More info:

• Luvox: Effective Symptom Control for OCD and Depression - Evidence-Based Review

  Fluvoxamine, marketed under the brand name Luvox among others, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) primarily used to treat major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It functions by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which helps improve mood, reduce anxiety, and decrease unwanted thoughts and behaviors. Available in tablet and extended-release capsule forms, fluvoxamine is distinguished by its potent sigma-1 receptor agonism, which may contribute to its efficacy in anxiety-related conditions and emerging uses like COVID-19 management.

• Anafranil: Potent OCD Symptom Control Through Serotonin Modulation - Evidence-Based Review

  Anafranil, known generically as clomipramine hydrochloride, is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) belonging to the dibenzazepine class. It’s primarily indicated for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), functioning as a potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Unlike many newer antidepressants, its mechanism involves significant effects on both serotonin and norepinephrine systems, giving it a unique pharmacological profile. The drug is available in oral formulations, typically as 10 mg, 25 mg, and 50 mg capsules, and requires careful titration and monitoring due to its side effect profile and potential for interactions.

• esbriet

  Pirfenidone, marketed under the brand name Esbriet, represents one of the first specifically approved antifibrotic agents for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It’s an oral medication that works by modulating multiple pathways involved in fibrosis development and progression. When I first encountered this drug during its clinical trial phase, I was skeptical—we’d seen so many failed attempts at treating this devastating disease that another “breakthrough” seemed unlikely. But the mechanism was intriguing enough that our center joined the phase III trials.

• Melatonin: Comprehensive Sleep Regulation and Beyond - Evidence-Based Review

  Melatonin, an endogenous neurohormone primarily synthesized by the pineal gland, represents one of the most significant chronobiotic substances in clinical practice. Its molecular structure (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) belies its profound regulatory capacity across multiple physiological systems. What began as a simple sleep aid has evolved into a sophisticated therapeutic agent with applications spanning from jet lag management to adjunct cancer care. The transition from prescription-only status to over-the-counter availability in many markets has fundamentally altered its accessibility, though this democratization has created both opportunities and challenges in clinical implementation.

• Olanzapine: Effective Symptom Control for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder - Evidence-Based Review

  Olanzapine stands as one of the most clinically significant atypical antipsychotics developed in the last 30 years, a true workhorse in psychiatric pharmacotherapy. It’s a thienobenzodiazepine derivative, structurally related to clozapine but without the same brutal agranulocytosis risk profile. When it first landed in our formulary back in the late 90s, it felt like we finally had something that could reliably calm the storm of acute psychosis without turning patients into rigid, drooling statues.

• pirfenex

  Pirfenex represents one of those rare instances where a repurposed generic molecule surprised everyone in pulmonary medicine. When we first started working with pirfenidone back in 2018, our team was deeply skeptical - the mechanism seemed almost too broad, the side effects concerning, and the clinical trial data showed modest benefits at best. But then we began seeing patterns in our idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) cohort that the clinical trials hadn’t fully captured.

• requip

  Ropinirole, marketed under the brand name Requip, is a non-ergoline dopamine agonist primarily indicated for managing Parkinson’s disease and moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome. As a selective D2 receptor agonist, it mimics dopamine’s effects in the brain, helping to control motor symptoms and neurological discomfort. We’ve been using it in our movement disorders clinic since the late 1990s, and I’ve watched its role evolve from novel intervention to established therapy. 1. Introduction: What is Requip?

• tizanidine

  Tizanidine hydrochloride is a centrally acting alpha-2 adrenergic agonist primarily indicated for the management of spasticity. It’s not a dietary supplement but rather a prescription medication with specific neuromuscular effects that require careful clinical oversight. We initially viewed it as just another muscle relaxant, but the reality proved far more complex in practice. Tizanidine: Effective Spasticity Management with Central Muscle Relaxation - Evidence-Based Review 1. Introduction: What is Tizanidine? Its Role in Modern Medicine Tizanidine functions as a short-acting muscle relaxant that primarily works at the spinal cord level to reduce excessive muscle tone without eliminating voluntary strength entirely.

• tofranil

  Imipramine hydrochloride, marketed under the brand name Tofranil, represents one of the foundational tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) that fundamentally reshaped psychiatric pharmacotherapy. Originally developed in the 1950s by Geigy Pharmaceuticals, this compound became the prototype for subsequent antidepressant development. Unlike modern SSRIs, Tofranil exhibits a broader receptor profile, primarily functioning as a potent serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with significant anticholinergic and antihistaminic properties. Its clinical applications have expanded beyond major depressive disorder to include enuresis in children, neuropathic pain syndromes, and adjunctive treatment in certain anxiety disorders.