Saphris- a novel drug to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Part 1

Just a few weeks ago, the FDA approved a new drug called Saphris to treat schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder in adults. Saphris belongs to a class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics. The FDA accepted Saphris based on recent clinical trials in which the medication was much better than placebo at reducing symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects about 1% of North Americans and is one of the most common causes of suicide in these individuals. Schizophrenia can present with a range of symptoms that include hearing voices other people do not hear or having false beliefs that others are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts or scheming to harm them. Many schizophrenics are inappropriately suspicious or paranoid.

Bipolar disorder, also acknowledged as manic-depressive illness, is believed to affect about 1% to 3% of individuals in North America. Bipolar I disorder is a chronic, severe, and recurrent mental disorder that induces sporadic periods of depression and increased levels of hyperactivity, restlessness, competing thoughts, rapid speech, impulsive actions, and a diminished need for sleep.

Both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder not only affect the individual but also devastate relationships between families and friends. Despite years of research, the cause of both these disorders remains a puzzle. Even though there are drugs to treat these disorders, many individuals rapidly develop tolerance, have numerous side effects and treatment is life long. The use of drugs to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorders is essential because they can help these individuals live more independently and even hold jobs.

Can Tamoxifen be used to treat Bipolar Disorder? Part 1

There are close to 6 million individuals in the US with bipolar disorder. This disorder characterized by severe mood shifts ranging from extreme mania to depression can create havoc in one’s life. Manic episodes may last anywhere from 7 days to several months and the symptoms may range from acute restlessness, trouble sleeping, anxiety, irritability, distractibility and/or paranoia. While the depressive episodes are treatable, the manic phases of bipolar disorders are very difficult to treat. The few drug treatments available to date have to be taken for many weeks and often fail to work or worsen the depression. Even when the treatment works, many individuals rapidly develop resistance to the drugs. During the manic phase of the disorder, individuals may lose their jobs, spend a lot of money, and have poor martial relationships.

For some years now, scientists have been trying to discover treatments that work faster and resolve the bipolar phase without causing excess depression.

Tamoxifen is a widely used drug to treat postmenopausal women who have had breast cancer. Tamoxifen has been used for more than two decades to treat breast cancer. It acts by blocking activity of the hormone estrogen, which stimulates breast cancer growth. Tamoxifen also inhibits a group of enzymes known as protein kinase C, and it was this activity that first fascinated scientists studying bipolar disorder.

Now, there is evidence that perhaps tamoxifen may be useful in the treatment of manic phase of bipolar disorder.