Do Psychiatric Medications Work Or Create Chemical Imbalances in the Brain? (2010)

• published: 26 Aug 2015
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A psychiatric medication is a licensed psychoactive drug taken to exert an effect on the chemical makeup of the brain and nervous system. Thus, these medications are used to treat mental disorders. Usually prescribed in psychiatric settings, these medications are typically made of synthetic chemical compounds, although some are naturally occurring, or at least naturally derived. Since the mid-20th century, such medications have been leading treatments for a broad range of mental disorders and have decreased the need for long-term hospitalization therefore lowering the cost of mental health care. Psychiatric medications carry risk for adverse effects. The occurrence of adverse effects can potentially reduce drug compliance. Some adverse effects can be treated symptomatically by using adjunct medications such as anticholinergics (antimuscarinics). Some rebound or withdrawal adverse effects, including the possibility of a sudden or severe emergence or re-emergence of psychosis, may appear when the drugs are discontinued, or discontinued too rapidly. There are six main groups of psychiatric medications. Antidepressants, which treat disparate disorders such as clinical depression, dysthymia, anxiety, eating disorders and borderline personality disorder.[7] Stimulants, which treat disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy, and to suppress the appetite. Antipsychotics, which treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms occurring in the context of other disorders such as mood disorders, and to stimulate the appetite. Mood stabilizers, which treat bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. Anxiolytics, which treat anxiety disorders. Depressants, which are used as hypnotics, sedatives, and anesthetics. Psychedelics, which have a broad array of powerful acute effects and are taken under professional supervision during extended psychotherapy sessions Antipsychotics are drugs used to treat various symptoms of psychosis, such as those caused by psychotic disorders or schizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotics are also used as mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorder, and they can augment the action of antidepressants in major depressive disorder.[8] Antipsychotics are sometimes referred to as neuroleptic drugs and some antipsychotics are branded "major tranquilizers". There are two categories of antipsychotics: typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics. Most antipsychotics are available only by prescription. Common antipsychotics:[9][not in citation given] Typical antipsychotics Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) Haloperidol (Haldol) Perphenazine (Trilafon) Thioridazine (Melleril) Thiothixene (Navane) Flupenthixol (Fluanxol) Trifluoperazine (Stelazine) Atypical antipsychotics Aripiprazole (Abilify) Clozapine (Clozaril) Olanzapine (Zyprexa) Paliperidone (Invega) Quetiapine (Seroquel) Risperidone (Risperdal) Zotepine (Nipolept) Ziprasidone (Geodon) Antidepressants are drugs used to treat clinical depression, and they are also often used for anxiety and other disorders. Most antidepressants will hinder the breakdown of serotonin or norepinephrine or both. A commonly used class of antidepressants are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which act on serotonin transporters in the brain to increase levels of serotonin in the synaptic cleft.[8] SSRIs will often take 3–5 weeks to have a noticeable effect, as the regulation of receptors in the brain adapts. Bi-functional SSRIs are currently being researched, which will occupy the autoreceptors instead of 'throttling' serotonin .[citation needed] There are multiple classes of antidepressants which have different mechanisms of action. Another type of antidepressant is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, which is thought to block the action of Monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that breaks down serotonin and norepinephrine. MAOIs are not used as first-line treatment due to the risk of hypertensive crisis related to the consumption of foods containing the amino acid tyramine.[8] Common antidepressants:[10][not in citation given] Fluoxetine (Prozac), SSRI Paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat), SSRI Citalopram (Celexa), SSRI Escitalopram (Lexapro), SSRI Sertraline (Zoloft), SSRI Duloxetine (Cymbalta), SNRI Venlafaxine (Effexor), SNRI Bupropion (Wellbutrin), NDRI[11] Mirtazapine (Remeron), NaSSA Isocarboxazid (Marplan), MAOI Phenelzine (Nardil), MAOI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatric_medication