Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAntidepressantsAnti-anxiety MedicationsAntipsychotic MedicationsStimulantsMood StabilizersFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Antidepressants

Anti-anxiety Medications

Antipsychotic Medications

Stimulants

Mood Stabilizers

Frequently Asked Questions

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), more than one in five adults (about 20%) in the United States has a mental health condition.

Treatments for mental health conditions are structured around the condition being treated and typically are holistic in nature- including not just medication but also other interventions, such aspsychotherapy.

Psychotropic medications are drugs that affect the mind, emotions, and behavior.

The broad categories of psychotropic medications, which we will break down further, include:antidepressants,anti-anxiety medications,antipsychotics, stimulants, andmood stabilizers.

Continue reading to learn more about these psychotropic medications, including the specific drugs that make up these respective categories, their specific uses, potential side effects, and more.

Grace Cary / Getty Images

What to Know About Psychotropic Medications

Antidepressantsare prescription medications used to treatmajor depressive disorder (MDD, depression), a common mental health condition that can make you feel sad, worried, and hopeless and can affect your appetite, sleep, and thoughts.

Beyond the treatment of MDD, some antidepressants can be used to treatanxietyor other mental health conditions, likeseasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Categories of antidepressants are differentiated based on how they work; however, generally, antidepressants are thought to increaseneurotransmittersand chemicals in the brain, such asserotoninandnoradrenaline.

The following section will detail notable types of antidepressants and the drugs that comprise these categories, including potential side effects.

How Long Do Antidepressants Take to Work?

SSRIs

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)are among the most commonly prescribed antidepressants and are often used as a first-line choice of treatment. Although all SSRIs treat MDD, many possess other FDA-approved uses, such as the treatment ofgeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Examples of commonly prescribed SSRis includeProzac (fluoxetine)andLexapro (escitalopram).

At times, healthcare providers prescribe medications for a purpose the drug was not initially FDA-approved for. This is called off-label prescribing.

SSRIs are sometimes prescribed off-label for various uses, such asfibromyalgia(widespread muscle pain and tenderness) andmigraine prevention.

The following list outlines common SSRIs and their respective indications (FDA-approved uses):

Prozac (fluoxetine) is FDA-approved to treat:

Lexapro (escitalopram) is FDA-approved to treat:

Zoloft (sertraline)is FDA-approved to treat:

Common side effects of SSRIs include:

SNRIs

Alongside the treatment of MDD, SNRIs hold the capacity to treat (in addition to anxiety disorders)long-term (chronic) pain, especially nerve pain.

Examples of commonly prescribed SNRIs include the following:

Cymbalta (duloxetine)is FDA-approved to treat:

Cymbalta RecallStarting in October 2024, over 200,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules were recalled over concerns about the presence of nitrosamines, which can increase the risk of cancer.If you take duloxetine, check your medication packaging to see if it was part of the affected lots or call your pharmacist to find out. You should also contact your prescriber, as abruptly stopping a medication like duloxetinecan be dangerous.The recalled lots have expiration dates from November 2024 to December 2025. You can check the lot numbers in the FDA enforcement reports released inOctoberandDecember.

Cymbalta Recall

Starting in October 2024, over 200,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules were recalled over concerns about the presence of nitrosamines, which can increase the risk of cancer.If you take duloxetine, check your medication packaging to see if it was part of the affected lots or call your pharmacist to find out. You should also contact your prescriber, as abruptly stopping a medication like duloxetinecan be dangerous.The recalled lots have expiration dates from November 2024 to December 2025. You can check the lot numbers in the FDA enforcement reports released inOctoberandDecember.

Starting in October 2024, over 200,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules were recalled over concerns about the presence of nitrosamines, which can increase the risk of cancer.If you take duloxetine, check your medication packaging to see if it was part of the affected lots or call your pharmacist to find out. You should also contact your prescriber, as abruptly stopping a medication like duloxetinecan be dangerous.

The recalled lots have expiration dates from November 2024 to December 2025. You can check the lot numbers in the FDA enforcement reports released inOctoberandDecember.

Effexor XR (venlafaxine)is FDA-approved to treat:

Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) is FDA-approved to treat:

Common side effects associated with the use of SNRIs include:

Tricyclic antidepressants

Because of the potential side effects associated with TCAs, this category of drug is not always a preferred antidepressant, especially in older adults who may be more sensitive to the side effects.

TCAs are sometimes prescribed off-label for conditions likenerve pain,insomnia, ormigraine prevention.

Some commonly prescribed TCAs include the following:

Generic amitriptyline is FDA-approved to treat:

Pamelor (nortriptyline) is FDA-approved to treat:

Generic imipramine is FDA-approved to treat:

Common side effects associated with the use of TCAs include:

5-HT1A Receptor Agonists

Selective serotonin 1a (5-HT1A) receptor agonists are a new class of antidepressants that selectively target serotonin 1A receptors, which are key in regulating mood and emotions.

Exxua (gepirone) is the first and only FDA-approved 5-HT1A receptor agonist to treat:

Common side effects associated with the use of 5-HT1A receptor agonists include:

Exxua is the first and only approved antidepressant that selectively targets the serotonin 1a (5-HT1a) receptor. Unlike other antidepressant medications, Exxua does not pose the risks of sexual side effects or weight gain.

SSRI or SNRI antidepressants are often used as a first-line treatment for anxiety, along with therapy.

However, some medications are designated explicitly as anti-anxiety medications, such asbenzodiazepines (BZDs).

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that blocks other messages and controls the rate at which information travels throughout thenervous system.

BZDs are classified ascontrolled substancesbecause they have the potential for abuse and dependence.

The following section will detail notable types of BZDs and the drugs that comprise these categories, including potential side effects.

Commonly Prescribed BZDs

The following lists commonly prescribed BZDs and what they treat:

Xanax (alprazolam)is FDA-approved to treat:

Valium (diazepam)is FDA-approved to treat:

Ativan (lorazepam)is FDA-approved to treat:

Common side effects associated with the use of BZDs include:

Antipsychotic medications are prescription pharmaceuticals used to treat conditions that involvepsychosis, a group of symptoms that affects the ability to tell what is real and what is not accurate.

Antipsychotics are a critical part of treating conditions that involve psychosis, such asschizophreniaorbipolar disorder.

There are three types of antipsychotic medications:

The following section will detail notable antipsychotics and the drugs that comprise these categories, including potential side effects.

Commonly Prescribed First-Generation Antipsychotics

Examples of commonly prescribed first-generation antipsychotics include the following:

Adasuve (loxapine)is FDA-approved to treat the following:

Haldol (haloperidol) is FDA-approved to treat the following:

Commonly Prescribed Second-Generation Antipsychotics

Examples of commonly prescribed second-generation antipsychotics include the following:

Clozaril (clozapine)is FDA-approved to treat the following:

Because Clozaril is associated with severeneutropeniaand seizures, it is only available through a restricted program and only prescribed when other medications have not been effective.

Zyprexa (olanzapine)is FDA-approved to treat the following:

Conversely, in comparison to its orally administered form, injectable Zyprexa can be used to treat acute agitation associated with schizophrenia and bipolar-related mania.

Fanapt (iloperidone) is FDA-approved to treat the following:

Combination Muscarinic Antagonists and Agonists

Examples include the following:

Cobenfy (xanomeline and trospium chloride) is the first and only combination muscarinic antagonist and agonist that is FDA-approved to treat the following:

Cobenfy is a new treatment for schizophrenia used to improve positive and negative symptoms. Cobenfy is a new class of medicine and works differently than traditional schizophrenia medications. Cobenfy contains xanomeline, which helps schizophrenia symptoms, and trospium, which works to reduce the side effects.

Antipsychotic drugs may causeextrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)which include:

First-generation antipsychotics are associated with more movement disorders.

Second-generation antipsychotics are also associated with movement disorders but to a lesser extent.

Common side effects associated with the use of antipsychotics include:

Stimulants are prescription medications used to treat neurological conditions, such asattention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)andnarcolepsy.

Stimulants help increase energy, alertness, and attention. They work on chemicals in the brain called dopamine and norepinephrine.

The following section will detail notable types of stimulants and the drugs that comprise these categories, including potential side effects.

Stimulant Examples

Examples of commonly prescribed stimulants include the following:

Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine)is FDA-approved to treat:

Concerta extended-release (ER, methylphenidate)is FDA-approved to treat:

Ritalin (methylphenidate)is FDA-approved to treat:

Common side effects associated with the use of stimulants include:

Mood stabilizer drugs encompass several categories of pharmaceuticals used to treat bipolar disorder, such as anticonvulsants and antipsychotic medications.

To date, the most commonly used mood stabilizer islithium.

The following section will detail notable types of mood stabilizers and the drugs that comprise these categories, including potential side effects.

Commonly Prescribed Mood Stabilizers

As referenced above, Lithium is FDA-approved to treat bipolar disorder.

Beyond lithium, a commonly administered mood stabilizer isDepakote (divalproex), which is FDA-approved for the following:

Common side effects associated with the use of mood stabilizers include:

Summary

Psychotropic drugs affect the mind, emotions, and behavior and are commonly used for conditions that include MDD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

The broad classes of psychotropic drugs include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, antipsychotics, stimulants, and mood stabilizers.

Notable psychotropic medications include Adderall, Xanax, and Ritalin, among others.

If you believe you or a loved one may benefit from the use of psychotropic medication, consult a healthcare provider, as they can advise on the best route of action forward to address mental disorders that may negatively affect quality of life.

Generally, psychotropic medications should be stored at room temperature (68-77 degrees F), away from direct heat, light, and moisture.Do not store psychotropic medications in areas susceptible to high moisture levels, such as bathrooms. Keep all medications out of the reach and sight of children and pets.For the medications that are controlled substances, such as benzodiazepines or stimulants, you should store these where no one can get to them because an overdose or accidental ingestion could be life-threatening or cause death.Keep track of your medication so you know if any pills are missing.

Generally, psychotropic medications should be stored at room temperature (68-77 degrees F), away from direct heat, light, and moisture.

Do not store psychotropic medications in areas susceptible to high moisture levels, such as bathrooms. Keep all medications out of the reach and sight of children and pets.

For the medications that are controlled substances, such as benzodiazepines or stimulants, you should store these where no one can get to them because an overdose or accidental ingestion could be life-threatening or cause death.

Keep track of your medication so you know if any pills are missing.

Some psychotropic medications are known for appetite and weight loss, such as stimulants.Others are more associated with weight gain, and some medications list both weight loss and weight gain as possible side effects.You can discuss weight changes with your healthcare provider if weight changes are a concern.

Some psychotropic medications are known for appetite and weight loss, such as stimulants.

Others are more associated with weight gain, and some medications list both weight loss and weight gain as possible side effects.

You can discuss weight changes with your healthcare provider if weight changes are a concern.

Some conditions may only require short-term treatment, while others require long-term or lifelong treatment.

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