Antidepressants were the most common type of psychiatric drug in the survey, with 12 percent of adults reporting that they filled prescriptions for these drugs, the study said.
In addition, 8. Psychiatric drug use differed among adults of different ages, sex and race, the researchers found. For example, nearly 21 percent of white adults reported taking a psychiatric drug, compared with less than 9 percent of Hispanic adults, according to the report. Older adults also reported a higher rate of psychiatric drug use.
One-quarter of adults ages 60 to 85 reported taking at least one of these drugs, compared with less than 10 percent of adults ages 18 to 39, the researchers found. In addition, nearly twice as many women as men reported taking psychiatric drugs: 21 percent compared with 12 percent, according to the report.
Two antidepressants topped the list for the most commonly used psychiatric drugs: sertraline hydrochloride, which goes by the brand name Zoloft, and citalopram hydrobromide, or Celexa. Alprazolam, or Xanax, was the most common drug from the sedative, hypnotic and anti-anxiety category, the study said. This medication was the third most common psychiatric drug overall, following Zoloft and Celexa, according to the report. Other leading drugs included Ambien , which is a hypnotic sleeping pill, and the antidepressants Prozac and Desyrel, the report said.
The researchers noted that because the survey data included information on only a single year, it was difficult to determine how long people had been prescribed different psychiatric drugs. However, more than eight in 10 adults who were taking psychiatric drugs reported long-term use, the researchers wrote. If you have diabetes, you may have to carefully monitor your sugar levels. These drugs treat symptoms associated with schizophrenia.
They may also be used for other conditions. Typical antipsychotics block dopamine in the brain. The first antipsychotic drug in this class, chlorpromazine, was introduced more than 60 years ago. This class of drugs causes movement-related disorders called extrapyramidal side effects. These can be serious and long lasting.
They include:. These are the next generation of medications used to treat schizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotics have some serious side effects. These include an increased risk of:. Aripiprazole Abilify , clozapine Clozaril , and quetiapine Seroquel have a black box warning for specific safety concerns.
Some researchers believe these medications calm specific areas of the brain that contribute to the mood changes of bipolar disorder and related conditions. The kidneys remove lithium from the body, so kidney function and levels of lithium must be regularly checked.
If you have poor kidney function, your doctor may need to adjust your dose. Stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. The body can develop dependence if used long term. Stimulants can increase heart rate and blood pressure. They may not be the best option if you have heart or blood pressure problems. The FDA requires boxed warnings for certain medications or classes of medications.
These can be for three main reasons:. Here are a few drugs and classes with boxed warnings. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about specific drug side effects and risks:. Avoid mixing psychotropic drugs with alcohol. Some classes, like BZDs, antidepressants, and antipsychotic medications, have greater sedating effects with alcohol. This can create problems with balance, awareness, and coordination. It can also slow or stop breathing, which may be life threatening.
Psychotropic drugs have many interactions with other drugs, food, alcohol, and over-the-counter OTC products. Combining these drugs can cause a serious reaction called serotonin syndrome. If you need to take both types of medications, your doctor will modify the doses to avoid adverse interactions.
BZDs and stimulants are controlled substances because they can cause dependence and have the potential for misuse. Never share or sell your prescription medications. There are federal penalties for selling or illegally buying these medications. Psychotropic medications can have serious side effects. In some people, side effects can be severe.
In contrast to the benzodiazepines, buspirone must be taken every day for a few weeks to reach its full effect. Anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines are effective in relieving anxiety and take effect more quickly than the antidepressant medications or buspirone often prescribed for anxiety. However, people can build up a tolerance to benzodiazepines if they are taken over a long period of time and may need higher and higher doses to get the same effect.
Some people may even become dependent on them. To avoid these problems, doctors usually prescribe benzodiazepines for short periods, a practice that is especially helpful for older adults read the NIMH article: Despite Risks, Benzodiazepine Use Highest in Older People , people who have substance abuse problems and people who become dependent on medication easily.
If people suddenly stop taking benzodiazepines, they may have withdrawal symptoms or their anxiety may return. Therefore, benzodiazepines should be tapered off slowly. Like other medications, anti-anxiety medications may cause side effects. Some of these side effects and risks are serious.
The most common side effects for benzodiazepines are drowsiness and dizziness. Other possible side effects include:. Beta-blockers generally are not recommended for people with asthma or diabetes because they may worsen symptoms related to both. Anti-anxiety medications may cause other side effects that are not included in the lists above. To report any serious adverse effects associated with the use of these medicines, please contact the FDA MedWatch program using the contact information at the bottom of this page.
As the name suggests, stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy, as well as elevate blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration National Institute on Drug Abuse, Stimulant medications are often prescribed to treat children, adolescents, or adults diagnosed with ADHD. Two other non-stimulant antihypertensive medications, clonidine and guanfacine , are also approved for treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents.
One of these non-stimulant medications is often tried first in a young person with ADHD, and if response is insufficient, then a stimulant is prescribed. Stimulants are also prescribed to treat other health conditions, including narcolepsy, and occasionally depression especially in older or chronically medically ill people and in those who have not responded to other treatments. Stimulant medications are safe when given under a doctor's supervision.
Some children taking them may feel slightly different or "funny. Some parents worry that stimulant medications may lead to drug abuse or dependence, but there is little evidence of this when they are used properly as prescribed. Additionally, research shows that teens with ADHD who took stimulant medications were less likely to abuse drugs than those who did not take stimulant medications. Stimulants may cause side effects.
Most side effects are minor and disappear when dosage levels are lowered. The most common side effects include:. Stimulants may cause other side effects that are not included in the list above. To report any serious adverse effects associated with the use of stimulants, please contact the FDA MedWatch program using the contact information at the bottom of this page.
Antipsychotic medicines are primarily used to manage psychosis. Antipsychotic medications are often used in combination with other medications to treat delirium, dementia, and mental health conditions, including:.
Antipsychotic medicines do not cure these conditions. They are used to help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. Some of the common typical antipsychotics include:. Newer or second generation medications are also called "atypical" antipsychotics. Some of the common atypical antipsychotics include:.
According to a research review by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality , typical and atypical antipsychotics both work to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and the manic phase of bipolar disorder. To find additional antipsychotics and other medications used to manage psychoses and current warnings and advisories, please visit the FDA website.
Certain symptoms, such as feeling agitated and having hallucinations, usually go away within days of starting an antipsychotic medication. Symptoms like delusions usually go away within a few weeks, but the full effects of the medication may not be seen for up to six weeks.
Every patient responds differently, so it may take several trials of different antipsychotic medications to find the one that works best. Some people may have a relapse—meaning their symptoms come back or get worse. Usually relapses happen when people stop taking their medication, or when they only take it sometimes. Some people stop taking the medication because they feel better or they may feel that they don't need it anymore, but no one should stop taking an antipsychotic medication without talking to his or her doctor.
When a doctor says it is okay to stop taking a medication, it should be gradually tapered off— never stopped suddenly.
Many people must stay on an antipsychotic continuously for months or years in order to stay well; treatment should be personalized for each individual. Antipsychotics have many side effects or adverse events and risks.
The FDA lists the following side effects of antipsychotic medicines:. A person taking an atypical antipsychotic medication should have his or her weight, glucose levels, and lipid levels monitored regularly by a doctor. Typical antipsychotic medications can also cause additional side effects related to physical movement, such as:.
Long-term use of typical antipsychotic medications may lead to a condition called tardive dyskinesia TD. TD causes muscle movements, commonly around the mouth, that a person can't control.
TD can range from mild to severe, and in some people, the problem cannot be cured. Sometimes people with TD recover partially or fully after they stop taking typical antipsychotic medication. People who think that they might have TD should check with their doctor before stopping their medication.
TD rarely occurs while taking atypical antipsychotics. Antipsychotics may cause other side effects that are not included in this list above. To report any serious adverse effects associated with the use of these medicines, please contact the FDA MedWatch program. For more information about the risks and side effects for antipsychotic medications, please visit Drugs FDA. Mood stabilizers are used primarily to treat bipolar disorder, mood swings associated with other mental disorders, and in some cases, to augment the effect of other medications used to treat depression.
Lithium , which is an effective mood stabilizer, is approved for the treatment of mania and the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. A number of cohort studies describe anti-suicide benefits of lithium for individuals on long-term maintenance. Mood stabilizers work by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain and are also sometimes used to treat:.
Anticonvulsant medications are also used as mood stabilizers. They were originally developed to treat seizures, but they were found to help control unstable moods as well. One anticonvulsant commonly used as a mood stabilizer is valproic acid also called divalproex sodium. Other anticonvulsants used as mood stabilizers include:. Mood stabilizers can cause several side effects, and some of them may become serious, especially at excessively high blood levels.
These side effects include:. If a person with bipolar disorder is being treated with lithium, he or she should visit the doctor regularly to check the lithium levels his or her blood, and make sure the kidneys and the thyroid are working normally.
Lithium is eliminated from the body through the kidney, so the dose may need to be lowered in older people with reduced kidney function. Also, loss of water from the body, such as through sweating or diarrhea, can cause the lithium level to rise, requiring a temporary lowering of the daily dose.
Although kidney functions are checked periodically during lithium treatment, actual damage of the kidney is uncommon in people whose blood levels of lithium have stayed within the therapeutic range. Mood stabilizers may cause other side effects that are not included in this list. For more information about the risks and side effects for each individual medication, please see Drugs FDA.
Medications for common adult health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression may interact badly with anticonvulsants. In this case, a doctor can offer other medication options. Many medications used to treat children and adolescents with mental illness are safe and effective. However, some medications have not been studied or approved for use with children or adolescents.
Still, a doctor can give a young person an FDA-approved medication on an "off-label" basis. This means that the doctor prescribes the medication to help the patient even though the medicine is not approved for the specific mental disorder that is being treated or for use by patients under a certain age. In addition to medications, other treatments for children and adolescents should be considered, either to be tried first, with medication added later if necessary, or to be provided along with medication.
Read more about child and adolescent mental health research. Older adults have a higher risk for experiencing bad drug interactions, missing doses, or overdosing. Older adults also tend to be more sensitive to medications.
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