Depression Treatment: How to Add ‘Booster’ Meds Without Breaking the Bank

By Elizabeth Millard, Apr 1, 2026

Which you choose will depend on what issues need to be resolved, says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a psychiatrist and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine in California and a medical reviewer for Everyday Health. “Common examples include aripiprazole or lithium to stabilize mood, or thyroid hormone to improve metabolic efficiency,” he says. “We also use stimulants or wakefulness-promoting agents if fatigue and brain fog are problematic. Hypnotics or sleep aids can improve sleep. Bupropion is also often used to improve energy and motivation.”

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2 to 3 Cups of Coffee Daily May Help Lower Stress, Improve Mental Health

By Mandy French, Mar 30, 2026

“These findings are consistent with the pharmacologic effects of caffeine, in addition to the possible benefits of polyphenols in coffee,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. Dimitriu was not involved in the study. “A moderate amount of coffee has the benefit of boosting mood, energy, and resilience to stress. Keep in mind that in most studies, a cup is considered an 8-oz cup, which typically has about 80 to 100 milligrams (mg) of caffeine. Do not interpret the results of this study to drink 2 to 3 20-oz cups per day,” he told Healthline.

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Why ‘Better’ Isn’t Enough: Bridging the Remission Gap in Depression Treatment

By Elizabeth Millard, Mar 25, 2026

What Is Response? Response to treatment means you’re feeling notably better, says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a psychiatrist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine in California and a medical reviewer for Everyday Health. That can be quantified in several different ways, including your own perceptions about how you feel and observations from your therapist. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) are frequently used, validated tools that can give a snapshot of depression severity.

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4 Questions to Ask Your Doctor When Your Depression Treatment Stops Progressing

By Elizabeth Millard, Mar 24, 2026

That doesn’t necessarily mean your treatment has stopped working, but it may need to be adjusted. To help your doctor figure out what’s going on, it’s a good idea to keep track of your symptoms, says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a psychiatrist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine in California and a medical reviewer for Everyday Health. Include what symptoms you’re having, how often you have them, and how long they last.

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Is Your OSA Treatment Working?

By Stephanie Booth, Mar 2026

“Untreated OSA is strongly linked to increased cardiovascular risk, hypertension, and cognitive impairment,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a sleep medicine doctor and psychiatrist in Menlo Park, California. “Put more simply, poor sleep is terrible for your brain and your body, as well as your moods.” When your doctor diagnoses you with OSA, they’ll likely suggest you start using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Dimitriu says this portable device is the gold standard for treating the condition. “[A CPAP] provides additional air to support your airway and prevent it from collapsing during sleep,” he says.

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Why That ‘Drama Queen’ in Your Life Could Make You Age Faster

By Mandy French, Mar 13, 2026

“We resonate with people, and when someone creates problems, ideally, we would leave such a situation,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, who was not involved in the study. “Dealing with a hassler definitely takes a toll on mental health, and I see that in my work every day,” Dimitriu told Healthline. The researchers then examined the association between having “hasslers” in your life and biological aging.

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5 trendy sleep products experts say to skip — and what to try instead

By Kinsley Searles, Mar 12, 2026

Subjectively, the Reviews team loves sunrise alarm clocks for their soothing warm light, and our testers have reported feeling refreshed while using them, so we’re glad to see that our experience is backed by the experts. Dimitriu said that morning light at 300 lux — a standard level of illumination — can improve morning alertness, sleep quality, and sleep inertia (the feeling of being sleepy after waking up). Plus, the light can help late risers wake up a bit earlier.

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Should You Lower Your Bedroom Temperature for Better Heart Health?

By Julia Ries Wexler, Mar 12, 2026

The number on your thermostat might be important for more than just your comfort. A recent study in the journal BMC Medicine linked hot nights to a string of negative health issues, including altered stress responses and changes in heart rates.  “While a cool bedroom was always considered a comfort, this report points out that it may be much more essential to cardiac health than previously thought,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine physician and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine.

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Sleep Doctors Say This Is How Much REM Sleep You Should Be Getting Each Night

By Korin Miller, Mar 11, 2026

Deep sleep is stage 3 non-REM, which is the deepest phase of non-REM sleep, while light sleep is the initial non-REM phases of sleep, or stages 1 and 2. “Deep sleep—or slow wave sleep—is also essential, and happens more in the first half of the night,” says Alex Dimitriu, M.D., psychiatrist and sleep medicine physician, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “The body is maximally resting during this time, and the mind is cleaning up toxins accumulated during the day.”

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Doctors warn the Gen Z ‘bedtime stacking’ trend is an insomnia trap and one-way ticket to morning burnout — here’s what they recommend focusing on instead

By Becky George, Mar 11, 2026

“Bedtime stacking is when people make a ‘command center,’ in bed — where they get to bed earlier, but still have everything they might need to finish up for the rest of the day before sleep,” explains Alex Dimitriu, MD, and double board-certified in Sleep Medicine and Psychiatry.

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The ‘gender sleep gap’: Why women get worse sleep than men — but need more

By Rachel Sacks, Mar 10, 2026

While the difference may not seem like much, women often bear the brunt of a lack of sleep due to a combination of biological and social factors, according to Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a double board-certified psychiatry and sleep medicine doctor. “Hormonal fluctuations throughout the life cycle, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause all play a significant role in disrupting sleep architecture and sleep quality,” Dimitriu, the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, told The Post.

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This Is How Much Sleep You Need to Lower Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk

By Mandy French, Mar 3, 2026

“What a great study, and so good to see further evidence that the myth of 8 hours of sleep is too much. This supports a prior studyTrusted Source between the U.K. and China, which also showed 7 hours to be optimal for mental health and cognitive performance,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, who was not involved in the study. “In the end, our lives exist on a spectrum between sleep and wake — too much sleep is often linked to illness and depression, while too little sleep is linked to anxiety and insomnia. Our autonomic nervous system sets this balance, and here we see additional support for an optimal balance — around 7 hours of sleep.”

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Clearing the Mist: How to Treat Bipolar Brain Fog Without Destabilizing Your Mood

By Elizabeth Millard, Feb 25, 2026

It can be an effect of the disorder itself, of medications used to manage bipolar, or sometimes both, says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a psychiatrist in private practice and a medical reviewer for Everyday Health. “Patients frequently describe this as ‘cognitive dulling,’ where processing speed slows down and focus becomes difficult to maintain,” he explains. Here’s a look at contributing factors, along with strategies that may help clear the mist.

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Which Magnesium Is Best for Sleep? Your Guide for Types and Usage

By Elizabeth Millard, Feb 23, 2026

Magnesium is a natural mineral that plays a role in hundreds of bodily functions, including muscle relaxation and nervous system regulation, which is why it can be helpful as a sleep aid, says Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a sleep medicine specialist and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California. “Magnesium works by activating certain receptors in the nervous system for a calming effect and blocking others that are excitatory,” Dr. Dimitriu explains. It also enhances melatonin production, a naturally occurring hormone that is known for its role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin levels rise in the evening, making you drowsy—so magnesium’s extra boost may help bring better sleep, he adds.

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Is 7 Hours of Sleep Enough?

By Elizabeth Millard, Feb 23, 2026

When it comes to how many hours of shuteye you get on average, the common recommendation for most adults is to clock at least seven hours each night, and that’s a solid general guideline, says Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a sleep medicine specialist and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California. However, it’s helpful to keep in mind that sleep duration can fluctuate based on things like age, lifestyle, illness recovery, pregnancy, or even existing underlying health conditions that you may, or you may not be, aware of. “For most adults, seven hours is the minimum needed to function well, with nine hours as the maximum, but individual needs can vary quite a bit,” Dr. Dimitriu notes.

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