Teens drug treatment

Narcolepsy affects 20-60 people per 100,000 of the population in Western countries. This is about the same level of incidence as Parkinson s disease or multiple sclerosis, but unlike those diseases it usually begins in the teens or twenties when it is very debilitating at a crucial formative period and continues to be so for many years. At present most patients require drug treatment ... 

An even more serious form of FH is the homozygous type. Here, no functional LDL receptors are produced. Plasma cholesterol levels can reach over 1,000 mg/dL. Clinical disease arises in the early teens, frequently followed by fatal Mis by age 20 (Goldstein and Brown, 1983). Since cholesterol-lowering drugs to date owe their effectiveness to stimulation of LDL receptors, they have not been very useful here. More drastic but hazardous methods of treatment are being attempted. These may include plasmapheresis of LDL with LDL antibodies and liver transplant that restored LDL receptors to about half normal levels, thereby permitting follow-up drug treatment with lovastatin to maintain normal cholesterol levels. 

Treatment relies on the use of broad spectrum antibacterial and antifungal drugs bone marrow transplant or gene therapy are possible options. The prognosis for a child with CGD is not good and many will not live beyond their mid-teens. 

Social control This involves the teen s family and other people who are important to them. A parent attends all treatment sessions with the teen to help keep the person on track with their drug-free life. The more praise that drug abusers get, the more they believe they can keep off drugs. 

These are Class IB drugs with actions similar to those of lidocaine. These agents can be administered orally. Mexiletine [mex IL e teen] is used for chronic treatment of ventricular arrhythmias associated with previous myocardial infarction. Tocainide [toe KAY nide] is used for treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Tocainide has pulmonary toxicity, which may lead to pulmonary fibrosis. 

Emetine [EM e teen] and dehydroemetine [de hye dro EM e teen] are alternate agents for the treatment of amebiasis. They inhibit protein synthesis by blocking chain elongation1. Intramuscular injection is the preferred route. Emetine is concentrated in the liver where it persists for a month after a single dose. It is slowly metabolized and excreted and can accumulate. Its ty2 is 5 days. The use of these ipecac alkaloids is limited by their toxicities. Dehydroemetine is probably less toxic than emetine. Close clinical observation is necessary when these drugs are used. Among the untoward effects are pain at the site of injection, transient nausea, cardiotoxicity (e.g., arrhythmias, congestive heart failure), neuromuscular weakness, dizziness, and rashes. 

Provides information and resources for teens and adults dealing with alcohol addiction and drug abuse. Also maintains treatment centers for those struggling with addiction. 

A division of the federal government that offers drug and alcohol treatment referrals. Provides advice and information about local drug and alcohol treatment services, as well as links for teens. 

Atomoxetine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is the first nonstrmulant approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of ADHD. In contrast to the stimulants, it has no apparent abuse potential and is not a controlled substance. Placebo-controlled, short-term trials (6 to 12 weeks) have shown that atomoxetine is effective in reducing ADHD symptoms in children, teens, and adults. It is not clear whether it is as effective as the stimulants, although one preliminary open study suggested comparable efficacy with methylphenidate. ... 

Atomoxetine, bupropion, and TCAs are second-line alternatives to the stimulants for treatment of ADHD in children, teens, and adults. The potential benefits of these agents in comparison with stimulants include reduced risk of abuse and somewhat lower potential for sleep disturbance. TCAs are the most dangerous in overdose and pose the greatest risk for cardiovascular side effects. The monoamine oxidase inhibitor tranylcypromine is effective but used infrequently due to the potential for dangerous drug and dietary interactions. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are not effective for ADHD. ... 

The previously mentioned survey indicates that a vast majority of depressed adolescents never receive treatment for their illness, yet the number of antidepressant prescriptions written for teens increases every year. A pediatric survey conducted in the years 1995 and 1999 found the number of adolescents prescribed Prozac-like drugs increased 78 percent. In the 7-12 age group, prescriptions increased 151 percent for kids age 6 and under it rose to a surprising 580 percent. For children under 18, the use of mood stabilizers other than lithium has increased 40-fold, or 4,000 percent, and... 

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