Psychiatric Medicines Guide
A comprehensive, patient-friendly guide to psychiatric medications. Understand what your medication does, how to take it, and what to expect.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. Never start, stop, or change medication without consulting your psychiatrist.
Fluoxetine
Prozac, Fludac, Flunil
Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. It is one of the most widely prescribed psychiatric medications in the world, known for its effectiveness and relatively mild side effect profile.
View detailsSertraline
Zoloft, Serlift, Daxid
Sertraline is an SSRI antidepressant commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and OCD. It is considered one of the safest and most effective first-line treatments for these conditions.
View detailsEscitalopram
Lexapro, Nexito, Cipralex
Escitalopram is the S-enantiomer of citalopram and is considered one of the most selective SSRIs available. It is widely prescribed for depression and generalized anxiety disorder due to its favorable side effect profile.
View detailsParoxetine
Paxil, Paxtine, Pexep
Paroxetine is a potent SSRI with additional mild anticholinergic properties. It is effective for depression, anxiety disorders, and is particularly used for social anxiety and panic disorder.
View detailsVenlafaxine
Effexor, Venlor, Veniz
Venlafaxine is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It affects both serotonin and norepinephrine systems, making it effective for depression, anxiety, and chronic pain conditions.
View detailsDuloxetine
Cymbalta, Duzela, Dulane
Duloxetine is an SNRI used for depression, anxiety, neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia. It provides balanced serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition across its dosing range.
View detailsAmitriptyline
Elavil, Tryptomer, Sarotena
Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, one of the oldest classes of antidepressants. While newer drugs have largely replaced it for depression, it remains valuable for chronic pain, migraine prevention, and insomnia.
View detailsOlanzapine
Zyprexa, Oleanz, Olanex
Olanzapine is a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and treatment-resistant depression. It is known for its broad receptor binding profile and effectiveness.
View detailsRisperidone
Risperdal, Risdone, Sizodon
Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic that effectively treats schizophrenia, bipolar mania, and behavioral disturbances. It has a well-studied safety profile and is available in oral and long-acting injectable forms.
View detailsQuetiapine
Seroquel, Quel, Qutan
Quetiapine is a versatile atypical antipsychotic used across multiple psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and as an adjunct for depression. Its sedative properties make it useful for insomnia associated with psychiatric conditions.
View detailsAripiprazole
Abilify, Arzu, Aripra
Aripiprazole is a unique atypical antipsychotic that acts as a partial dopamine agonist. It has a favorable metabolic profile compared to other antipsychotics and is used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and as an adjunct for depression.
View detailsHaloperidol
Haldol, Serenace, Senorm
Haloperidol is a high-potency typical (first-generation) antipsychotic. Despite being older, it remains essential for acute psychosis, delirium, and severe agitation. Available in oral, IM, and IV formulations.
View detailsClozapine
Clozaril, Sizopin, Lozapin
Clozapine is the gold-standard treatment for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. It is the only antipsychotic proven to reduce suicidality in schizophrenia. Due to serious side effects, it requires mandatory blood monitoring.
View detailsLithium
Eskalith, Licab, Intalith
Lithium is the oldest and most well-established mood stabilizer. It remains the first-line treatment for bipolar disorder and is the only medication proven to reduce suicide risk in mood disorders. Requires regular blood level monitoring.
View detailsValproate / Divalproex
Depakote, Encorate, Valparin
Valproate (available as valproic acid, sodium valproate, or divalproex sodium) is a mood stabilizer and anticonvulsant widely used for bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and migraine prevention.
View detailsLamotrigine
Lamictal, Lamitor, Lametec
Lamotrigine is a mood stabilizer particularly effective for preventing depressive episodes in bipolar disorder. It has a favorable metabolic and cognitive profile, making it well-tolerated for long-term use.
View detailsCarbamazepine
Tegretol, Zen Retard, Mazetol
Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer used for epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and trigeminal neuralgia. It is an effective alternative when lithium is not tolerated or ineffective.
View detailsAlprazolam
Xanax, Alprax, Restyl
Alprazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine primarily used for panic disorder and generalized anxiety. It provides rapid relief but carries significant risk of dependence with prolonged use.
View detailsClonazepam
Klonopin, Rivotril, Clonotril
Clonazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine used for seizure disorders and panic disorder. Its longer half-life provides more stable blood levels and less interdose withdrawal than shorter-acting benzodiazepines.
View detailsLorazepam
Ativan, Loram, Calmese
Lorazepam is an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine widely used for acute anxiety, agitation, seizures, and pre-procedural sedation. It is metabolized by glucuronidation, making it safer in liver disease than most benzodiazepines.
View detailsZolpidem
Ambien, Zolfresh, Stilnox
Zolpidem is a non-benzodiazepine sleep aid that selectively binds to GABA-A receptors. It helps with sleep initiation and is intended for short-term use (2-4 weeks) for insomnia.
View detailsMethylphenidate
Ritalin, Concerta, Inspiral
Methylphenidate is the most commonly prescribed stimulant for ADHD. It improves attention, focus, and behavioral control in both children and adults with ADHD. Available in immediate and extended-release formulations.
View detailsAtomoxetine
Strattera, Axepta, Attentrol
Atomoxetine is a non-stimulant medication for ADHD that works through norepinephrine reuptake inhibition. It is a good option for patients who cannot tolerate stimulants or have a history of substance abuse.
View detailsNaltrexone
ReVia, Naltima, Nodict
Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist used for alcohol dependence and opioid addiction prevention. It blocks the rewarding effects of alcohol and opioids, reducing cravings and relapse risk.
View detailsDisulfiram
Antabuse, Esperal, De-addict
Disulfiram is an alcohol-deterrent medication that causes extremely unpleasant reactions when alcohol is consumed. It works as a psychological deterrent to drinking rather than reducing cravings.
View detailsAcamprosate
Campral, Acamptas
Acamprosate helps maintain abstinence from alcohol by normalizing brain chemistry disrupted by chronic alcohol use. It reduces the discomfort of early sobriety and helps prevent relapse.
View detailsBuprenorphine
Subutex, Suboxone, Addnok
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist used for opioid addiction treatment. Its ceiling effect on respiratory depression makes it safer than full agonists like methadone. Often combined with naloxone (Suboxone) to prevent misuse.
View detailsBuspirone
BuSpar, Buspin, Buscalm
Buspirone is a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic used for generalized anxiety disorder. Unlike benzodiazepines, it does not cause sedation, dependence, or withdrawal, making it ideal for long-term anxiety management.
View detailsMirtazapine
Remeron, Mirtaz, Mirt
Mirtazapine is a unique antidepressant that works by enhancing both norepinephrine and serotonin release. Its sedating and appetite-stimulating properties make it particularly useful for patients with insomnia and weight loss.
View detailsBupropion
Wellbutrin, Zyban, Bupron
Bupropion is unique among antidepressants as it works on dopamine and norepinephrine without affecting serotonin. It is the only antidepressant that does not cause sexual dysfunction or weight gain, and also aids smoking cessation.
View detailsModafinil
Provigil, Modalert, Modvigil
Modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting agent used for excessive sleepiness. Unlike traditional stimulants, it has a lower abuse potential and fewer cardiovascular side effects.
View detailsDonepezil
Aricept, Donep, Alzil
Donepezil is a cholinesterase inhibitor used for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. It does not cure dementia but can temporarily improve or stabilize cognitive function and daily living activities.
View detailsMemantine
Namenda, Admenta, Memantia
Memantine is used for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease. It works differently from cholinesterase inhibitors and can be used alone or in combination with donepezil for enhanced benefit.
View detailsGabapentin
Neurontin, Gabapin, Gabator
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant widely used off-label for neuropathic pain, anxiety, insomnia, and alcohol withdrawal. Despite its name, it does not directly affect GABA receptors.
View detailsPregabalin
Lyrica, Pregeb, Pregalin
Pregabalin is structurally related to gabapentin but with superior bioavailability and more predictable dosing. It is approved for neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, generalized anxiety disorder, and epilepsy.
View detailsSildenafil
Viagra, Manforce, Penegra
Sildenafil is a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor used for erectile dysfunction. It enhances the natural erectile response to sexual stimulation and does not cause an erection without stimulation.
View detailsTadalafil
Cialis, Megalis, Tadacip
Tadalafil is a long-acting PDE5 inhibitor for erectile dysfunction. Its 36-hour duration of action (vs. 4-6 hours for sildenafil) allows more spontaneity and it can also be taken daily at a low dose.
View detailsDapoxetine
Priligy, Duratia, Poxet
Dapoxetine is a short-acting SSRI specifically developed for premature ejaculation. Unlike other SSRIs used for depression, it is taken on-demand rather than daily, with rapid onset and short duration.
View detailsTrazodone
Desyrel, Trazonil, Trazalon
Trazodone is a multifunctional antidepressant primarily used at low doses for insomnia due to its strong sedative effects. At higher doses, it functions as an antidepressant.
View detailsClomipramine
Anafranil, Clomine, Ocifril
Clomipramine is the most serotonergic tricyclic antidepressant and is considered the gold standard for OCD treatment. It is effective when SSRIs fail and is also used for panic disorder and depression.
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