Whelehans Health News

Contraceptives Part 2   Oral Contraceptives (Continued) Last week I described the two types of oral contraceptive pills are progesterone only contraceptives (POCs) or combined oral contraceptives (COCs) where progesterones are combined with oestrogens.   Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) Advantages of COCs over POCs Higher efficacy: COCs have a lower failure rate compared to POCs. When taken correctly, COCs are around 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, while POCs have a slightly higher failure rate (but still nearly 99% effective if taken properly).   Better Cycle control: COCs provide better control over the menstrual cycle so better control at regulating irregular...

Contraceptives Part 1   Contraceptives help individuals and couples address their reproductive goals by preventing unintended pregnancies. There are various types of contraceptives available including hormonal, non-hormonal, and long-acting contraceptive methods.   Types of contraceptives   Hormonal Contraceptives Hormonal contraceptives contain synthetic hormones, such as progesterone and oestrogen, that regulate ovulation and prevent pregnancy. They come in various forms, including oral pills, patches, injections, vaginal rings, and implants. Note that progestins is the term used to describe synthetic, laboratory created hormones that mimic progesterone and act as it does in the body.    There are several synthetic progesterone hormones, also...

Anti-depressants Part 3   More on the newest antidepressant on the market   As vortioxetine is the newest antidepressant on the market, I am going to discuss it in a little more detail than other antidepressants.   Serotonin Modulator Serotonin Modulator is a relatively new class of anti-depressant used to describe the vortioxetine (Brintillex®) which is the only drug in this class. How is works is not fully clear but it is thought to act as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI), agonist of the 5-HT1A receptor, and antagonist of the 5-HT3 and 5-HT7 receptors. It is indicated for major depressive illness and is generally reserved when other antidepressants were not successful; generally,...

Anti-depressants Part 2   Side effects of antidepressants   The most common side effects are as follows:   Tricyclics Tricyclics commonly cause dry mouth, a slight tremor, fast heartbeat, constipation, sleepiness, and weight gain. These effects are reduced if a low dose is given to start and the dose is then slowly increased. Other side effects which are more common in older people include confusion, inability to pass urine, and postural hypotension. They should be avoided in patients with heart conditions as they can cause irregular heartbeat. They can cause erective dysfunction and delayed ejaculation in men. Tricyclic antidepressants are...

Antidepressants Part 1   I focus on pharmacological treatment options for depression. I will not outline the causes, symptoms etc of depression. Talking therapies such as CBT should be the first line as a treatment option for depression; medication should always be used in tandem with talking therapies for mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.   Antidepressants   The first antidepressants were developed in the 1950s. There are now about thirty different kinds of antidepressants available and there are six main types: Tricyclics MAOIs (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors) SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) SNRIs (Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors) NASSAs (Noradrenaline...