List of Commonly Prescribed Mental Health Medications
There is a long list of mental health medications that help many people from suffering. But in order to treat a mental disorder properly, you need to speak with someone who can give a proper diagnosis first. it’s difficult to find out which mental disorder is causing your symptoms. You might feel that something is just not right, but you can’t quite name it.
Talking to a mental health professional is your first step to understanding your symptoms and what they mean. Your treatment will depend on the type of mental illness you have, it’s severity, and what works best for you. If your mental illness is mild with well-controlled symptoms, treatment from your primary care provider may suffice. But, a team approach is suitable to make sure all of your psychiatric, medical, and social needs are being met. This is particularly important for severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.
List of Medications for Mental Health Disorders
There is a list of medications that play a part in treating several mental health disorders. Although medications can’t cure mental illnesses, they can work to control many of the most disturbing symptoms. This often permits people to return to normal functioning. Reducing symptoms through medications also enhances the effectiveness of other treatments, such as psychotherapy.
Antidepressants
What are antidepressants? Antidepressants are medications commonly used to treat depression. They are also used for other conditions such as anxiety, pain, and insomnia. Although antidepressants are not FDA-approved specifically to treat ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), they are sometimes used to treat ADHD in adults.
The most common types of antidepressants are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Some SSRIs are:
- Fluoxetine
- Citalopram
- Sertraline
- Paroxetine
- Escitalopram
- Another type of antidepressant is Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as Venlafaxine and Duloxetine.
- Bupropion is another antidepressant that is also used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and to help people stop smoking.
- SSRIs and SNRIs are popular because they don’t cause as many side effects as the older classes of antidepressants and appear to help a wider group of depressive and anxiety disorders.
Anti-Anxiety Medications
What are anti-anxiety medications? These medicines reduce the symptoms of anxiety, such as panic attacks or extreme fear and worry. The most common anti-anxiety medications are benzodiazepines. They are used to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
- SSRIs or other antidepressants are typically used to treat panic disorder and social anxiety disorder.
- Benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety disorders include:
- Clonazepam
- Alprazolam
- Lorazepam
- Buspirone is sometimes used to treat chronic anxiety.
Stimulants
You might have guessed, stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy. Stimulants also raise blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. They are frequently prescribed to treat children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD.
Stimulants used to treat ADHD include:
- Methylphenidate
- Amphetamine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate
- Prescription stimulants have a calming and focusing effect on people with ADHD and are safe when taken with a doctor’s supervision.
Antipsychotics
What are antipsychotics? These medications are mainly used to manage psychosis, a condition that affects the mind, and in which there has been some loss of contact with reality. Psychosis often includes delusions and hallucinations.
Psychosis can be a symptom of:
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Psychotic depression
- Antipsychotic medications are commonly used with other medications to treat:
- Delirium
- Dementia
- ADHD
- Eating disorders
- PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder)
- OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Antipsychotic medicines do not cure these disorders. They help relieve the symptoms and improve the quality of life. Antipsychotic medications include:
- Haloperidol
- Chlorpromazine
- Aripiprazole
- Risperidone
Mood Stabilizers
What are mood stabilizers? Mood stabilizers are used mainly to treat bipolar disorder, mood swings associated with other mental disorders, and occasionally to strengthen the effect of medications used to treat depression.
Mood stabilizers work by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain and are sometimes also used to treat:
- Depression (in combination with an antidepressant)
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Impulse Control Disorders
- Some mental illnesses in children
Lithium is a mood stabilizer used for the treatment of mania and maintenance treatment of a bipolar disorder.
Anticonvulsant medications are used as mood stabilizers at times. Originally developed to treat seizures, they were found to help control unstable moods as well.
Before You Start Any Medication for Mental Health
Medications for a mental illness can help save your life. But, like any medication, there can be side effects and unexpected reactions. If your doctor prescribes a medication, be sure to:
- Tell the doctor about any other medications and vitamin supplements you are taking.
- Remind the doctor about any allergies and any problems you’ve had with medications.
- Understand how to take the medicine correctly before you start using it and do as instructed.
- Never take medications prescribed for another person or give yours to anyone else.
- Call your doctor immediately if you have any problems with your medicine or if you think it is doing you more harm than good. Your doctor may change the dose or switch you to another medication.
Report serious side effects to the FDA MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or call 800-332-1088. Either you or your doctor may send a report.
Psychotherapy for Treating Mental Health
Psychotherapy is obviously not a medication, but when used along with medication, it increases the effectiveness. Also called “talk therapy,” psychotherapy involves talking about your conditions and other issues with a mental health professional. During therapy, you will learn about your condition, moods, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
There are many types of psychotherapy. Depending on your condition, you may want to take part in a combination of therapies. Psychotherapy can usually be completed successfully in a few months, but in some cases, long-term treatment may be necessary.
Mental Health Brain-Stimulation Treatments
Brain-stimulation treatments are used sometimes for depression and other disorders. They are typically reserved for situations where medications and psychotherapy haven’t worked.
They include:
- Electroconvulsive therapy
- Deep brain stimulation
- Vagus nerve stimulation
Make sure you understand all the risks and benefits of any treatment recommendations.
Residential Treatment Programs for Mental Health
When mental illness becomes so serious that the individual can’t care for themselves properly, a psychiatric hospital is recommended. Especially if the person is in danger of self-harm or hurting someone else. Options in this case are:
- 24-hour inpatient treatment
- Residential treatment
- Partial hospitalization program
- Intensive outpatient and outpatient treatment
Things You Can Do to Improve Your Mental Health at Home
If you try to treat your mental health on your own, you are laying the foundation for developing a problematic treatment pattern.
But here are some things you can do for yourself that will strengthen your treatment plan:
- Stick to your treatment plan. Do not skip therapy sessions. Even if you are feeling better, don’t skip your medications. Symptoms could come back, and you might have withdrawal-like symptoms on top of that if you stop medication too suddenly. If you have troubling side effects, talk to your doctor before making changes yourself.
- Avoid problematic use. Problematic recreational activities make it difficult to treat mental illness. If you are dealing with recreational activities that make it harder to treat your mental illness, you should stop.
- Stay active. Exercise can help manage symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety. Physical activity can help counterbalance the effects of some psychiatric medicines that cause weight gain. Even light physical activity can make a difference.
- Make healthy choices. Keep a regular schedule that includes enough sleep, healthy eating, and regular physical activity. These are all important to mental health.
- Don’t make important decisions if your symptoms are severe. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, avoid decision-making. You are probably not thinking clearly.
- Establish priorities. You can reduce the effect of your mental illness by carefully managing your time and energy. Set reasonable goals and cut back on obligations when necessary. Allow yourself to do less when symptoms are more severe. It might be helpful to make a list of daily tasks or use a planner to stay organized.
- Adopt a positive attitude. Focus on the positive. This can make your life better and may even improve your health. Accept changes as they occur and keep problems in perspective. Use stress management techniques and relaxation methods.
Learn to cope with your mental illness by:
- Learn about your illness. Your doctor or therapist can give you information and recommend books or websites. Include your family to help them understand what you’re going through.
- Join a support group. Interacting with others facing similar challenges can help you cope. Support groups are available in many towns and online. A good place to start is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
- Stay connected to friends and family. Get together with family or friends regularly. Try to take part in social activities. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and be honest with loved ones about how you’re doing.
- Keep a journal. Write down brief thoughts or record symptoms on an app or an old-fashioned journal. Keeping track of your life and discussing it with your therapist can help you identify what triggers of improves your symptoms.
Begin Mental Health Treatment in Southern California
There is so much you can do to get yourself well. There are treatments, therapy, medications, and programs. And there are caring people ready to help you in your mental health journey. At Montare Behavioral Health, we have experienced professionals whose only job is to make sure you are taken care of and on the road to a more fulfilling life.
Don’t wait any longer. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones. Contact Montare Behavioral Health here.
