Neha Grover

ISM- Period 6
Grohol, John M. "Rexulti Approved for Depression, Schizophrenia Treatment." Psych Central
News. Psych Central, 16 July 2015. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.

Rexulti is also called brexpiprazole

Targeted for adults not children
Became available in August 2015 so is very new on the market
Manufactured by Ostuka Pharmaceuticals
Tested on 4,300 patients with two separate six week placebo-controlled clinical studies on
adults
Treats adults with major depressive disorder and adults with schizophrenia
6-week, placebo-controlled clinical trials of adults diagnosed with schizophrenia
(paragraph 6)
Schizophrenia efficacy and symptoms improved, but 4% patients had an adverse effect of
gaining weight
Rexulti was superior than placebo on the PANSS scale (Positive and Negative Syndrome
Scale) which is the standard measure of schizophrenia symptoms
Once daily oral dose taken with or without food
Common boxed warning that many antidepressant drugs carry
an increased risk of death with off-label use for treating behavioral problems in older
persons with dementia-related psychosis, as well as an increased risk of suicidal thinking
and behavior in children, teens, and young adults (paragraph 10)
Company recommends starting off slow with a 1 mg prescription daily for the first four
days and if the patient is responding, increase to 2 mg for the 5th day to the 8th day and if
the patient continues to respond well, go up to 4 mg after the 8th day
This source was very useful in giving me information on one of the innovative treatments
for schizophrenia I chose because it included how it was tested, the target age group, and
some of the side effects experienced by schizophrenic patients.

Neha Grover
ISM- Period 6
Nauert, Rick. "Does Heartburn Drug, Pepcid, Hold Promise for Schizophrenia?" Psych Central
News. N.p., 2013. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.

Pepcin is brand name for famotidine

Famotidine is normally used to treat heartburn but they are trying to see if it could be
used for schizophrenia
Increase the dosage by five times and it will enter the brain and will affect the histamine
system
Symptoms started to ease within a week when given to schizophrenic patients
Symptoms decreased significantly after four weeks
Research conducted by separating 30 people into two groups and giving one famotidine
and the other placebo
Patients responded positively to famotidine, symptoms of patients taking placebo did not
change
All present treatments are based around the dopamine hypothesis but these do not work
on everyone and side effects are common
first randomized, controlled trials in humans to test the effect of histamine (H2)
blockade in schizophrenia
Famotidine works by blocking the histamine H2 receptor
Histamine is used by many important neurons in the brain as a primary signaling
substance
These neurons role is to regulate other signaling substances
Even though it has worked well, it should not be used as direct treatment until it has been
tested more and proven safe
Dosage is very high and could potentially be dangerous
This source was very useful in giving me information about famotidine, a treatment I
chose to research, how it was tested, and how the drug works to reduce symptoms of
schizophrenia.

Neha Grover
ISM- Period 6
Hitti, Miranda. "Electroshock Therapy May Help Schizophrenia." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web.
04 Nov. 2015.

ECT should not be the first option

If used, should be in combination with other medications
Benefits those with limited response to other medications
"Also, in those who improve with ECT but relapse in spite of continuing on the
prescribed antipsychotics, the continuation of ECT, given at longer intervals,
together with antipsychotic drugs could reduce the possibility of relapse in the
medium term."
Schizophrenia does not involve multiple personalities (as shown in Hollywood),
that is a separate condition
Modern techniques are not as risky as before and have reduced the possibility of
long lasting memory problems
When administered, patients are given anesthesia and a muscle relaxer
Electric current is sent to the brain through electrodes placed on the head
Lasts eight seconds and causes a short seizure
Usually six to twelve treatments given three times a week
International trials included 798 schizophrenic patients given ECT
About 20% of patients do not respond to antipsychotic drugs
No deaths during or immediately after therapy
Immediate side effects include headaches, muscle aches, soreness, nausea, and
confusion
Partial memory loss of events that happened days, weeks, or even months before
ETC but memory usually returns
More research is needed
This becomes an option when nothing else has worked, good last-case scenario
treatment

This source gave me information on Electric Shock Therapy and was very helpful
because it provided history of the treatment and how it was used while also relating it
to schizophrenia.

Neha Grover
ISM- Period 6
"ITI-007 For the Treatment of Schizophrenia: A 4-week Randomized, Double-blind, Controlled
Trial." Schizophrenia Forums. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.

ITI-007 is a single drug that combines potent serotonin 5-HT2A receptor

antagonism, dopamine receptor phosphoprotein modulation (DPPM),
glutamatergic modulation and serotonin reuptake inhibition
Targets multiple brain systems allowing physicians to adjust the drugs action in
the brain by changing the dose
Increasing the dosage allows one to target the dopamine receptors and the
serotonin transporters
This helps treat agitation, aggression, and sleep disturbances which are side
effects of some psychiatric conditions
Has reduced negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia, depression, and
anxiety
Phase two was tested in a four week, randomized, double-blind, placebo and
active controlled clinical setting
Tested on 335 adults in the acute stage of treatment
Tested with 60 mg and 120 mg
Phase three results have not been released yet but have been tested
Once phase three results are released, the drug can be passed by the FDA for
treatment
No increase of suicidal behavior or thoughts with ITI-007 compared to the
placebo
Some side effects include drowsiness, sedation, and fatigue
No more negative side effects than placebo
More research is needed, but it is definitely an up and coming drug that could be
useful in treating schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions

This article was useful with providing me information on another treatment, but there
is still more research to be done so it is not a released treatment yet.

Neha Grover
ISM- Period 6
"Schizophrenia Medications." Schizophrenia.com - Schizophrenia Medications.
Schizophrenia.com, 2010. Web. 06 Nov. 2015.

Living communities help with the road to recovery instead of staying in an

inpatient hospital
Patients were less lonely and felt more accepted
If patients stay in lower quality housing once they get better in a hospital, the
cycle is likely to repeat
80-90% of people with severe mental illness indicate that they would prefer to
live in the community as opposed to a psychiatric institution
Most patients prefer to live by themselves and have freedom with support
available
Prefer places without time limits because they dont respond well to change
Staff helps with day to day tasks and avoids extra stress for patients
Allow relationships and social events to keep patients from being lonely
If relationships are not an option, pet therapy can be used
Allows for a family to visit and be comfortable with treatment without them
physically taking care of the patient because are not equipped or have time to
handle a schizophrenic patient day and night
If patient is elderly, kids are frightened, and relationships at home are
deteriorating, it is better to have the patient live in a psychiatric community
Different types of housing in the community depending on how much support is
needed
Psychiatrist can help lead the patient in the right direction and locate houses they
believe the patient would benefit in
Contact local support groups
Patient and their family has to determine what they are most comfortable with and
how to make the patient feel safe

This source was very useful and explained the different type of living communities
and how to determine which system of living is best for an individual patient and
their family.