PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION HIGHLIGHTS
Medication (Generic
Drug Classification Indications for Use Neurobiological Actions Common Side Effects Nursing Teaching Points
Name - Trade Name)
Anxiolytics /
Benzodiazepines
Antianxiety
Teach patient –
do not combine with other anti-
Binds to specific GABA receptor
Anxiety, seizures, anxiety meds.
Diazepam (Valium) sites resulting Ataxia, drowsiness
muscle spasms Do not take alcohol products.
in a calming effect
Risk for tolerance potentially
leads to addiction.
Clonazepam (Klonopin) Anxiety, seizures
Anxiety, panic
Alprazolam (Xanax)
disorders
Anxiety, seizures,
Lorazepam (Ativan)
insomnia
Amnesia, ataxia,
Bind selectively to GABA
Z-hypnotics Zolpidem (Ambien) Insomnia rapid onset of Take just before going to bed
receptor sites
effectiveness
Zaleplon (Sonata) Insomnia
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) Insomnia
Sexual side effects,
Melatonin Agonists Ramelteon (Rozerem) Insomnia Melatonin receptor agonist Take with caution
headache, dizziness
Headache, dizziness, Take as directed.
Not clearly understood; appears
Anxiolytic Buspirone (BuSpar) Anxiety light-headedness, Change position slowly i.e. stand
to be a serotonin agonist
nausea, insomnia slowly
Antidepressants Tricyclic (TCAs)
pg. 1
, PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION HIGHLIGHTS
Medication (Generic
Drug Classification Indications for Use Neurobiological Actions Common Side Effects Nursing Teaching Points
Name - Trade Name)
Anti-cholinergic
effects:
Not a first-line treatment!
Depression, Blocks re-uptake of serotonin dry mouth,
Can overdose on these.
Amitriptylintrae (Elavil) neuropathic pain, and blurred vision, urinary
Can cause cardiac conduction
insomnia norepinephrine retention,
disturbances
sedation,
drowsiness
Imipramine (Tofranil) Depression, enuresis
Depression,
Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
neuropathic pain
Selective Serotonin Depression, OCD,
Blocks the re-uptake of Apathy, Low side effect profile.
Reuptake Fluoxetine (Prozac) bulimia, panic
serotonin low libido Risk for Serotonin Syndrome
Inhibitors (SSRIs) disorder
Depression, OCD,
Sertraline (Zoloft) PTSD, social anxiety
disorder
Depression, OCD,
Paroxetine (Paxil) anxiety disorders,
PTSD
Citalopram (Celexa) Depression
Depression,
Escitalopram (Lexapro) generalized anxiety
disorder
OCD, social anxiety
Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
disorder
In low doses blocks reuptake of
Serotonin- Depression,
serotonin;
Norepinephrine generalized anxiety Apathy, Low side effect profile.
Venlafaxine (Effexor) in high doses blocks reuptake of
Reuptake disorder, panic low libido Risk for Serotonin Syndrome
norepinephrine as well as
Inhibitors (SNRIs) disorder
serotonin
pg. 2
Medication (Generic
Drug Classification Indications for Use Neurobiological Actions Common Side Effects Nursing Teaching Points
Name - Trade Name)
Anxiolytics /
Benzodiazepines
Antianxiety
Teach patient –
do not combine with other anti-
Binds to specific GABA receptor
Anxiety, seizures, anxiety meds.
Diazepam (Valium) sites resulting Ataxia, drowsiness
muscle spasms Do not take alcohol products.
in a calming effect
Risk for tolerance potentially
leads to addiction.
Clonazepam (Klonopin) Anxiety, seizures
Anxiety, panic
Alprazolam (Xanax)
disorders
Anxiety, seizures,
Lorazepam (Ativan)
insomnia
Amnesia, ataxia,
Bind selectively to GABA
Z-hypnotics Zolpidem (Ambien) Insomnia rapid onset of Take just before going to bed
receptor sites
effectiveness
Zaleplon (Sonata) Insomnia
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) Insomnia
Sexual side effects,
Melatonin Agonists Ramelteon (Rozerem) Insomnia Melatonin receptor agonist Take with caution
headache, dizziness
Headache, dizziness, Take as directed.
Not clearly understood; appears
Anxiolytic Buspirone (BuSpar) Anxiety light-headedness, Change position slowly i.e. stand
to be a serotonin agonist
nausea, insomnia slowly
Antidepressants Tricyclic (TCAs)
pg. 1
, PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION HIGHLIGHTS
Medication (Generic
Drug Classification Indications for Use Neurobiological Actions Common Side Effects Nursing Teaching Points
Name - Trade Name)
Anti-cholinergic
effects:
Not a first-line treatment!
Depression, Blocks re-uptake of serotonin dry mouth,
Can overdose on these.
Amitriptylintrae (Elavil) neuropathic pain, and blurred vision, urinary
Can cause cardiac conduction
insomnia norepinephrine retention,
disturbances
sedation,
drowsiness
Imipramine (Tofranil) Depression, enuresis
Depression,
Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
neuropathic pain
Selective Serotonin Depression, OCD,
Blocks the re-uptake of Apathy, Low side effect profile.
Reuptake Fluoxetine (Prozac) bulimia, panic
serotonin low libido Risk for Serotonin Syndrome
Inhibitors (SSRIs) disorder
Depression, OCD,
Sertraline (Zoloft) PTSD, social anxiety
disorder
Depression, OCD,
Paroxetine (Paxil) anxiety disorders,
PTSD
Citalopram (Celexa) Depression
Depression,
Escitalopram (Lexapro) generalized anxiety
disorder
OCD, social anxiety
Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
disorder
In low doses blocks reuptake of
Serotonin- Depression,
serotonin;
Norepinephrine generalized anxiety Apathy, Low side effect profile.
Venlafaxine (Effexor) in high doses blocks reuptake of
Reuptake disorder, panic low libido Risk for Serotonin Syndrome
norepinephrine as well as
Inhibitors (SNRIs) disorder
serotonin
pg. 2
