Psychotropic Medication 101
Psychotropic medication is prescribed for patients who have been diagnosed with varying mental disorders. These drugs act on the central nervous system, altering the neurochemistry in diverse ways and can therefore be used to treat a range of different conditions. They can also affect emotions, perceptions, the mind and behavior.
Psychotropic medication alleviates the symptoms of mental disorders and is often used in combination with psychotherapy. Many patients who have been prescribed psychotropic medications find that they are able to live full and active lives, but the side effects of these drugs are different for every individual. Below are different classifications of drugs.
Stimulants can cause an increase in alertness and wakefulness. They work to increase dopamine and norepinephrine activity. Stimulants that have medicinal uses include amphetamines. These kind of psychotropic medications can be used to treat lethargy, narcolepsy and ADHD. Possible side effects of stimulants include anxiety (even though some stimulants can be used to treat anxiety) and changes to blood pressure and heart rate.
Depressants are the direct opposite of stimulants, in terms of function. Depressants decrease activity in specific parts of the mind or body, often by facilitating opioid and GABA activity. They can be used as sedatives, hypnotics and anxiolytics. Anxiolytics are drugs that are used for the treatment of anxiety disorders, and they may also be used to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders. The most common depressants are barbiturates and benzodiazepines.
Barbiturates, including thiopental (sold under the trade name Pentothal), secobarbital (or Seconal) and am barbital (or Amytal) are psychotropic medications that can be used in the treatment of anxiety, although they have largely been replaced by safer benzodiazepines.
Barbiturates work by preventing signals from stimulating the region of the brain known as the reticular activating system. This part of the brain is responsible for the control of arousal, attention and the waking state. Barbiturates have similar side effects to benzodiazepines, but they are usually more severe. Patients can also become addicted to barbiturates. An overdose of barbiturates is very serious and can be fatal.
Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety and insomnia. They include diazepam (or Valium), lorazepam (or Ativan), clonazepam (or Klonopin), triazolam (or Halcion) and alprazolam (or Xanax). They work by increasing the activity of GABA, a neurotransmitter. Possible side effects that can be experienced by patients taking benzodiazepines include dry mouth, apathy, drowsiness, sexual dysfunction and weight gain.
Beta-blockers such as propranolol (or Inderal) can be prescribed to treat cardiac problems and high blood pressure, but they also reduce anxiety and can be used as performance enhancers. Beta-blockers can also be prescribed for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Possible side effects of these drugs include depression, insomnia, hallucinations, numbness, low blood pressure, sexual dysfunction and heart failure.
Mood stabilizers are psychotropic medication that is used to treat mood disorders, predominantly bipolar disorder, although they may also be used for schizoaffective disorder and borderline personality disorder. Unlike antidepressants, mood stabilizers are usually prescribed for the treatment of mania, although they may be used alongside an antidepressant.
Antidepressants are used in the treatment of mood disorders, particularly major depression. Drugs in this class include monoamine oxidase inhibitors (or MAO Inhibitors) and heterocyclics.
Antidepressants such as clomiprimine (or Anafranil), amitriptyline (or Elavil) and imiprimine (or Tofranil) work by inhibiting serotonin and norepinephrine uptake in the synapses of the brain. They can relieve somatic symptoms such as loss of appetite, insomnia and sluggishness caused by depression, but can also cause side effects including urinary retention and constipation, blurred eyesight, nasal congestion and dry mouth.
Antipsychotics are psychotropic medication that is prescribed to treat psychosis, for example, in patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Drugs in this group include clozapine (or Clorazil), haloperidol (or Haldol), chlorpromazine (or Thorazine) and thioridazine (or Mellaril). They work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, but they can also work by acting on different types of receptors.
Possible side effects of antipsychotic include drowsiness, rashes, sexual dysfunction, seizures, involuntary movements of the head and limbs (also known as tardive duskiness), and symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease, including stiffness in the muscles, drooling and a stooping posture.
All of these medications can play an integral part in the treatment of psychological disorders, but are often more effective when combined with psychotherapy and other treatments.
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