NIMH » Mental Health Medications. Overview. Medications can play a role in treating several mental disorders and conditions. Treatment may also include psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy”) and brain stimulation therapies (less common). In some cases, psychotherapy alone may be the best treatment option. Choosing the right treatment plan should be based on a person's individual needs and medical situation, and under a mental health professional’s care. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a Federal research agency, does not provide medical advice or referrals. Resources that may help you find treatment services in your area are listed on our Help for Mental Illnesses web page. NIMH also does not endorse or recommend any particular drug, herb, or supplement. Results from NIMH- supported clinical research trials (What are Clinical Research Trials?) that examine the effectiveness of treatments, including medications, are reported in the medical literature. This health topic webpage is intended to provide basic information about mental health medications. It is not a complete source for all medications available and should not be used as a guide for making medical decisions. Psychiatric medications 1 helping families & friends find better ways Introduction The experience of mental illness can have a profound impact upon people’s work. The Psychiatric ER Survival Guide. Information about medications changes frequently. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website for the latest warnings, patient medication guides, or newly approved medications. Brand names are not referenced on this page, but you can search by brand name on Medline. Plus Drugs, Herbs and Supplements Drugs website. The Medline. Plus website also provides additional information about each medication, including side effects and FDA warnings. Understanding Your Medications. Psychiatric Drug Side Effects: Psychiatric drugging - CCHR presents all international warnings/studies on antidepressants, antipsychotics, antianxiety & ADHD. Psychiatry Drugs / Psychiatric Drugs. Prescription drugs and medicines for conditions relating to mental disorders and human behavior. Studies in these areas include. A psychiatric medication is a licensed psychoactive drug taken to exert an effect on the chemical makeup of the brain and nervous system. Thus, these medications are. Categories of Psychiatric Medications. Psychotropic medications fall into a few large categories. This is how the mental health professionals group them. If you are prescribed a medication, be sure that you: Tell the doctor about all medications and vitamin supplements you are already taking. Remind your doctor about any allergies and any problems you have had with medicines. Brief Overview of Common Psychotropic Medications: A Practical Guide from a Clinical Viewpoint Paula Bank, M.D., Ph.D. Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, Volume 7, Number I, Spring 2005 Anatomy of an Epidemic: Psychiatric Drugs and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America. Understand how to take the medicine before you start using it and take your medicine as instructed. Don't take medicines prescribed for another person or give yours to someone else. Call your doctor right away if you have any problems with your medicine or if you are worried that it might be doing more harm than good. Your doctor may be able to adjust the dose or change your prescription to a different one that may work better for you. Report serious side effects to the FDA Med. Watch Adverse Event Reporting program online at http: //www. Safety/Med. Watch . You or your doctor may send a report. Antidepressants. What are antidepressants? Antidepressants are medications commonly used to treat depression. Antidepressants are also used for other health conditions, such as anxiety, pain and insomnia. Although antidepressants are not FDA- approved specifically to treat ADHD, antidepressants are sometimes used to treat ADHD in adults. The most popular types of antidepressants are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Examples of SSRIs include: Other types of antidepressants are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). SNRIs are similar to SSRIs and include venlafaxine and duloxetine. Another antidepressant that is commonly used is bupropion. Bupropion is a third type of antidepressant which works differently than either SSRIs or SNRIs. Older antidepressant medications include tricyclics, tetracyclics, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). For some people, tricyclics, tetracyclics, or MAOIs may be the best medications. How do people respond to antidepressants? According to a research review by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality , all antidepressant medications work about as well as each other to improve symptoms of depression and to keep depression symptoms from coming back. For reasons not yet well understood, some people respond better to some antidepressant medications than to others. Therefore, it is important to know that some people may not feel better with the first medicine they try and may need to try several medicines to find the one that works for them. Others may find that a medicine helped for a while, but their symptoms came back. It is important to carefully follow your doctor’s directions for taking your medicine at an adequate dose and over an extended period of time (often 4 to 6 weeks) for it to work. Once a person begins taking antidepressants, it is important to not stop taking them without the help of a doctor. Sometimes people taking antidepressants feel better and stop taking the medication too soon, and the depression may return. When it is time to stop the medication, the doctor will help the person slowly and safely decrease the dose. It's important to give the body time to adjust to the change. People don't get addicted (or . You may need to try several different antidepressant medications before finding the one that improves your symptoms and that causes side effects that you can manage. The most common side effects listed by the FDA include: Nausea and vomiting. Weight gain. Diarrhea. Sleepiness. Sexual problems. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worsening, or worry you(U. S. Food and Drug Administration, 2. Thoughts about suicide or dying. Attempts to commit suicide. New or worsening depression. New or worsening anxiety. Feeling very agitated or restless. Panic attacks. Trouble sleeping (insomnia)New or worsening irritability. Acting aggressively, being angry, or violent. Acting on dangerous impulses. An extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)Other unusual changes in behavior or mood. Combining the newer SSRI or SNRI antidepressants with one of the commonly- used . Serotonin syndrome is usually associated with the older antidepressants called MAOIs, but it can happen with the newer antidepressants as well, if they are mixed with the wrong medications. For more information, please see the FDA Medication Guide on Antidepressant Medicines Antidepressants may cause other side effects that were not included in this list. To report any serious adverse effects associated with the use of antidepressant medicines, please contact the FDA Med. Watch program using the contact information at the bottom of this page. For more information about the risks and side effects for each medication, please see Drugs@FDA . Anti- Anxiety Medications. What are anti- anxiety medications? Anti- anxiety medications help reduce the symptoms of anxiety, such as panic attacks, or extreme fear and worry. The most common anti- anxiety medications are called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines can treat generalized anxiety disorder. In the case of panic disorder or social phobia (social anxiety disorder), benzodiazepines are usually second- line treatments, behind SSRIs or other antidepressants. Benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety disorders include: Short half- life (or short- acting) benzodiazepines (such as. Lorazepam ) and beta- blockers are used to treat the short- term symptoms of anxiety. Beta- blockers help manage physical symptoms of anxiety, such as trembling, rapid heartbeat, and sweating that people with phobias (an overwhelming and unreasonable fear of an object or situation, such as public speaking) experience in difficult situations. Taking these medications for a short period of time can help the person keep physical symptoms under control and can be used “as needed” to reduce acute anxiety. In contrast to the benzodiazepines, buspirone must be taken every day for a few weeks to reach its full effect. It is not useful on an “as- needed” basis. How do people respond to anti- anxiety medications? Anti- anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines are effective in relieving anxiety and take effect more quickly than the antidepressant medications (or buspirone) often prescribed for anxiety. However, people can build up a tolerance to benzodiazepines if they are taken over a long period of time and may need higher and higher doses to get the same effect. Some people may even become dependent on them. To avoid these problems, doctors usually prescribe benzodiazepines for short periods, a practice that is especially helpful for older adults (read the NIMH article: Despite Risks, Benzodiazepine Use Highest in Older People), people who have substance abuse problems and people who become dependent on medication easily. If people suddenly stop taking benzodiazepines, they may have withdrawal symptoms or their anxiety may return. Therefore, benzodiazepines should be tapered off slowly. What are the possible side effects of anti- anxiety medications? Like other medications, anti- anxiety medications may cause side effects. Some of these side effects and risks are serious. The most common side effects for benzodiazepines are drowsiness and dizziness. Other possible side effects include: Nausea. Blurred vision. Headache. Confusion. Tiredness. Nightmares. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: Drowsiness. Dizziness. Unsteadiness. Problems with coordination. Difficulty thinking or remembering. Increased saliva. Muscle or joint pain. Frequent urination. Blurred vision. Changes in sex drive or ability (The American Society of Health- System Pharmacists, Inc, 2. If you experience any of the symptoms below, call your doctor immediately: Rash. Hives. Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat. Difficulty breathing or swallowing. Hoarseness. Seizures. Yellowing of the skin or eyes. Depression. Difficulty speaking. Yellowing of the skin or eyes. Thoughts of suicide or harming yourself. Difficulty breathing. Common side effects of beta- blockers include: Fatigue. Cold hands. Dizziness or light- headedness. Weakness. Beta- blockers generally are not recommended for people with asthma or diabetes because they may worsen symptoms related to both. Possible side effects from buspirone include: Dizziness. Headaches. Nausea. Nervousness. Lightheadedness. Excitement. Trouble sleeping. Anti- anxiety medications may cause other side effects that are not included in the lists above.
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