| Active Ingredient | METHYLPHENIDATE |
| Therapeutic Class | RESPIRATORY-CEREBRAL STIMULANTS |
| Indications | Attention deficit disorders; narcolepsy . |
| Caution | Restlessness, vertigo, physical dependence, slurred speech. |
| Dose Range |
Narcolepsy: 10-60mg daily in 2-3 divided doses 30-45 minutes before meals. Hyperkinetic states: Pediatric 6 and over: 5mg twice daily (immediate-release) before breakfast and lunch increased if necessary to 60mg daily . |
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| Active Ingredient | ALPRAZOLAM |
| Therapeutic Class | BENZODIAZEPINES (SEDATIVES) |
| Indications | Indicated for anxiety and panic disorders. |
| Caution | Adverse effects include dizziness, sleepiness, syncope, confusion, impaired memory and co-ordination, decreased libido, increased appetite, depression, and constipation. Withdrawal seizures may occur More ... |
| Dose Range | Anxiety: 0.25-0.5mg 3 times daily increased if necessary to a total daily dose of 3 or 4mg. Panic disorders: 0.5-10mg daily divided into 3-4 doses. Elderly: initially 0.25mg 2 or 3 times daily . |
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| Active Ingredient | CLOBAZAM |
| Therapeutic Class | BENZODIAZEPINES (SEDATIVES) |
| Indications | Adjunct in the treatment of epilepsy including seizures associated with the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Short-term treatment of acute anxiety. |
| Caution | As for diazepam. |
| Dose Range | Adult: Epilepy: 20 to 30 mg daily, maximum dose 60 mg daily . Acute anxiety: 10 to 30 mg daily may be taken in divided doses or as a single dose at night. Pediatric 6-17 years: initially 5 mg daily with a maintenance dose range of 0.3 to 1 mg/kg daily up |
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| Active Ingredient | DIAZEPAM |
| Therapeutic Class | BENZODIAZEPINES (SEDATIVES) |
| Indications | Short term use as tranquilliser, sedative, and in status epilepticus, acute alcohol withdrawal. Also see chlordiazepoxide. |
| Caution |
See chlordiazepoxide above. Excessive drowsiness and confusion in the elderly. Flumazenil as Anexate is available at the Q.E.H. for the treatment of benzodiazepine overdosage. C.f. prescribing in live More ... |
| Dose Range |
Anxiety: 2-30mg daily, usually best as a single night time dose. Status epilepticus: 10-20mg i.v. at 5mg/minute. Repeat cautiously if necessary. Acute alcohol withdrawal: 10mg 3-4 times a day for 1 day, then 5mg 3-4 times a day when necessary . |
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| Active Ingredient | LORAZEPAM |
| Therapeutic Class | BENZODIAZEPINES (SEDATIVES) |
| Indications |
Quick relief of anxiety symptoms but action not sustained. See p. 265. |
| Caution | See Chlordiazepoxide Hydrochloride p. 319. It is habit forming and on sudden withdrawal may cause seizures. c.f. prescribing in liver disease p.15. |
| Dose Range | Anxiety: 1-6mg daily in divided doses but may be gradually increased to 10mg daily in 2-3 divided doses. Elderly: Half adult dose. i.v 4mg given by slow intravenous injection. |
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| Active Ingredient | MIDAZOLAM |
| Therapeutic Class | BENZODIAZEPINES (SEDATIVES) |
| Indications | Sedation in minor surgical or investigative procedures and in intensive care, for premedication, and for induction of general anaesthesia. |
| Caution | Dosage must be titrated carefully against the response of the patient; lower doses of midazolam are required when it is used with op ioid analgesics. Respiratory and cardiac function should be monitor More ... |
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| Active Ingredient | NITRAZEPAM |
| Therapeutic Class | BENZODIAZEPINES (SEDATIVES) |
| Indications | Short term use for insomnia. |
| Caution | Avoid prolonged ues. Use with cauion in heptic and renal impairment. Drowsiness, lightheadedness, disorientation, confusion. Effects may be more accentuated in elderly patients. c.f. prescribing in More ... |
| Dose Range | Adult: 5-10mg at bedtime. |
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| Active Ingredient | BUSPIRONE |
| Therapeutic Class | ANXIOLYTICS, SEDATIVES AND HYPNOTICS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Short term treatment of anxiety disorders. |
| Caution |
Dizziness, nausea, headache, blurred vision, anger/hostility , lightheadedness, excitement. Avoid grapefruit juice. Safety and efficacy is not established in children under 18 yrs of age. |
| Dose Range | Adult:5 mg 2 or 3 times daily increased in steps of 5 mg at 2 to 3- day intervals, if necessary , to 15 to 30 mg daily in divided doses. |
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| Active Ingredient | CHLORAL HYDRATE |
| Therapeutic Class | ANXIOLYTICS, SEDATIVES AND HYPNOTICS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Short term treatment of insommia. |
| Caution | G.I. upset. Dizziness, clumsiness, hangover effect. c.f prescribing in liver and renal disease p . 11; 25. |
| Dose Range |
Sedation: 250mg 3 times daily to maximum 2g daily . Insomnia: 500mg-1g 15-30 minutes before bedtime. Take with water or milk. Pediatric sedation: 1-12yrs: 30-50mg/kg maximum 1g 45-60mins preprocedure. 12-18yrs: 1-2g 45-60mins p re-p rocedure. |
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| Active Ingredient | HYDROXYZINE |
| Therapeutic Class | ANXIOLYTICS, SEDATIVES AND HYPNOTICS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications |
Effective for alleviating 1g E-mediated pruritis and urticaria; anxiety . |
| Caution | Drowsiness, dry mouth, headache. C.f. prescribing in liver disease p. 14. |
| Dose Range |
Adults and children over 12yrs: Pruritis: initially 25mg at night, increased if necessary to 25 mg 3-4 times daily ; Anxiety: 50-100mg daily in divided doses. Pediatric 1-6yrs: 1mg/kg or 5-15mg at night increasing to 50mg daily in divided doses. Pediatri |
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| Active Ingredient | PROMETHAZINE |
| Therapeutic Class | ANXIOLYTICS, SEDATIVES AND HYPNOTICS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Pre-operative sedation, anti-emetic. |
| Caution |
CNS depression, dermatitis, drowsiness. c.f. prescribing in liver disease p.17. |
| Dose Range | Adult: 25-50mg daily as a single dose or in divided doses. Maximum 75mg. Pediatric 5-10 years:10mg at night and the following morning. I.M or IV: 25- 50mg as needed prior to surgery . |
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| Active Ingredient | ZOLPIDEM |
| Therapeutic Class | ANXIOLYTICS, SEDATIVES AND HYPNOTICS MISCELLANEOUS |
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| Active Ingredient | ZOPICLONE |
| Therapeutic Class | ANXIOLYTICS, SEDATIVES AND HYPNOTICS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Insomnia (short -term use - up to 4 weeks). |
| Caution | Bitter taste, residual sedation/p sy chomotor imp airment and rebound insomnia. The p otential of the drug to p roduce p hy sical dep endence have been reported; psychiatric reactions, including hall More ... |
| Dose Range |
Adult over 18: 7.5mg orally at bedtime. Elderly : initially 3.75mg at bedtime increased if necessary . Start with small doses in severe renal impairment. |
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| Active Ingredient | LITHIUM CARBONATE |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTIMANIC AGENTS |
| Indications |
Bipolar disorder: Acute manic p hases and for p rop hy laxis in manic dep ressions. |
| Caution | Ataxia and tremor, nausea, dry mouth, vomiting and diarrhoea. Blood level should be monitored and maintained in a safe therap eutic range of 0.5 to 1 meg/L. c.f. prescribing More ... |
| Dose Range |
Acute Mania:Controlled Release Preparations: 1800mg/day in 2- 3 divided doses. M aintenance 900-1200mg/day in 2-3 divided doses. Immediate Release: 600mg three times daily . |
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| Active Ingredient | ELETRIPTAN HYDROBROMIDE |
| Therapeutic Class | SELECTIVE SEROTONIN AGONIST |
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| Active Ingredient | RIZATRIPTAN |
| Therapeutic Class | SELECTIVE SEROTONIN AGONIST |
| Indications | Treatment of acute migraine |
| Caution | Decreased alertness, diarrhoea; drowsiness; dry mouth; dy sp noea; headache; p alp itation; p araesthesia; p hary ngeal discomfort; sweating; tachy cardia; tremor. |
| Dose Range | Adult: 10mg dose to be taken as soon as p ossible after onset, followed by 10mg after 2 hours if required, dose to be taken only if migraine recurs (p atient not resp onding to initial dose should not take second dose for same attack); maximum 20mg p e |
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| Active Ingredient | SUMATRIPTAN |
| Therapeutic Class | SELECTIVE SEROTONIN AGONIST |
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| Active Ingredient | ZOLMITRIPTAN |
| Therapeutic Class | SELECTIVE SEROTONIN AGONIST |
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| Active Ingredient | FLUNARIZINE |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTIMIGRAINE AGENTS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Prophylaxis of migraine headache, peripheral vascular disease; vertigo. |
| Caution | To be taken at bedtime to reduce CNS symptoms. Weight gain may occur in pediatrics. Sedation and drowsiness. |
| Dose Range |
Migraine Prophylaxis: 10mg at bedtime. Peripheral Vascular Disease: 10-20mg daily . Vertigo: 20mg 3 times daily . |
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| Active Ingredient | BENZHEXOL |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTICHOLINERGIC AGENTS (PARKINSONS) |
| Indications | Parkinsonism, especially when tremor and salivation are marked. Drug induced parkinsonism but not tardive dyskinesia. |
| Caution |
Avoid if there is risk of urinary retention. Often abused by chronic psychotics. Dry mouth, G.I. up set, blurred vision, nervousness and confusion. |
| Dose Range |
Adult: 1mg increased to 6-10mg daily in 3-4 divided doses (max. 20mg). |
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