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Some conditions psychotropics treat include:
These medications work by altering neurotransmitters to improve symptoms. Each class works a bit differently, but they have some similarities, too. The type or class of medication a doctor prescribes depends on the individual and specific symptoms. Some medications require regular use for several weeks to see benefits. Let’s look closer at psychotropic drugs and their uses. We’ll briefly cover the classes and some of the symptoms psychotropics treat. Always talk to your doctor about the specific symptoms you’re experiencing. They’ll find the best treatment options available to help you feel better. This includes nonmedication options, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.
Anti-anxiety agentsAnti-anxiety agents, or anxiolytics, can treat different types of anxiety disorder, including social phobia related to public speaking. They can also treat:
How they workThis class is known as benzodiazepines (BZD). They’re recommended for short-term use. BZDs work by increasing GABA levels in the brain, which causes a relaxing or calming effect. They have serious side effects, including dependence and withdrawal. Side effectsSide effects of BZDs include:
CautionThese medications may be habit-forming if used long term. They’re not recommended for more than a few weeks. SSRI antidepressantsSSRIs are mainly used to treat different types of depression. Among them are major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Depression is more than feeling sad for a few days. It’s persistent symptoms that last for weeks at time. You may also have physical symptoms, like sleep issues, lack of appetite, and body aches. How they workSSRIs work by increasing the amount of serotonin available in the brain. SSRIs are the first choice of treatment for many types of depression. Side effectsSide effects of SSRIs include:
CautionSome SSRIs can cause elevated heart rate. Some can increase your risk for bleeding if you’re also using blood thinning medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven). SNRI antidepressantsHow they workSNRIs help treat depression but work a bit differently than SSRIs. They increase both dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain to improve symptoms. SNRIs might work better in some people if SSRIs haven’t brought improvement. Side effectsSide effects of SNRIs include:
CautionThese drugs can increase blood pressure and heart rate. Your liver function must be monitored while on these medications as well. MAOI antidepressantsThese drugs are older and aren’t used very often today. How they workMAOIs improve symptoms of depression by increasing dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels in the brain. Side effectsSide effects of MAOIs include:
CautionMAOIs taken with certain foods that have the chemical tyramine can increase blood pressure to dangerous levels. Tyramine is found in many kinds of cheese, pickles, and some wines. Tricyclic antidepressantsThese are one of the oldest classes of antidepressants still available on the market. They’re reserved for use when newer medications haven’t been effective. How they workTricyclics increase the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain to improve mood. Doctors also use tricyclics off-label to treat other conditions. Off-label use means a drug is used for a condition that doesn’t have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for that condition. Off-label uses for tricyclics include:
Side effectsSide effects include:
CautionCertain groups should avoid tricyclics. This includes people with:
These medications can raise blood sugar. If you have diabetes, you may have to carefully monitor your sugar levels. Typical antipsychoticsThese drugs treat symptoms associated with schizophrenia. They may also be used for other conditions. How they workTypical antipsychotics block dopamine in the brain. The first antipsychotic drug in this class, chlorpromazine, was introduced more than 60 years ago. It’s still in use today. Side effectsSide effects of antipsychotic drugs include:
CautionThis class of drugs causes movement-related disorders called extrapyramidal side effects. These can be serious and long lasting. They include:
Atypical antipsychoticsThese are the next generation of medications used to treat schizophrenia. How they workThese drugs work by blocking brain chemicals dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptor activity. Doctors also use atypical antipsychotics to treat symptoms of:
Side effectsAtypical antipsychotics have some serious side effects. These include an increased risk of:
Side effects of atypical antipsychotics include:
CautionAripiprazole (Abilify), clozapine (Clozaril), and quetiapine (Seroquel) have a black box warning for specific safety concerns. There’s a risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in people under the age of 18 who take one of these medications. Mood stabilizersDoctors use these drugs to treat depression and other mood disorders, like bipolar disorder. How they workThe exact way mood stabilizers work isn’t well understood yet. Some researchers believe these medications calm specific areas of the brain that contribute to the mood changes of bipolar disorder and related conditions. Side effectsSide effects of mood stabilizers include:
CautionThe kidneys remove lithium from the body, so kidney function and levels of lithium must be regularly checked. If you have poor kidney function, your doctor may need to adjust your dose. StimulantsThese drugs mainly treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). How they workStimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. The body can develop dependence if used long term. Side effectsSide effects of stimulants include:
CautionStimulants can increase heart rate and blood pressure. They may not be the best option if you have heart or blood pressure problems. The FDA requires boxed warnings for certain medications or classes of medications. These can be for three main reasons:
Here are a few drugs and classes with boxed warnings. This isn’t a full list of warnings. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about specific drug side effects and risks:
Psychotropic drugs have many interactions with other drugs, food, alcohol, and over-the-counter (OTC) products. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist all the medications and supplements you’re taking to avoid adverse reactions. Stimulant drugs like amphetamine interact with:
Combining these drugs can cause a serious reaction called serotonin syndrome. If you need to take both types of medications, your doctor will modify the doses to avoid adverse interactions. Special Warnings for Children, Pregnant adults, and Older Adults Psychotropic medications can have serious side effects. In some people, side effects can be severe. seek emergency treatment Psychotropics cover a very large category of drugs that are used to treat many different types of symptoms. They all work by adjusting neurotransmitter levels to help you feel better. The medication your doctor prescribes depends on many factors, like your age, other health conditions you may have, other medications you’re using, and your past medication history. Not all medications work right away. Some take time. Be patient, and talk to your doctor if your symptoms are getting worse. Discuss all treatment options, including cognitive behavioral therapy, with your healthcare provider to develop the best care plan for you. How do anti anxiety and antidepressants work?Both SSRIs and SNRIs work on chemical messengers (or neurotransmitters) in your brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine, which may play a role in anxiety, sleep, mood, and general feelings of well-being. Taking an SSRI or SNRI increases the amount of serotonin and/or norepinephrine available in your brain.
How do antipsychotic drugs work?Blocking the action of dopamine.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which means that it passes messages around your brain. Most antipsychotic drugs are known to block some of the dopamine receptors in the brain. This reduces the flow of these messages, which can help to reduce your psychotic symptoms.
How does antidepressant treatment work?It's thought that antidepressants work by increasing neurotransmitters. These are chemicals in the brain like serotonin and noradrenaline. They can improve mood and emotion, although this process isn't fully understood. Increasing levels of neurotransmitters can also disrupt pain signals sent by nerves.
What are antipsychotics and antidepressants?Introduction. Antidepressants and antipsychotics are neuropsychiatric medications used to treat depressive disorders and psychosis, respectively. Clinical depression is etiologically different than the depressive state that can be caused by tragic life-events.
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