidepressant

Although not available in the United States, Valdoxan (agomelatine) is the first ever melatonergic antidepressant in that the drug activates specific melatonin receptors (MT-1, MT-2) in the brain. Valdoxan claims to improve sleep disruption without affecting daytime vigilance by exerting specific actions on the regulation of circadian rhythms. The recommended starting dose is 25mg, once daily. The big Pharma company Novartis owns the rights to market Valdoxan in the United States, but lists the drug as scheduled for submission to [...]

2017-01-29T15:39:15+00:00
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Recent Psychotropic Medication Arrivals: Can We Really Call Them New Drugs?

Recent Arrivals Intuniv (guanfacine LA). Intuniv is a long-acting formulation of the alpha-2 agonist Tenex (guanfacine). Intuniv is FDA approved for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents ages 6-17. The drug is available in 1mg, 2mg, 3mg, and 4mg tablets, and is dosed once daily. Guanfacine was first marketed as an antihypertensive for the control of high blood pressure. Its use then expanded to the treatment of some anxiety conditions and to control hyperactivity and impulsivity associated with [...]

2017-01-29T15:39:23+00:00
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Medication Non Compliance: The Other Drug Problem

Let’s start with an obvious, irrefutable certainty: Prescribed medications that routinely remain in the vial or bottle won’t help anyone. Millions of people fail to take their medications correctly, and it’s a serious problem. Worse, some quit taking their medications altogether, without giving any consideration to discussing this decision with their prescribers or other health care providers. Consider these findings on medication non compliance from the nonprofit National Council on Patient Information and Education: Only 50 percent of patients with [...]

2017-01-29T15:34:17+00:00
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Risk Factors For The Development of PTSD in Children

There are three (3) risk factors that have demonstrated the likelihood that children will develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The severity of the traumatic event. Parental reaction to the traumatic event. Physical proximity to the traumatic event. As a general rule, most studies that have examined the risk factors associated with PTSD emergence in children find that children and adolescents reporting experiences with severe trauma also report the greatest levels of PTSD- related symptoms. The extent of family support as [...]

2019-08-26T01:58:45+00:00
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5 Questions Your Clients Should Ask When Having a Psychiatric Medication Evaluation

How well do your clients communicate with their mental-health medication prescribers? Many clients develop “white-coat brain lock” when it comes to asking questions – particularly on the first visit – because one of the most prevalent communication gaps is between doctors and patients. Clinicians can help, here’s how: On a 3X5 index card, have your client write down the following five questions, and recommend that they ask these after the doctor has completed the initial assessment and has evaluated the [...]

2017-01-29T15:58:17+00:00
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Tips for Working with Physicians

Non-medical clinicians train and practice in a world that is considerably different from that of physicians. With the employment of the medical model and the liberal use of psychotropic medications to correct the biochemistry of certain mental health syndromes on the rise, knowledge and appreciation of medical culture is more important than ever before in strengthening collaborative relations with physicians. Therapists are at times reluctant to pursue collaboration with physicians who are intimidating, boorish, insulting, controlling or egotistical. Physicians also [...]

2017-01-29T15:26:50+00:00
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