Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Editor's Choice

New uses for existing treatments

BMJ 2011; 342 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d907 (Published 09 February 2011) Cite this as: BMJ 2011;342:d907

Rapid Response:

The History of Psychotropic drugs is very interesting

Editor,It was interesting to read the editor's choice
New uses for existing treatments,
BMJ 2011 342:d907; doi:10.1136/bmj.d907,my comment,If we look into the
history of psychotropic medication, many of them were discovered by
chance,among which antipsychotic drugs like chlorpromazine,tricyclic drugs
for depression like imipramine,monamine oxidase inhibitors for depressive
illness..etc, like phenelzine. Also antiepileptics to be used as mood
stabilisers like valoprates ,carbamezapine..etc,lithium.
It will be very interesting to find a new use for the existing
psychotropic medications.

Competing interests: No competing interests

14 February 2011
AK AL-SHEIKHLI
Consultant Psychiatrist
Crisis Resolution & Home Treatment Team,The Woodlands,St.Leonards On Sea