Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published March 2, 2020. There are 20 basic amino acids that make up the proteins in your body.1,2 In other words, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Conversely, when your body breaks down or digests proteins, amino acids are what’s left behind. Nine… Read More »
Despite data to support the reproductive safety of many antidepressants during pregnancy, many women would prefer to avoid medications, if possible. In this setting, many women pursue psychotherapy, others use acupuncture or yoga or exercise. Although non-pharmacologic treatments are perceived as being safer than medications, this is only true if the treatment is effective. Exposure… Read More »
Modafinil (brand name Provigil) and armodafinil (Nuvigil) are wake-promoting agents used to treat sleepiness due to narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, or obstructive sleep apnea. They are also used in other settings, often in combination with other medications, to treat ADHD symptoms, depressive symptoms, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. Danish Study of 50 Modafinil-Exposed Infants In… Read More »
While much data focuses on the risk of prenatal exposure to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and the risk of congenital malformations, there is a growing body of literature to indicate that that exposure to certain antiepileptic drugs, most notably valproic acid (VPA, Depakote) during critical periods of development may be associated with long-lasting neurodevelopmental deficits across… Read More »
While eating disorders are common in women of childbearing age, there is relatively little information on obstetric and perinatal outcomes in this population. A recent review indicates that women with current eating disorder, as well as women with a history of eating disorder, are at risk of adverse outcomes, including hyperemesis, bleeding, and low birth… Read More »
Essential Reads: Neurosteroids, Allopregnanolone and Vulnerability to Depression in Women Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from a depressive disorder. In addition, they are vulnerable to mood disorders associated with reproductive functioning, specifically premenstrual dysphoric disorder, perinatal depression, and perimenopausal depression. There is strong evidence to indicate that biological factors (genetic vulnerability,… Read More »