A GP guide to hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Need to know: The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of 14 heritable connective tissue disorders (HCTDs).1 Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), previously known as type…
Tag: Antidepressants
RACGP endorses drug-specific tapering plans for 15 antidepressants
A set of drug-specific antidepressant deprescribing guidelines targeting a “poorly understood” area of clinical practice has received RACGP endorsement. Developed by University of Queensland researchers,…
Antidepressant scripts for kids: ‘We don’t have enough resources and services are scarce’
Social media and the cost of living are adding to the childhood mental health burden and the resultant rise in antidepressant prescribing, a child psychiatrist…
GPs need ‘prompt and complete’ discharge summaries: coroner
A coroner has again flagged the importance of discharge summaries being “promptly communicated” to GPs following the death of a patient from prescription drug toxicity.…
Antidepressant withdrawal or depression relapse? Here’s what I want GPs to know
There is increasing evidence that antidepressant withdrawal symptoms (or ‘discontinuation’ symptoms) are common and can be severe and long-lasting. Yet in the past, these symptoms…
A GP guide to mental health in aged care
Need to know: The number of Australians living in residential aged care continues to grow. In June 2022, 178,000 people aged 65 and older were…
Benefits of antidepressants ‘unclear’ for chronic pain in older patients: Aussie study
Antidepressants are widely prescribed to patients aged 65 and older for chronic pain but there is little evidence of benefits, Australian researchers say. Their meta-analysis…
RACGP officially endorses Aussie doctor’s antidepressant deprescribing guidelines
New deprescribing guidelines from an Australian-born doctor who battled antidepressant withdrawal symptoms have become the latest RACGP-backed clinical resource. Dr Mark Horowitz published The Maudsley…
‘These drugs are not harmless’: The Aussies tackling antidepressant deprescribing
“Antidepressants are a whole lot easier to start than they are to stop.” Professor Katharine Wallis, believes that, where existing guidelines are followed, can change…
Why doctors should be more open with patients about antidepressants and weight gain
When Dr Manfred Penzhorn prescribes antidepressants, he tells patients they are “almost certainly” about to put on weight. “Very few psychiatric medications don’t cause some…
