by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Sep 23, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Have you ever had a patient show up on ten different psych medications—and none of them seem to be working? They’re struggling. You know psychiatric deprescribing needs to happen, but the problem is: Where do you even begin? Adjust One Medication at a Time I had a...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Sep 16, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Imagine inheriting a patient who has been on Xanax for many years. Since Xanax isn’t an evidence-based long-term treatment for anxiety, and your patient remains very anxious, it’s clear that something needs to change. This is where tapering benzodiazepines...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Sep 4, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Your patient is taking Prozac and Lithium—what worries you most? A. They smoke cigarettes 2 PPD B. They are on oral contraceptives C. They are on long-term, high-dose ibuprofen D. They drink 5 beers per week Did you get it right? Why Smoking Isn’t the Biggest Issue...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Aug 19, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Clozapine is one of the most effective medications for treating schizophrenia, especially in treatment-resistant cases. However, clozapine’s serious side effects require vigilant monitoring to keep patients safe. Understanding these risks can help APRNs and...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Aug 14, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
When it comes to treating mood disorders, SNRIs for depression offer a valuable option. While they may be overshadowed by SSRIs or newer antidepressants, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like venlafaxine, duloxetine, and desvenlafaxine have unique...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jul 29, 2025 | Clinical support resources, Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Let’s dive into the world of SSRIs – the superheroes of psychotropic agents! They all work to boost those feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin, but each SSRI has its unique personality. Prozac, Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil, and Celexa: they’re like a squad with...