Lithium: Women More Vulnerable to Adverse Effects Than Men
Lithium is one of the most effective treatments for patients with bipolar disorder. Â Its use, however, is limited by its potential for serious long-term adverse events, including renal, thyroid, and parathyroid dysfunction. A recent study published in Lancet helps to put these various risks into perspective and indicates that women may be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of lithium than men. This study was a retrospective analysis of laboratory data [...]
NAMS Position Statement on the Use of Hormone Therapy in Women Over 65
Since the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) reported that the risks of menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) outweighed its benefits, there has been a significant reduction in the use of HRT. Â However, since that time, studies have suggested that many peri- and postmenopausal women experience significant symptoms for many years and that certain populations of women may benefit from HRT without significant risks. In 2012, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) noted [...]
Antidepressants and Pregnancy: Are Some SSRIs Safer Than Others?
 Over the last decade, numerous studies on the reproductive safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been published.  However, these studies, using different methodologies and studying different populations, have often yielded conflicting results.  The extensive data now available in the medical literature can be difficult for clinicians and researchers to sort through. As a result, women who are pregnant or planning to conceive and the clinicians who care for [...]
SAGE-547: A Novel Treatment for Severe Postpartum Depression?
SAGE-547 (SAGE Therapeutics) is a new drug, an allosteric modulator of GABAA receptors, which is currently under investigation for the treatment of refractory seizure disorders. Â It turns out that SAGE-547 may also be useful for the treatment of severe postpartum depression (PPD). In a press release last month, SAGE Therapeutics announced data from an exploratory clinical trial demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in depressive symptoms in four women with postpartum depression [...]
New Research from the CWMH: Armodafinil for Menopause-Related Fatigue
Several recent articles indicate that the burden of menopausal symptoms is greater than generally perceived.  About 80% of women experience vasomotor symptoms (VMS) – hot flashes and night sweats — as they transition into the menopause phase.  For most, the symptoms are manageable, but for a sizeable subset of midlife women, these symptoms can negatively affect sleep, mood, and quality of life.  While clinical guidelines suggest that menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) [...]
New Research from the CWMH: Both Estradiol and Venlafaxine Improve Quality of Life in Perimenopausal Women with Hot Flashes
In healthy perimenopausal women with hot flashes, treatment with both estradiol and venlafaxine resulted in significantly greater improvement in quality of life, as compared to placebo. Estradiol had beneficial treatment effects on all domains of the MENQOL except for the psychosocial domain, whereas venlafaxine benefits were observed only in the psychosocial domain.  Caan B, LaCroix AZ, Joffe H, Guthrie KA, et al.  Effects of estrogen and venlafaxine on menopause-related quality of [...]