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Medication
and Drug Guide
Psychotropic
Medication Guide
Antidepressants
Drug
Names:
Imiprimine (Tofranil), Clomiprimine (Anafranil),
and Amitriptyline (Elavil)
How they Work: Inhibit the uptake of
norepinephrine and serotonin (neurotransmitters in
the brain) at the synapse
What they Treat: Most useful for
somatic symptoms of depression such as appetite
and sleep difficulties, and feelings of
sluggishness associated with other depressive
symptoms
Possible Side Effects: dry mouth,
constipation, urinary retention, blurred vision,
nasal congestion
Heterocyclics
Drug
Names:
fluoxetine (Prozac), setraline (Zoloft),
paroxetine (Paxil)
How they Work: Inhibit the uptake of
serotonin (a neurotransmitter in the brain) at the
synapse
What they Treat: Used to treat
depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and
eating disorders
Possible Side Effects: similar to the
tricyclics, although less common, and often less
severe
MAO Inhibitors
Drug
Names:
phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate)
How they Work: Increases
neuropinephrine (a neurotransmitter in the brain)
What they Treat: Used to treat
symptoms of depression such as
increased appetite, hypersomnia, and phobic
symptoms
Possible Side Effects: hypotension,
dizziness, dry mouth, upset stomach, weight gain,
blurred vision, headache (Foods with a high level
of the amino acid tyramine can not be ingested
while on this medication due to potentially fatal
interactions. These foods include cheeses,
beer, wine, packaged soups, sour cream, yogurt,
and some vegetables)
Anxiolytics,
Sedatives, and Hypnotics
This
category covers medications typically used to
treat anxiety disorders and symptoms, or for
difficulties with sleep. There are three
subclassifications:
Benzodiazepines
Drug
Names:
diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam
(Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), triazolam (Halcion)
How they Work: Enhance the activity
of the neurotransmitter GABA
What they Treat: Most useful for
anxiety symptoms and/or panic disorder, treatment
of insomnia
Possible Side Effects: drowsiness,
weight gain, apathy, dry mouth, sexual dysfunction
Barbiturates
Drug
Names:
thiopental (Pentothal), amobarbital (Amytal),
secobarbital (Seconal)
How they Work: Interrupt the impulses
to the reticular activating system (part of the
brain which controls the wake state, arousal, and
attention)
What they Treat: Used to treat
symptoms of anxiety but have been supplanted by
the benzodiazepines due to the more dangerous side
effects and potential for addiction of this
classification
Possible Side Effects: Barbiturates
are addictive and can result in build up of
tolerance and withdrawal symptoms Other side
effects are similar to, although often more severe
than, benzodiazepines
Beta Blockers
Drug
Names:
propranolol (Inderal)
How they Work:
What they Treat: Used to treat
physiological symptoms of anxiety such as
sweating, heart palpitations, tremors.
Possible Side Effects: hypotension,
sexual dysfunction, numbness
Antipsychotics
(Neuroleptics)
This category covers medications typically
used to treat psychotic disorders such as
schizophrenia, and psychotic symptoms present with
some mood disorders.
Drug Names: chlorpromazine (Thorazine),
thioridazine (Mellaril),
haloperidol (Haldol), clozapine (Clozaril)
How they Work: Medications in this
classification work by blocking dopamine (a
neurotransmitter in the brain) receptors
Possible Side Effects: Side effects
include those similar to the
antidepressant medications, although more serious
side effects are possible, especially with longer term use.
These include tardive dyskinesia (abnormal, involuntary movement of the
arms, legs, and head) and Parkinsonism (symptoms
resembling Parkinson's disease, such as muscle
stiffness, stooped posture, and drooling).
Antipsycotics may also cause sleepiness, rashes on
the skin, seizures, and sexual dysfunction.
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