Healthinmind/GettingServices/TypesofTreatment/Psychotherapies/Medications/Table

Healthinmind/Getting Services/Types of Treatment/Medications

Table of Psychiatric Medications

In the table below, the generic names of drugs begin with lower-case letters, and the brand names of the generic drugs begin with upper-case letters. We adopted this convention to remind readers that a single generic drug may be produced by several companies under different brand names. Generic versions of drugs become available, usually at a lower price, after the discoverer's exclusive right to market the drug has expired. Thus some drugs have several brand names, although they are the same generic drug.

Our table lists an impressive array of drugs used to treat mental problems, but approximately 100 additional drugs are now in various stages of development, and every year new drugs become open to production as generic drugs. Psychoactive drugs should never be self-prescribed or taken except as instructed by someone who is certified to prescribe these drugs; we present this table only to give readers some insight into the range of drugs on the market and an overview of how the drugs work and the side effects they produce. The fact that there are so many drugs used to combat mental problems is further evidence that mental problems have a physical side, are not under the voluntary control of those who have them, and are not anything that should lead to blame, shame, or guilt. If you haven't been to the general medications page, you may want to go there first to get some general information on important factors associated with psychiatric medications.

Psychological Disorder and Drug Type	Generic Name	Brand Name	Drug Action	Side Effects	Behavioral Effects if Drug Works
Depression		(may be others)	(most likely explanation)	(partial listing)
A. Heterocyclic Antidepressants	clomipramine amoxapine nortriptyline amitriptyline desipramine imipramine protriptyline doxepin	Adapin Sinequan \| Asendin Aventyl Pamelor Elavil Endep Enovil Norpramin Pertofrane Surmontil Tofranil Janamine Vivactil Sinequan Adapin	Block the reuptake of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin; some have additional effects	Dry mouth (50-74%), blurred vision (6-20%), Urinary retention, constipation, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension, hypotension or dizziness (18-52%), nausea, rash, fatigue, weight gain, sexual disturbances, increased sensitivity to sun. Most side effects disappear in a few weeks or can be managed.	Mood elevation, increased physical activity, increased mental alertness, improved sleep and appetite
B. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)	isocarboxazid phenelzine tranylcypromine	Marplan Nardil Parnate	Inhibits the enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine, serotonin, and epinephrine.	Hypotension, dizziness, headache, insomnia, fatigue, tremors, and liver damage.	Mood elevation, increased physical activity, increased mental alertness, improved sleep and appetite.
C. Newer Antidepressants; Most are Serotonin-specific Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Some also used in treating eating disorders.	fluvoxamine fluoxetine sertraline buspirone paroxetine venlafaxine nefazodone maprotiline	Luvox Prozac Zoloft Buspar Paxil Effexor Serzone Ludiomil	Inhibit the reuptake of serotonin Inhibits reuptake of norepine- phrine	Usually mild; include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, difficulty with orgasm, stomach cramps, restlessness, sleeplessness, dry mouth.	Similar to tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs above; fluvoxamine is also used to treat obsessive- compulsive disorder.
D. Other Antidepressants	busperidone venlaxafine sibutramine nefazadone bupropion	Buspar Effexor Meridia Serzone Wellbutrin
Bipolar Disorders	lithium	Lithonate Lithane Lithobid Eskalith Eskalith CR, others		Upset stomach and diarrhea, frequent urination, weight gain, thyroid or kidney problems, acne, metallic taste, diabetes insipidus	After desired blood level is achieved, prevents future highs and lows (if it works)
	divalproex sodium	Depakote		Much milder than with lithium; nausea and drowsiness usually disappear	Prevents highs and lows; requires less time than lithium and is much safer
	carbamazepine	Tegretrol		Nausea, skin problems, rare anemia	Used to supplement lithium
Anxiety Disorders New drug	buspiridone	BuSpar	Increases activity of serotonin and dopamine	Mild nausea, headache that usually disappears	Reduced anxiety
Benzodiazepines SSRIs	clomipramine lorazepam prazepam clonazepam flurazepam quazepam triazolam chlordiazepoxide halazepam estazolam temazepam oxazepam chlorazepate dipotassium diazepam midazolam alprazolam fluvoxamine paroxetine	Anafranil Ativan Centrax Klonipin Dalmane Dormalin, Doral Halcion Librium Libritabs Paxipam Prosom Restoril Serax Tranxene Valium Versed Xanax Luvox Paxil	Probably increase activity of inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma- aminobutyric acid See "newer antidepressants"	Drowsiness, increases effects of alcohol, fetal abnormalities (not prescribed for pregnant or nursing women), rare impulsiveness, confusion, and dizziness. Abrupt discontinuation can cause unpleasant effects.	Reduced anxiety, sedation, relax muscles, anticonvulsant, reduce night terrors
Schizophrenia, Depression with Psychotic Features, Agitated Dementia "Major Tranquilizers, " antipsychotics	procholorperazine thioridazine fluphenazine hydrochloride fluphenazine enanthate fluphenazine decanoate mezoridazine promazine trifluoperazine chlorpromazine acetophenazine maleate perphenazine triflupromazine clozapine risperidone sertindole quietapine olanzapine haloperidol chlorprothixene thiothixene molindone loxapine pimozide	Compazine Mellaril Permitil Prolixin Prolixin Enanthate Prolixin Decanoate Serentil Sparine Stelazine Thorazine Tindal Trilafon Vesprin Clozaril Risperdal Serlect Seroquel Zyprexa Haldol Taractan Navane Moban Lidone Loxitane Orap	Inhibit the action of dopamine and/ or serotonin	Motor abnormalities (akathisia, tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, Parkinsonism) neuroleptic malignant syndrome, agranulocytosis (loss of bone marrow cells critical to immune function), seizures, sedation, weight gain, other. Not all antipsychotic drugs produce all side effects, and many are rare. All may, however, produce the six effects discussed in the page introducing medications related to mental health.	Generalized antipsychotic effects: suppression of hallucinations and delusions, reduction in agitated and bizarre behaviors, increased ability to function, increased sociability, improved affect
Obsessive- Compulsive Disorders	fluvoxamine paroxetine fluoxetine sertraline clomipramine	Luvox Paxil Prozac Zoloft Anafranil	Prevent the reuptake of serotonin (Anafranil is tricyclic)	See table above for side effects of these drugs	Reduce anxiety, intensity of obsessions and compulsions.
Drugs Used in Treating Drug Addiction	chlordiazepoxide	Librium	Probably increase activity of inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA	Drowsiness, increases effects of alcohol, fetal abnormalities (not prescribed for pregnant or nursing women), rare impulsiveness, confusion, and dizziness. Abrupt discontinuation can cause unpleasant effects.	Reduces symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
	disulfiram	Antabuse	Inhibits enzyme that breaks down ethyl alcohol, produces toxin in blood	Rarely, neuritis, liver problems, rashes, psychosis, other	Produces nausea and vomiting upon drinking alcohol.
	clonidine	Catapres	Reduces neural excitation, blood pressure	Sedation, dry mouth, light- headedness	Blocks symptoms of withdrawal of heroin or methadone
	naltrexone	Revia	Blocks opioid receptors	Nervousness, stomach upset, sexual problems, rash, numerous others	Blocks high from heroin, reduces craving for alcohol
	nicotine patches or gum	Nicoderm, Nicorette, many others	Stimulant effects	Nausea, dizziness, etc., from gum	Reduced craving for cigarettes
	methadone	Dolophine	Narcotic and analgesic	Dizziness, nausea, sweating, sedation	Substitute for heroin that is safer
Bulimia	See newer antidepressant medications above
	Meridia	sibutramine	Inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and possibly dopamine	Increases in blood pressure
Sleep Disorders Barbiturates	amobarbital butabarbital phenobarbital mephobarbital pentobarbital secobarbital meprobamate	Amytal Butisol Luminal Mebaral Nembutal Seconal Equanil Miltown	Depress central nervous system activity.	Abuse potential: suppress deep and dream sleep, patient develops a tolerance and may develop physical and psychological dependence. Inferior to benzodiazepines for anxiety.	Reduce insomnia, may relax muscles
Benzodiazepines (Prescribed for Sleep Disorders)	flurazepam triazolam estazolam temazepam zolpidem (acts like a benzodiazepine but is structurally different)	Dalmane Halcion ProSom Restoril Ambien	Increase GABA which is an inhibitory (sedative) neurotransmitter	Drowsiness, increases effects of alcohol, fetal abnormalities (not prescribed for pregnant or nursing women), rare impulsiveness, confusion, and dizziness. Abrupt discontinuation can cause unpleaseant side effects.	Reduce time to fall asleep, increase total sleep time, usually eliminate abnormal sleep events like sleepwalking or night terrors.

Last updated 12/19/03