Common psychotropic drugs mainly include the following categories:
1.Antipsychotic drugs
Antipsychotic drugs are mainly used to treat schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses. These drugs can reduce the activity of dopamine in the brain and help patients control hallucinations and delusions. According to the development history of the drugs, they can be divided into classical antipsychotics and non-classical antipsychotics.
Classical antipsychotics: mainly include chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, chlorprothixene, haloperidol, haloperidol, haloperidol and so on. These drugs have been in clinical use for a long time, but may be accompanied by certain side effects.
Non-classical antipsychotics: also known as new antipsychotics, commonly used are clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, aripiprazole, paliperidone, lurasidone, and so on. These drugs are comparable to classic antipsychotics in terms of efficacy, but with relatively fewer side effects and better patient comfort when taking them.
2.Antidepressant drugs
Antidepressant drugs are mainly used to treat depression and anxiety disorders, and help patients improve their mood and sleep quality by increasing the level of serotonin (a neurotransmitter responsible for mood and sleep) in the brain. Based on the mechanism of action of the drugs, antidepressants can be classified into the following categories:
Tricyclic antidepressants: such as promethazine, amitriptyline, clomipramine, doxepin and others. These drugs are highly efficacious, but side effects become apparent as the dose increases.
NA reuptake inhibitors: e.g. disopyramide, maprotiline, nortriptyline, reboxetine, venlafaxine and duloxetine.
5-hydroxytryptamine reuptake inhibitors: such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, citalopram and escitalopram. These drugs are widely used in clinical practice, with significant efficacy and relatively small side effects.
Other antidepressants: such as trazodone, mirtazapine, mirtazapine, moclobemide and so on.
3.Anxiolytic drugs
Anti-anxiety drugs are mainly used to relieve anxiety and stress, reduce the activity of adrenaline in the brain, and help patients stay calm and relaxed. According to the mechanism of action of the drugs, anti-anxiety drugs can be divided into benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines.
Benzodiazepine anti-anxiety drugs: such as diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam and so on. These drugs work quickly, but long-term use may produce dependence.
Non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics: e.g., buspirone, tamsulosin. These drugs are less dependent than benzodiazepines, but may take longer to work optimally.
4. Mood stabilizers
Mood stabilizers are mainly used to treat bipolar disorder and other emotionally unstable conditions by balancing chemicals in the brain to help patients maintain emotional stability. Commonly used mood stabilizers include lithium carbonate, sodium valproate and carbamazepine.
5.Central Nervous Stimulants
Central nervous system stimulants, such as amphetamines, are mainly used to treat certain specific mental disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, these drugs have potential addiction and risk of abuse, so they must be used under medical supervision.
Intellectual stimulants or brain metabolism enhancers
These drugs are mainly used to improve brain metabolism and promote intellectual development, such as brain protein hydrolysate, cytarabine and piracetam. They play a therapeutic role by promoting the metabolism and repair of brain cells.
It is important to note that the use of psychotropic drugs must be based on in-depth understanding and proper guidance. The doctor will determine the most appropriate medication and dosage based on the patient’s specific condition. At the same time, patients should strictly follow the doctor’s instructions when using psychotropic drugs, and should not change the dosage of the drugs or stop taking them at will.