Psychotropic Drugs

Here is a simple list of the major psychotropic drug classifications, their method of action, and major side effcts.  This is not complete, of course, but it gives a basic idea for study purposes.

Click below to see guide:

Psychotropic Drugs – Method of Action & Sidefx

I.                     Antianxiety

a.        Benzodiazepine

                                                               i.      Potentiate GABA

                                                              ii.      Sedation, motor, attention, judgement, falls, ataxia

II.                    Antidepressants

a.        TCAs

                                                               i.      Block NE and serotonin uptake

                                                              ii.      Anticholenergic effects –blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, urine retention, sedation, drowsiness

b.       SSRIs

                                                               i.      Block serotonin reuptake

                                                              ii.      Inhibit orgasim, apathy, low libido, NV

c.        SNRI

                                                               i.      Block SE and NE reuptake

                                                              ii.      HTN

d.       SNDIs

                                                               i.      Sedation, wt gain

e.       MAOIs

                                                               i.      Block MAO

                                                              ii.      Hypertensive crisis

III.                  Mood Stablizers

a.        Stabalize electrical activity, decrease glutamate

b.       Sinus brady, convulsions, tremors, motor dysfunction, polyuria, edema, hypothyroid

IV.                  Anticonvulsants

Decrease firing rate of rapid firing neurons in brain

a.        Valproate (depakote)

                                                               i.      Tremor, wt gain, sedation, thrombocytopenia, hepatic failure, birth defects

b.       Carbamazepine (tegretol)

                                                               i.      Anticholinergic, orthostasis, sedation, ataxia

c.        Lamotrigin (lamictal)

                                                               i.      Rash – SJS

V.                   Antipsychotics

a.        Conventional – dopamine receptor antagonist

b.       Atypical

                                                               i.      Clozapine (clozaril)

1.       Block dopamine at mesolimbic

2.       Decrease bone marrow, sedation, increase salavation

                                                              ii.      Risperidone (Risperdal)

1.       Orthostatic hypotension, EPS, sexual dysfunction, wt gain, sedation, sexual dysfunction

                                                            iii.      Quetiapane (Seroquel)

1.       H1 receptor blocker

2.       Sedation, orthostasis, wt gain