joe | Pharmatherapist

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.

Fears: What Are They, How Do They Develop, Are They Rational?

- Fear is the sensation of "expectation with alarm." It is the emotion we experience when our autonomic nervous system releases adrenaline, energizing us for “fight or flight.” In this sense fear functions as an absolutely necessary wake-up call motivating us to be hyper-alert, particularly when facing imminent danger. This hyper-alertness enables us to adopt a call-to-action to adequately protect ourselves from anticipated harm. - Fear develops because most often we identify with it through our negative personal experiences. As [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:54:32+00:00

Depression in Older Men

- Six million men suffer from depression each year. Older men with depression tend to live in an "emotional vacuum" by socially isolating themselves and comforting their depression through the use of alcohol. Older men who have never married and men that have lost their spouses are most vulnerable. - Evidence indicates that testosterone may play a role in male depression, particularly in late-life – a condition referred to as "andropause." Men with the lowest levels of testosterone are [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:54:18+00:00

Three Common Reasons People Give for NOT Seeking Treatment for Depression

1. One reason people give for not seeking treatment for depression is that this is the type of thing one just rides out. They believe they will just "snap out" of the depression or that they can "will" it away. They convince themselves that their depression will disappear if they read just one more self-help book on the subject. They read these books but don’t change a single thought or behavior. 2. Depressed people avoid treatment for fear of having [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:54:02+00:00

Antidepressant Efficacy and the Benefit/Risks of Combining Them with Herbal Medicines

- All antidepressants, irrespective of category or class, have similar efficacy, however most of them have different side effects. With antidepressants, no one-size-fits-all, therefore it makes sense for many clients to choose their own initial antidepressant based on what side effects they are willing to tolerate. - Fifty percent of depressed patients respond to antidepressants; only 43 percent attain sustained recovery from depression via their use. Being well-educated, female, employed, married, and white with no co-morbid conditions are the most [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:53:48+00:00

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Controversy

Post Traumatic stress disorder has stirred up a rather frothy debate over the last few years, especially around the definition of the traumatic event that precipitates the symptoms. It is by no means controversial that extremely traumatic events (combat veterans experiencing the perils of war, physical abuse, sexual abuse, natural disasters) should qualify as criterion, but what about purely psychosocial events without some type of physical injury? In DSM IV, an individual is not required to have directly experienced the [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:53:33+00:00

The Benefits vs. the Risks of ADHD Drug “Holidays”

The issue of drug "holidays" – a short-term, deliberate discontinuation of ADHD medication – is also known as a structured treatment intervention. These so-called "holidays" can take place over a weekend, a full week or an extended school vacation. There is no definitive conclusion as to the benefits or drawbacks to drug holidays. Some prescribers maintain that because ADHD is a chronic disorder, suspending treatment is not in the patient's best interest. But for parents that are concerned about "over-drugging" [...]

joe2017-01-29T15:53:20+00:00

The Challenges of ‘Father Time’

Both medical and non medical clinicians will likely be seeing more elderly patients as the oldest of the "baby boomers" are on the cusp of retirement. In the United States, people aged 65 and over make up just 13 percent of the total population, but account for 30 percent of all prescriptions written. Changes in mental status can be drug related. For example, benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Ativan), can cause drowsiness, confusion, prolonged sedation and memory loss. Watch for signs of [...]

joe2014-01-29T18:55:10+00:00

Bipolar Mania and Medication Noncompliance: A Peculiar Treatment Challenge

One of the most significant challenges I face as a pharmatherapist is getting my bipolar clients to continue taking their medications as prescribed. More often than not, the culprit driving inconsistent usage patterns is the thrilling and invigorating manic "high." The manic phase of bipolar disorder carries a peculiar treatment challenge that most other mental disorders do not: Because mania is a desirable and enjoyable state for many, if not most patients, medication noncompliance is a particular hazard during these [...]

joe2013-07-31T16:39:00+00:00

What About That Antidepressant You’ve Been Prescribed?

1. First and foremost, you should know that depression is a real illness, not a character flaw or a weakness. In this regard, it is no different from diabetes or hypertension, and it is highly responsive to appropriate treatment, which may include more than just medication alone. 2. You should know what to expect from antidepressant medication. At least 50 percent of individuals who will respond to antidepressants begin to demonstrate improvement within a week of treatment initiation. Likely you’ll [...]

joe2012-11-12T14:07:43+00:00

If the Depression Continues, Then What?

I remember all too well years ago the advertisements in psychiatric journals stating that antidepressants will "restore the person within the patient," and although these medications have indeed made a dramatic difference in the outcome of depressive illness, they are by no means the miracle drugs that some thought them to be. In fact, a paltry 30 percent of depressed clients achieve remission (defined as a 50 percent reduction in the severity of symptoms via rating scale determination) on their [...]

joe2012-11-12T14:07:37+00:00

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