By Kelly O’Sullivan, July 18, 2024

Dr. Dimitriu was consulted for this article. “We spend about a third of our lives sleeping, yet it seems like many of us still aren’t sure if we’re getting the rest we need. If you want to learn more about your sleep health but don’t want to wear a gadget on your wrist or finger, the best non-wearable sleep trackers might be worth trying. These devices use advanced technology to gather data about your sleep patterns and—unlike smart watches or fitness trackers—are usually placed under your mattress or on your nightstand.”

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By Sarah Bradley, July 8, 2024

Alex Dimitriu, MD, psychiatrist, sleep medicine specialist, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California, says many experts compare the use of Vraylar during pregnancy to that of Abilify (aripiprazole). The two drugs are closely related, he adds, but Abilify has been around longer and studied far more than Vraylar. “In the medical literature, aripiprazole is pregnancy category C, meaning it has been shown to have adverse effects in animals and uncertain effects in humans,” Dr. Dimitriu says.

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By Jessica Freeborn, July 5, 2024

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 current study, offered further insight into antidepressants to MNT: “The most common uses of antidepressants are for depression and anxiety, where they can significantly boost mood, energy while reducing negative thoughts, obsessive thoughts, and rumination. It is believed that antidepressants may also work by increasing levels of BDNF — brain-derived neurotrophic factor. BDNF is like miracle grow for neurons, which often means it can help people change old patterns of thinking, and be more open to new ideas, perspectives, which can be helpful.”

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By Sarah Bradley, July 2, 2024

“Most people taking any type of psychiatric medication should try to avoid alcohol entirely, or at least greatly minimize their intake,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, psychiatrist, sleep medicine specialist, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California. 

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By Jessica Migala, June 17, 2024

And there’s the sleep part of the equation. “Anxiety, sleep, and mental well-being are all intertwined,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine physician in Menlo Park, California. As a mild anti-anxiety agent, magnesium can also promote sleep. “Better sleep, in turn, results in less anxiety the following day,” Dr. Dimitriu says.

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By Jessica Migala, June 11, 2024

So where does magnesium fit into things? “Magnesium is a beneficial muscle relaxant and mild anti-anxiety agent,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine physician in Menlo Park, California. 

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By Bethann Mayer, June 9, 2024

“Sleep is so precious to our emotional and physical health,” says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, MD, who is double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “Fundamentally, it helps the part of our brain that sets us apart from most other animals, the prefrontal cortex.” Dr. Dimitriu explains that this part of the brain helps us plan, imagine and exercise self-control. “When we are sleep deprived, we have less self-control, which makes us more impulsive, moody, reactive and with stronger and more intense feelings,” Dr. Dimitriu says. “This can make for a bumpy day and can also strain relationships.” Yet, Dr. Dimitriu is weary of advertising that offers any miracle solutions. If you’re going to buy a machine, you may wonder: brown noise vs white noise, what noise is best for sleep?

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