NEW: Please follow this link to get the latest updates from the Agency for Health Care Administration on information regarding mental health drugs.
http://ahca.myflorida.com/Medicaid/Prescribed_Drug/banners.shtml

New Developments in the Treatment of Depression 2008-2009

We are pleased to launch our new Medicaid Drug Clinician Website. This website will enable medical personnel to securely and quickly communicate with us on Medicaid mental health drug prescribing issues.  The main goal of this website is to help improve the quality and efficiency of the prescribing of mental health drugs.  Clinicians can securely access the website at http://medicaidphysician.fmhi.usf.edu

OF INTEREST...

ZYPREXA has been approved (12-4-09) for the treatment of schizophrenia and acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder and maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder 13 to 17 year olds.

There is a warning concerning weight gain and hyperlipidemia with the suggestion that clinicians might consider other products first before prescribing Zyprexa.

Please note the there is also a recommendation that medication should be a part of a total treatment plan that often includes psychological, educational and social interventions.

Adolescent dosing guidelines are provided: starting dose, 2.5mg or 5mg with a target dose of 10mg. Increments up or down should be made in 2.5mg or 5mg increments. Safety and effectiveness above 20mg once a day has not been established. The dosing guidelines apply to all the diagnoses.

The revised Zyprexa label is located here(pdf)

---

The FDA has approved the use of SEROQUEL in children and adolescents for the following indications:

Children and Adolescents (10-17 years) for Bipolar Mania, monotherapy with dose range 400-600mg/day Adolescents (13-17 years) for Schizophrenia with dose range 400-800mg/day

NOTE: The safety and effectiveness of SEROQUEL XR has not been evaluated in pediatric patients.

The revised SEROQUEL label is located at the link below.

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/
2009/020639s045s046lbl.pdf

---

Recently Updated

On October 17, 2009 in Destin Fl, the Florida Medicaid Drug Therapy Management Program for Behavioral Health in collaboration with Access Health in Pensacola, FL  presented to an audience of mental health clinicians a program entitled “At the Crossroads of Medicine and Policy: Psychotherapeutic Medications for Children.”
The Program featured two video presentations which can be viewed at following the links below

1. “The Effectiveness of Stimulants, Antidepressants, Mood Stabilizers and Antipsychotics in Children and Adolescents with Severe Mental Health Disorders.” Christoph U Correll, MD.
   Part One, Part Two
   
2. “Using Psychotropic Medications Among Youth: Public Policy Considertions.” Rajiv Tandon, MD.
   Part One, Part Two

More News