Alprazolam

A compound developed at the Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery (MIDD) is set to enter clinical trials at the FDA, potentially leading to a new treatment for depression and Alzheimer's. The drug, GL-Damonia, shows promise in restoring brain cell growth in mice, with no toxicity observed. If successful, it could also treat schizophrenia. The trials involve testing safety in healthy individuals (Phase 1), efficacy in patients (Phase 2), and large-scale effectiveness (Phase 3). Despite the high costs and low success rate, researchers remain motivated by the potential to help patients.

Athletic trainer Kenya Moore noticed a player's disorientation after switching ADHD meds, leading to heat stroke. Experts warn that medications for ADHD, anxiety, and depression elevate heat stroke risk in athletes, calling for more research. Heat illness diagnoses and deaths have risen with global temperatures, with stimulants potentially increasing risk by constricting blood vessels and inhibiting sweating. Awareness and precautions are crucial, especially as mental health medication use rises.

Nitazenes, a class of synthetic opioids, are causing overdose deaths globally and are challenging to detect. They are cheaper and more potent than fentanyl, leading to concerns about a new drug crisis. Test strips for nitazenes exist but are not yet widely distributed, and drug-checking tools are often illegal in the US.