Important Drug Interactions Between Psychotropic Medications and Contraceptives

Contraceptives are commonly used in women of childbearing age, many of who are also taking psychotropic medications for mental health concerns. It is important to be aware of the interactions between contraceptives and certain psychotropic medications as well as the psychiatric side effects of contraceptives themselves. Contraceptives have synthetic estrogen, progesterone or a combination of […]

Prescribing Psychotropic Medications for Women

Women are almost twice as likely to be prescribed psychotropic medication as men. Because women are the primary consumers of psychotropic medications,  it is important to pay attention to gender differences in the pharmacology of these medications. Other e-weekly topics have addressed issues related to pregnancy, menopause, and birth control with mental health, so this […]

Is it Menopause or Depression?

Females in their 40s and 50s often present to their primary care providers with new-onset depressive symptoms. It can be difficult to assess if the symptoms are part of menopause/perimenopause or if they represent a new onset depressive disorder. One complicating factor is that menopause can independently increase the risk of onset of a depressive […]