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Ex-Bluelighter
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Common psychiatric conditions & medications to treat them—
This is a guide to common psychiatric conditions and the medications that are usually prescribed to treat them. This guide is not to be used to self-diagnose or as a replacement of doctor’s advice. If you have any questions about your medication, be sure to contact your prescribing physician. If you are experiencing an adverse reaction or an overdose, go to your local emergency department immediately. I included both the generic and common brand name(s).
Substance Dependency
- acamprosate (Campral)
[*]baclofen
[*]buprenorphine (Subutex)
[*]buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone)
[*]disulfiram (Antabuse)
[*]methadone (Dolophine)
[*]naltrexone (Vivitrol)
[*]ondansetron (Zofran)
Smoking Cessation
Zyban usually comes in tablets of 25mg. Bupropion is also used, usually in higher doses of around 150mg-450mg, as an antidepressant, brand name Wellbutrin. It is said to be stimulating because it increases levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, two stimulating chemicals, in the brain. Bupropion may additionally be useful in ADHD. In terms of smoking cessation, bupropion binds to, and inhibits the function of, one of the receptors that nicotine activates.
Both Tabex and Chantix activate the nicotine receptor, but within a range. This means that the receptor is neither underactive nor overactive.
ADD/ADHD (stimulant medications)
- amphetamine mixed salts (Adderall)
[*]dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)
[*]dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
[*]lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)
[*]methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
[*]methylphenidate (Concerta)
Adderall tends to be a more stimulating ADHD medication. This is because it is a mixture two types of amphetamine, dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine, the latter which usually elevates energy more.
Focalin is similar to Ritalin.
Dexedrine includes just one type of amphetamine: dextoramphetamine. Dextroamphetamine is more active than its cousin, levoamphetamine, at producing mental effects. Dexedrine is said to be more smooth and less stressful than Adderall.
Less than a decade ago, an old medication with a new twist, Vyvanse was patented. Vyvanse is dextroamphetamine that is released into the brain slowly, after being metabolized by the gastrointestinal tract, over the course of about 12 hours. It was partly designed to be a more smooth and reliable alternative to Dexedrine.
Dextromethamphetamine, branded Desoxyn, serves as another AHDH medication. Though administered at far lower doses than most stimulant drug abusers take, Desoxyn is a very powerful medication, much more hard on the body and brain, and should be avoided if at all possible.
Perhaps the most safe medication for ADHD, Concerta is methylphenidate released over time. It is preferred by doctors and cognizant patients for this reason
ADD/ADHD (non-stimulant medications)
- atomoxetine (Strattera)
[*]bupropion (Wellbutrin)
[*]clonidine (Kapvay)
[*]guanfacine (Intuniv)
[*]venlafaxine (Effexor)
The non-stimulant agents used to treat ADHD tend be less effective than their stimulant counterparts, but they don't pose the high abuse and addiction risk. As such, their isn't a big problem to get more medication if it's misplaced. Usually, though they take time to build up and become effective, up to four weeks.
Straterra is effective after a few weeks of treatment. It works to increase the chemical called norepinephrine, which is heavily involved in concentration, in various brain regions.
Also used for smoking cessation, depression, and even stimulant addiction, Wellbutrin works how Strattera works, but also has the same effect on dopamine, another chemical that aids concentraiton.
Kapvay also has use for high blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia, and drug withdrawal. It effectively increases the production of various stimulating chemicals within the brain, and also acts on one of the receptors that norepinephrine works on, an action it shares with Intuniv. It tends to decrease aggression.
Lastly, Effexor, also a powerful medicine for depression and many forms of anxiety, can improve focus by also working to increase norepinephrine. It may be hard to get off of, perhaps partially because of indirect effect on various opiate receptors, which no odubt adds to its efficacy in depression.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD & ADD) is the problem of not being able to focus; those who have ADHD can also exhibit symptoms of being overactive and unable to control their behavior. Both adults and children can be affected with this disorder.
Anxiety Disorders (benzodiazepines)
- alprazolam (Xanax)
[*]bromazepam (Lexotanil)
[*]chlorodiazepoxide (Librium)
[*]clobazum (Frisium)
[*]clonazepam (Klonopin)
[*]clorazepate
[*]diazepam (Valium)
[*]lorazepam (Ativan)
[*]oxazepam (Serax)
[*]tofisopam (Grandaxin)
Anxiety Disorders (non benzodiazepine)
Generalized anxiety disorder is a medical condition where a person often worries intensely about various things in their life and are unable to control this feeling.
Depression (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/Tricyclic Antidepressants)
- citalopram (Celexa)
[*]clomipramine (Anafranil)
[*]doxepin (Sinequan)
[*]escitalopram (Lexapro)
[*]fluoxetine (Prozac)
[*]fluvoxamine (Luvox)
[*]imipramine (Tofranil)
[*]mirtazapine (Remeron)
[*]paroxetine (Paxil)
[*]sertraline (Zoloft)
Antidepressants are often prescribed for Major Depressive Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, etc. Depression is characterized by having feelings of hopelessness, despair, and sadness for a prolonged period of time that does not resolve.
Bipolar Disorder
- carbamazepine (Epitol)
[*]gabapentin (Neurontin)
[*]lamotrigine (Lamictal)
[*]levetiracetam (Keppra)
[*]lithium salts
[*]oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
[*]topiramate (Topamax)
[*]sodium valproate (Depakene)
[*]Valproate semisodium or divalproex sodium (Depakote)
[*]Sodium valproate and valproic acid
Bipolar mood disorder can be simply put as a disorder where a person has varying periods of elation and depression.
Psychosis, including Schizophrenia
Aripiprazole (Abilify)- Asenapine (Saphris)
- Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
- Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
- Paliperidone (Invega)
- Quetiapine (Seroquel)
- Risperidone (Risperdal)
- ziprasidone (Geodon)
- chlorprothixene (Truxal)
- levomepromazine (Levium)
- perazine (Perazin)
- benperidol
- bromperidol (Impromen)
- haloperidol (Haldol)
- fluphenazine
- pimozide(orap)
- perphenazine (Trilafon)
- promethazine (Atosil)
- prothipendyl (Dominal)
- sulpiride (Dogmatil)
- thioridazine (Thioridazin)
- zuclopenthixol (Clopixol)
When a person is experiencing psychosis, they may lose touch with reality and experience delusions and/or hallucinations. Schizophrenia can sometimes cause psychosis.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a condition where a person experiences the inability to fall asleep and/or stay asleep. Sometimes benzodiazpines can be used for insomnia.
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