Pharmacology News

Psychopharmacology is one of the most heavily tested and clinically consequential domains in professional psychology, covering everything from the neurochemical mechanisms behind antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and anxiolytics to the pharmacokinetic principles that determine how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated in ways that directly affect treatment outcomes and patient safety. This lecture-style episode breaks down the major drug classes tested on the EPPP and encountered in integrated care settings, including SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics, MAOIs, first and second generation antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and lithium, covering their mechanisms, therapeutic windows, side effect profiles, and the clinical decision-making frameworks psychologists need to consult competently with prescribing professionals. Whether you are preparing for licensure, refreshing your pharmacology knowledge for supervision or consultation, or building the scientific foundation you need to practice in an era of increasingly integrated behavioral health care, this episode delivers the core content in a focused, high-yield format designed to make complex neuroscience and pharmacology accessible and retainable.

In this episode, we examine the recent retraction of a 2010 study that suggested a link between neonatal hepatitis B vaccination and autism in boys. We break down the methodological flaws that led to its withdrawal, explore related research from the same authors and others, and dive into why establishing causal links between vaccines and autism remains extraordinarily complex. Autism is multifactorial—shaped by genetics, environment, and timing—and we discuss the broader scientific consensus while highlighting the importance of rigorous evidence in public health debates.

In 2023, the FDA approved escitalopram (Lexapro) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in children aged 7 and older, based largely on one industry-sponsored trial showing a small statistical edge over placebo on the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS). Critics argue the benefits fall below clinically meaningful thresholds while risks—particularly a roughly six-fold increase in treatment-emergent suicidal ideation—raise serious concerns about the risk-benefit balance. This episode explores the trial data, study limitations, broader context of pediatric antidepressant use, and what it means for families and clinicians navigating anxiety treatment options.

The FDA accepted DemeRx’s IND for oral noribogaine (DMX-1001) in April 2026, advancing a longer-acting metabolite of ibogaine as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) through neuroplasticity and polypharmacology. We explore the science, preclinical data, early Phase 1 results, related ibogaine/noribogaine studies, and what this could mean for the millions struggling with AUD. Tune in for a balanced look at the pros, cons, limitations, and practical implications of this emerging therapy.20

I n early 2026, pharmaceutical manufacturers announced list price increases on at least 350 brand-name medications, continuing a pattern that affects treatments for cancer, COVID-19, migraines, and other conditions despite policy efforts to enhance affordability. This episode examines the scope of these hikes, notable examples such as Pfizer’s adjustments to Ibrance and Comirnaty, and the broader context of Medicare negotiations that provide relief for select drugs. Listeners will gain insights into the economic drivers, patient impacts, and potential long-term consequences for healthcare access and innovation.100

Part two In the mid-20th century, a handful of chance observations transformed psychiatry from an asylum-bound specialty into a medical field powered by effective drugs. This episode explores how chlorpromazine emerged from industrial dyes and surgical experiments, how imipramine and lithium were stumbled upon while chasing unrelated ideas, and how these discoveries reshaped our understanding of mental illness. Join us for a fascinating journey through scientific luck, keen observation, and the drugs that freed millions from institutional walls.1

In the mid-20th century, a handful of chance observations transformed psychiatry from an asylum-bound specialty into a medical field powered by effective drugs. This episode explores how chlorpromazine emerged from industrial dyes and surgical experiments, how imipramine and lithium were stumbled upon while chasing unrelated ideas, and how these discoveries reshaped our understanding of mental illness. Join us for a fascinating journey through scientific luck, keen observation, and the drugs that freed millions from institutional walls.

Explore the 2026 meta-analysis and supporting studies on curcumin for prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, depression, and anxiety, weighing compelling arguments in favor of its use against important limitations and counterpoints. We break down benefits like improved glycemic control and mood support alongside bioavailability issues, study flaws, safety concerns, and why it’s no miracle cure. This balanced episode includes a layman’s summary, real-world example, and practical guidance for anyone considering turmeric or supplements

A small 2026 randomized controlled trial found that adding low-dose dextromethorphan (DXM, 15 mg twice daily) to ongoing SSRI treatment significantly reduced Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) scores in adults with SSRI-resistant OCD, dropping from about 26.6 to 16.3 over 12 weeks versus little change on placebo. Strengths include its double-blind, placebo-controlled design, strong statistical effect size, excellent tolerability with no reported side effects, and alignment with the glutamatergic hypothesis of OCD. Limitations center on the tiny sample size (n=40), single-center location in Iran, lack of secondary outcomes or long-term follow-up, and potential pharmacokinetic variability from SSRI interactions; broader evidence from meta-analyses of other glutamatergic agents supports the approach but calls for larger confirmatory trials.

A recent study examines how South Korea’s 2002 limits on SSRI prescribing by primary care physicians coincided with a striking rise in national suicide rates. This episode reviews the Korean evidence alongside international research on antidepressant access and suicide trends, highlighting methodological strengths and limitations. It concludes with balanced policy implications for mental-health care that weigh risks of both overprescribing and restricted access.

This episode explores the alarming link between common medications and falls among older adults, revealing how psychotropics and polypharmacy contribute to up to three-quarters of incidents in nursing homes. Drawing on key studies, it details high-risk drug classes and their mechanisms while offering practical prevention strategies like medication reviews and lifestyle interventions. Essential listening for families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals seeking to safeguard elderly independence and reduce preventable injuries.

In the ER, seconds matter when identifying the "Dangerous Tetrad": rigidity, fever, autonomic instability, and altered mentation. This episode breaks down the clinical markers and pathophysiology of these life-threatening syndromes to help clinicians differentiate between NMS and Serotonin Syndrome. A must-listen for healthcare professionals looking to sharpen their diagnostic skills and improve patient outcomes in high-acuity settings.

Psychiatrists are clashing over antidepressant withdrawal: clinic data shows up to 50% of long-term SSRI/SRI users face severe symptoms, while a major 2025 JAMA Psychiatry meta-analysis claims they’re usually mild and brief. We break down both sides, expose the massive limitations in the studies, and reveal what this means for millions on these drugs.

While GLP-1 receptor agonists are not inherently "muscle-toxic," the rapid metabolic shift they induce can lead to a catabolic state that consumes lean tissue. In this episode, we dive into the pharmacology of semaglutide and tirzepatide, examining how slowed gastric emptying and blunted appetite signals impact the leucine threshold required for muscle protein synthesis. We explore the "glucose-alanine cycle," the role of myostatin inhibitors in future drug pipelines, and how adjusted protein dosing ($1.2$ to $1.6\text{ g/kg}$) can act as a pharmacological safeguard against sarcopenia.

This episode explores ibogaine as a controversial psychedelic treatment for addiction, examining its reported effects on opioid withdrawal, cravings, and psychological insight alongside serious cardiac and neurological risks. It provides a balanced, evidence-based analysis of ibogaine research, including limitations such as lack of randomized trials, selection bias, and short-term outcome data. Ideal for listeners interested in addiction science, mental health innovation, neuroscience, and the risks and promise of emerging psychedelic therapies.

Antidepressants demonstrate modest but real benefits for moderate-to-severe depression, with large meta-analyses showing consistent advantages over placebo and meaningful improvements in function for many patients, yet these gains are often smaller than portrayed and heavily influenced by high placebo responses.
The evidence base comes with important limitations, including publication bias, short trial durations, industry influence, and challenges in blinding, which can inflate perceived efficacy while understating long-term risks such as sexual dysfunction, emotional blunting, and weight gain reported more frequently in real-world surveys.
Navigating antidepressants requires pragmatic humility: they are a valuable tool for the right person at the right time when used with careful monitoring, deprescribing when appropriate, and combined with therapy and lifestyle changes, rather than as a one-size-fits-all solution or something to fear outright.