Mental Health: Medications Used to Treat Mental Disorders

There are several different types of medications available to treat the various mental disorders. Some of the most commonly used are antidepressants, anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic and stimulant medications

What Medications Are Used To Treat Depression?

When treating depression, several medication options are available. Some of the most commonly used include the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. Other options include older medications such as the tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which may be less tolerated and cause more side effects. Newer medications include Wellbutrin, trazodone (Desyrel), Effexor, and Remeron.

Your health care provider can determine which medication is right for you. Remember that medications usually take 4 to 6 weeks to become fully effective. And if one medication does not work, there are many others to try before giving up.

In some cases, a combination of antidepressants may be necessary. Sometimes an antidepressant combined with a different type of medication, such as a mood stabilizer (such as Lithium) or anti-anxiety drug, is the most effective treatment.

Side effects vary, depending on what type of antidepressant medication you are taking, and may improve once your body adjusts to the medication.

If you decide to stop taking your antidepressants, it is important that you gradually reduce the dose over a period of several weeks. Quitting antidepressants abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms. It is important to discuss quitting (or changing) medications with your health care provider first.

What Medications Are Used To Treat Anxiety Disorders?

Antidepressants, particularly the SSRIs, may also be effective in treating many types of anxiety disorders.

Other anti-anxiety medications include the benzodiazepines, such as Valium, Ativan and Xanax. These drugs do carry a risk of addiction so they are not as desirable for long term use. Other possible side effects include drowsiness, poor concentration and irritability.

What Medications Are Used To Treat Psychotic Disorders?

Anti-psychotics are a class of medication used to treat psychotic disorders. The anti-psychotics vary in their side effects, and some people have more trouble with certain side effects than with others. The doctor can change medications or dosages to help minimize unpleasant side effects. A drawback to some anti-psychotic medications is that the person's ability to tolerate the medication may change, limiting long-term use.

Most side effects of anti-psychotic medications are mild, and many go away after the first few weeks of treatment. Side effects may include:

• Drowsiness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness when changing positions
• Decrease in sexual interest or ability
• Problems with menstrual periods
• Skin rashes or sensitivity of the skin to the sun
• Weight gain
• Muscle spasms
• Restlessness and pacing
• Slowing down of movement and speech
• Shuffling walk

There are, however, a few serious side effects that are possible, especially with long-term use of anti-psychotic medications. These side effects include:

• Tardive dyskinesia: This is a movement disorder that results in unusual and uncontrollable movements, usually of the tongue and face (such as sticking out the tongue and smacking the lips), and sometimes jerking and twisting movements of other parts of the body.
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: This is a potentially fatal disorder characterized by severe muscle rigidity (stiffening), fever, sweating, high blood pressure, delirium and sometimes coma.
• Agranulocytosis: This is a condition marked by a decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells. This condition can leave the person prone to infection. Agranulocytosis has been linked only to Clozaril. People taking Clozaril must have regular blood tests to closely monitor their white blood cell count.

If side effects are particularly troublesome, your doctor may change medications or dosages. The newer "atypical" anti-psychotic medications appear to be much better tolerated. In addition, other medications are available to help control some of these side effects.