Schizophrenia is not a one-size-fits-all condition, and people often find themselves in a cycle of discontinuing and switching therapies. Studies have shown that approximately 40% of people with schizophrenia do not respond to therapy, and up to 60% experience a partial or inadequate improvement or intolerable side effects during therapy.

The FDA recently approved a new medication for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults, representing the first new class of medicine in more than 30 years. This new treatment option leverages a novel pathway and represents a new mechanistic approach to addressing the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Dr. Gus Alva, a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatry Association will be available to discuss the significance of this new treatment for adults living with schizophrenia and their care partners, and its potential to transform the treatment landscape.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, THE FDA HAS APPROVED THE FIRST DRUG REPRESENTING A NEW CLASS OF MEDICINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA.

ADULTS LIVING WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA HAVE A NEW TREATMENT OPTION TO HELP MANAGE THEIR CONDITION THAT INTRODUCES A FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE INFORMATION IS DR. GUS ALVA,  DISTINGUISHED  LIFETIME FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHIATRY ASSOCIATION.

BIO

Dr. Gus Alva is the medical director of ATP clinical research (a premiere private clinical research company specializing in neuropsychiatric investigations). He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He is a forensic psychiatric consultant for the Orange County Superior Court and a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Dr. Alva received his medical degree from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara (UAG). Residency training was completed at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, where he served as chief resident during his final year of residency.

Dr. Alva has served as a principal investigator for the past 10 years conducting investigations in a myriad of neuropsychiatric conditions: Alzheimer’s and other dementias, depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder and psychotic conditions. As a clinician and investigator, Dr Alva’s focus is on the genetics, neuroimaging, and latest treatments available for each aforementioned condition, as well as aspects of ethnicity and their correlation within clinical situations. He has published numerous articles, and presents at both national and international meetings and conferences.

He is the immediate past-president of the Orange County Psychiatric Society. Dr. Alva is also a member of many professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Orange County Medical Association, the California Psychiatric Association, the American Board of Forensic Medicine, the American College of Forensic Examiners, the California Hispanic American Medical Association and the International Congress of Geriatric Psychopharmacology.

IMORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: INDICATION

COBENFY (xanomeline and trospium chloride) is a prescription medicine used to treat schizophrenia in adults.

It is not known if COBENFY is safe and effective in children.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Do not take COBENFY if you:

•        have urinary retention problems that cause your bladder to not empty completely or not empty at all

•        have moderate or severe liver problems (impairment)

•        have gastric retention problems that cause your stomach to empty slowly

•        are allergic to COBENFY, xanomeline, or trospium chloride, or any of the ingredients in COBENFY

•        have an eye problem called untreated narrow-angle glaucoma

Before taking COBENFY, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

•        have an enlarged prostate, problems passing urine, or a blockage in your urinary bladder

•        have liver problems

•        have or have had gallstones or problems with your bile ducts or pancreas

•        have stomach or intestinal problems, including constipation, ulcerative colitis, slow emptying of your stomach, or myasthenia gravis

•        have an eye condition called narrow-angle glaucoma

•        have kidney problems

•        are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if COBENFY may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during treatment with

COBENFY. o               There is a pregnancy exposure registry for women who take COBENFY during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of women exposed to COBENFY and their baby. If you become pregnant during treatment with COBENFY, your

healthcare provider will register you by calling 1-866-961-2388 or online at https://womensmentalhealth.org/research/pregnancyregistry/atypicalantipsychotic/

•        are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if COBENFY passes into your breast milk or if it can harm your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the- counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking COBENFY with certain other medicines may increase your risk of side effects from COBENFY or the other medicine

The post BREAKING NEW GROUND IN SCHIZOPHRENIA TREATMENT appeared first on Good News!.

What are diabetes home tests?

Testing blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, is an essential part of your diabetes care plan.

Depending on your current condition, you may need to visit your doctor several times a year for formal testing, according to the American Diabetes Association. You may also need to reach out to your doctor for preventive testing, such as cholesterol checks and eye exams.

While staying in touch with your doctor is important for staying on top of your treatment plan, you can and should test your blood sugar on your own as long as your healthcare team advises you to.

Self-monitoring your blood glucose may be vital to your treatment. Testing your own levels allows you to learn how to manage your blood sugar regardless of the time of day or where you are.

Learn how these tests work and talk with your doctor about the benefits of self-monitoring.

The post The latest diabetes stories for you appeared first on Good News!.

CKD is a progressive condition and patients with CKD have an increased risk of having heart disease.[1][3] However, most patients don’t know they have CKD, in large part because it is a “silent” disease, with most patients feeling no symptoms until the disease has progressed.[4] In fact, while approximately 15% of US adults are living with CKD, 9 in 10 are unaware they have CKD.[1]

Now, a new treatment option has been proven to help slow the progression of CKD – a huge scientific innovation for CKD patients at risk of progression with and without T2D. This approval is the most significant advancement in the treatment of CKD in over 20 years.

Because CKD may be overlooked until symptoms appear at advanced stages, it is especially important to be aware of risk factors and the serious complications that can occur.[1][5]

CKD tends to get worse over time, so the earlier treatment starts, the better the patient outcomes are. [3]

On May 19, Neil Skolnik, M.D., Professor of Family and Community Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, will be available to discuss the latest treatment option approved by the FDA. Dr. Skolnik will also discuss risk factors and the importance of early detection of CKD.

Interview Courtesy: AstraZeneca

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/publications-resources/2019-national-facts.html.

2. AstraZeneca. Diagnose CKD Now. https://www.diagnoseckdnow.com/

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease Basics. www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/basics.html.

4. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/kidney-disease.

5. National Kidney Foundation. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (Egfr). https://www.kidney.org/content/gfr]

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The post THE FIRST MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN 20 YEARS TO HELP MANAGE CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE IN PATIENTS AT RISK OF PROGRESSION WITH AND WITHOUT TYPE 2 DIABETES appeared first on Good News!.

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