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 11, 2025 | Clinical support resources
A significant advancement in psychotropic treatments is NeuroStar TMS receiving FDA approval for adolescents ages 15 and up. This makes it the first and only TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) therapy cleared as an adjunct treatment for adolescents. TMS was...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Sep 9, 2025 | Transition into Practice Tips & Resources
Several years ago, I received my very own office for the first time. I had a desk, a computer, a big comfy swiveling chair, and privacy—a real office with a door. It felt surreal. This was my first job as a new nurse practitioner. A New Chapter Begins The first few...
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 | Sep 2, 2025 | Diagnosis/Assessment tips for treating mental disorders
In school as an NP student and later in clinical practice, I learned that prescribing benztropine (Cogentin) for extrapyramidal side effects was appropriate. What I didn’t realize was that there are times when prescribing benztropine—or any anticholinergic—can...