After many years of being banned in the United States, L-tryptophan is once again available over-the-counter. L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is found in a number of foods, and is found in particularly high quantities in Atlantic cod,...
MAOI stands for monamine or monoamine oxidase inhibitors, a category of drugs that ameliorates depression by inhibiting the monoamine oxidase enzyme from metabolizing neurotransmitters or chemical messengers within the nervous system. This class...
According to Medline Plus, dextromethorphan is the generic name of a drug used to temporarily relieve cough caused by the common cold, flu or other conditions. Dextromethorphan will treat a cough, but it does not offer cure for the underlying...
Yohimbe bark comes from trees that normally grow in West Africa. The active constituent in the bark is yohimbine, an alkaloid used for centuries in African folk medicine to treat fevers, leprosy and coughs; and for about seventy-five years it has...
Herbs can help to adjust brain chemistry in a healthy, non-addictive and holistic way, according to Kathi Keville in the book "Herbs for Chronic Fatigue." Unlike chemical medications, herbs won't impair attention, concentration or reaction time....
Antidepressants are a type of drug that helps relieve the symptoms of depression by slowing the release of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. A variety of neurotransmitters may be responsible for these symptoms; serotonin and...
Pharmaceutical companies have developed several classes of antidepressant medications over the years. The earliest antidepressants suffered from many side effects, some potentially harmful. Newer medications are more sophisticated, can target...
The use of prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs to treat all types of disease processes is on the rise. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports an increase in the spending for prescription drugs in the United States from about $40...
Fiorinal is a medication used to manage tension headaches. According to Drugs.com, it is a combination of three drugs: aspirin, butalbital and caffeine. Aspirin acts as a pain reliever to reduce inflammation and fever. Butalbital depresses three...
Yohimbe is a tree that grows in parts of Africa and is locally considered an aphrodisiac. The bark of the tree is also used as an alternative treatment for erectile dysfunction in men, according to the National Center for Complementary and...
Depression is not simply feeling down for a day or two; it is a major disorder that is experienced by many each day. Sometimes, psychotherapy alone is not enough to prevent or treat a depressive disorder. Antidepressants, or medicines that treat...
Fluoxetine is a medication used to treat major depression, bulimia nervosa (eating disorder characterized by binge-eating and vomiting), panic disorder (condition characterized by intense fear, anxiousness and physical symptoms) and...
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are a class of drugs used to treat depression. They are also referred to as MAO Inhibitors or MAOIs. Although they are effective, they have many side effects, and can interact with many other drugs and foods. MAOIs...
Sadness is an overwhelming feeling that can be normal or a sign of a serious medical illness. Sometimes, this sadness can last for more than two weeks and become chronic. Also, the onset of sadness can occur after giving birth. Additionally,...
Sugar travels in your blood as glucose, an important energy supply for your cells. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose from your blood into your cells. When your body either fails to produce insulin or reacts abnormally to insulin that is...
According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," dopamine is an essential neurotransmitter found in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. As a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, or CNS, it is produced in presynaptic neurons...
People who are depressed feel stuck in the negative corners of life. There are many types and possible symptoms of depression, including loss of interest, lack of pleasure, inability to handle stress, fatigue, body aches, digestive disorders,...
Withdrawal symptoms make it difficult for people addicted to tobacco to stop smoking cigarettes or using tobacco. Approximately 50 million people in the United States smoke, but most say that they would like to quit, according to MedlinePlus....
The Japanese live longer than anyone else in the world, but a Japanese diet pill could kill you, according to a warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Japanese 2-Day Linzhi Diet pill contains mushrooms, herbs and, according to the...
If you're looking for a new diet pill, Japanese weight loss supplements may delight or scare you, depending on which you choose. Carefully read product labels and check out ingredients with which you are unfamiliar. Although some ingredients, such...
Headaches affect nearly all adults; 90 percent of men and 95 percent of women have at least one headache a year, according to the National Headache Foundation. Some headaches, called secondary headaches, occur because of an underlying medical...
Rhodiola is a small, succulent plant native to Siberia. A powerful astringent, Rhodiola was traditionally used to stop bleeding. Recent investigations into the plant's pharmacology suggest that it may be useful in the treatment of fatigue,...
Although it has been used for hundreds of years in a number of traditional medical systems throughout Asia, Rhodiola rosea has only recently been adopted by Western herbal medicine. In addition to its use as a treatment for weakness and...
