Triangle NeuroPsychiatry

A Team Approach to Treatment: 

Psychopharmacology, the study of medicines for emotional disorders, has provided many new treatments for some very painful conditions.

While these new medicines tend to be safer than older drugs, there is no treatment that is without potential side-effects. There is no guarantee that a medicine will work or that it will be safe. Individuals may have good luck with a medicine or experience serious reactions or drug interactions.

Often, companies have websites about their products. For information from the National Library of Medicine see http://www.pubmed.gov.

If you or someone else wishes to learn more about medications, please contact us.

 
Common Medicines: The benefits and Risks:

• Stimulant Medications: (e.g. methylphenidate, dexedrine, mixed amphetamine salts). These medicines are used for Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder to help improve concentration and attention. They may cause decreased appetite, agitation, motor tics, hallucinations and trouble sleeping.

  Atomoxetine is a non-stimulant medication approved for the treatment of AD/HD. It may cause stomach upset, sedation, suicide ideation and liver problems.

• Antidepressants: (e.g. fluoxetine, paraxetine, buproprion, venlafaxine, escitalopram, and others). Antidepressants often help treat mood and anxiety problems. They may help with sadness, depression, insomnia and anger. These medications may cause agitation, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, suicide ideation, increased irritability and fatigue

• Antipsychotic medicines: (e.g. risperidone, olanzapine, ziprazodone, aripiprazole, chlorpromazine, haloperidole, fluphenazine and others). These medicines are often used to treat schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. These medications may help reduce hallucinations, level mood swings, improve sleep and help reduce interpersonal problems. These medications may cause tardive dyskinesia (a potentially severe muscle disorder), metabolic problems like weight gain, diabetes and elevated lipids/cholesterol. While the hope is to reduce agitation, these medications may increase irritability.

• Mood stabilizers: (e.g. lithium, valproic acid, carbamazepine, lamotrigine). These medications may help treat Bipolar Disorder, help reduce irritability or rages and level mood. These medicines may cause liver or kidney problems, muscle problems, severe skin rash, blood cell changes and reduced ability to fight infection.