by Eric Christianson | Jan 28, 2026 | Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine Case Studies
This was a case I came across recently where duloxetine was added to a patient’s regimen. The provider did not adequately assess the medication and recognize that the patient was already taking an SNRI in Effexor. This led to a case of duplicate SNRI therapy....
by Eric Christianson | Dec 10, 2025 | Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine Case Studies
I recently came across a case scenario of drug induced akathisia. It is important to remember that aripiprazole is one of the most common causes of this adverse effect. Here’s the case – LY is a 72-year-old man with a 10-year history of Parkinson’s disease...
by Eric Christianson | Nov 23, 2025 | Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine Case Studies
A 45-year-old woman with a history of bipolar I disorder was recently hospitalized for a manic episode. Following stabilization, her psychiatrist initiated lithium carbonate at 300 mg twice daily for mood stabilization. Her baseline thyroid function tests were within...
by Eric Christianson | Nov 16, 2025 | Long Term Care Consultant Pharmacist Education and Information, Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine Case Studies
It’s not uncommon to see patients in long-term care facilities prescribed medications for anxiety, agitation, or insomnia. Two such medications that can raise red flags are Atarax (hydroxyzine) and Ativan (lorazepam). While both can be appropriate in select...
by Eric Christianson | Oct 15, 2025 | Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine Case Studies
In this case scenario, I review a common situation I’ve encountered with duplicate antidepressant therapy. JS is a 67-year-old male with a history of type 2 diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and depression. He has been taking sertraline (podcast) 100 mg daily for...
by Eric Christianson | May 4, 2025 | Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine Case Studies
The prescribing cascade occurs when a side effect of a medication is misinterpreted as a new medical condition, leading to the prescription of additional medicines that may be unnecessary and potentially harmful. In patients with dementia, this can be common due to...
