News | Neurological conditions

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‘Devastating effects’ caused by switching between branded and generic Parkinson’s disease medication

Charity Parkinson's UK said patients had experienced pain and other symptoms after being switched between branded and generic medications.…

Published: 1 February 2023

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‘Urgent’ action required to reduce level of harm from valproate, says patient safety tsar

Exclusive: NHS England is still around halfway off its target to reduce the number of female patients on sodium valproate.…

Published: 17 January 2023

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Psilocybin: a psychedelic alternative to antidepressants?

Decades on from its widespread use as a recreational drug during the 1960s, research shows that psilocybin could be a credible treatment for symptoms of depression and other mental health disorders.…

Published: 15 December 2022

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Healthcare professionals to be ‘better monitored’ on new valproate safety measures

The Commission on Human Medicines has advised that two specialists must independently consider and document that sodium valproate is the appropriate treatment for anyone prescribed the drug aged under 55 years.…

Published: 13 December 2022

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Researchers claim to have first direct evidence serotonin release is reduced in depression

After patients received d-amphetamine, which stimulates serotonin release, researchers found that those with major depressive disorder or depression linked to Parkinson's disease released significantly less serotonin than non-depressed patients.…

Published: 7 November 2022

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Scottish epilepsy medicines registry to deliver data by end of 2022

The Scottish government also said it was in talks with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to share its epilepsy data.…

Published: 3 November 2022

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How COVID-19 increased antipsychotic prescribing in care homes

As the care home sector struggled to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a shift to using more antipsychotic drugs. While concerning, this has since provided the push needed to consider new solutions to reduce prescribing of these potentially harmful drugs.…

Published: 3 November 2022

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Anticholinergic drugs and dementia: a causal link?

The implications of changes to the regulation of oxybutynin in the UK and the case for deprescribing anticholinergics, such as this, to prevent cognitive adverse effects.…

Published: 5 October 2022

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