List of psychotropic medications

List of Psychotropic Medications

Psychotropic medications are drugs that, by affecting the central nervous system, alter a person's mood, perception, behavior, or consciousness. These medications are used in the treatment of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. This article provides an overview of the various classes of psychotropic medications, including their uses, common examples, and links to more detailed articles.

Classes of Psychotropic Medications

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are used primarily to treat depression, but they can also be effective for anxiety disorders, chronic pain, and some sleep disorders. They work by altering the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain.

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Atypical Antidepressants

Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics are used to manage psychosis, including delusions, hallucinations, and disorders such as schizophrenia. They are also used in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

• Typical Antipsychotics
• Atypical Antipsychotics

Mood Stabilizers

Mood stabilizers are primarily used to treat bipolar disorder, helping to stabilize the mood swings that characterize this condition.

• Lithium
• Anticonvulsants

Anxiolytics

Anxiolytics are used to treat anxiety disorders. They include benzodiazepines, which are effective but can be addictive, and alternatives with a lower risk of dependency.

• Benzodiazepines
• Buspirone

Stimulants

Stimulants are most commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They help increase attention and decrease restlessness in children and adults.

• Amphetamines
• Methylphenidate

Others

Other classes of psychotropic medications include those used for the treatment of substance use disorders and sleep disorders, among others.

• Disulfiram
• Melatonin

See Also

• Psychopharmacology
• List of medications used in psychiatry
• Mental health disorder treatment

External Links

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)