Taking care of your mental health often requires a combination of therapy, lifestyle changes, and, in some cases, medication. Psychotropic medications are one tool that can help manage conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and more. While these medications can be highly effective, there’s often confusion and hesitation around how they work and what to expect. Understanding the role of psychotropic medications is key to making informed decisions about your mental health.

At Crossroads Counseling Services, we understand that starting or adjusting medication can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to provide guidance and support every step of the way. In this blog, we’ll define what psychotropic medications are, how they work, and what some of their side effects are. We’ll also dispel common myths about these medications and replace them with facts, so you feel more confident and informed about your mental health journey.

What are psychotropic medications?

By definition, a psychotropic medication is a drug that when taken produces an effect on the chemical makeup of your brain and nervous system. Because of these effects, psychotropic medications are used to treat mental illnesses. 

How do psychotropic medications work?

Psychotropic drugs work by increasing or decreasing specific neurotransmitters in your brain. Neurotransmitters are the signaling molecules in your brain, and act as chemical messengers. The increase or decrease in a specific neurotransmitter triggers multiple changes in the brain that can restore balance. These changes can take a few weeks develop.

Understanding the 5 types of psychotropic medications— uses and common examples

Depending on the symptoms described to a psychiatrist, they may prescribe one, or multiple types of psychotropic medications to target different neurotransmitters:

Antidepressants

As the name suggests, antidepressant medications are used to treat individuals with depressive disorders. A common type of antidepressant is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). 

These medications work by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. The goal of the medication is to regulate your mood, as well as sleep patterns. 

Here are some common antidepressants:

• Celexa
• Lexapro
• Prozac
• Zoloft

Some common side effects of antidepressants include:

• Drowsiness
• Weight gain
• Dry mouth

Anti-Anxiety medications

Anti-anxiety medications are used to treat a variety of anxiety disorders. An individual may be dealing with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic attacks, or specific phobias. It is not uncommon for some of the SSRIs used to treat depression to be also used to treat anxiety. 

A group of medications known as benzodiazepines can also be prescribed for short-term management of anxiety and panic attacks. They are not advisable for long-term use due to their high-potential for dependence and accompanying withdrawal symptoms.

Sometimes, antihistamines, such as hydroxyzine can also be used to treat anxiety by boosting serotonin levels in the brain to treat anxiety.

Some psychiatrists may prescribe a beta blocker to treat an anxiety disorder. Beta blockers were originally used to treat high blood pressure, but have been found to be effective when treating anxiety. They work by slowing down certain cell activity, and managing abnormal heart rhythms. By lowering your heart rate, they serve as effective treatment for managing anxiety.

Examples of anti-anxiety medications:

• Xanax or Alprazolam (Benzodiazepine)
• Hydroxyzine (Antihistamine)
• Propranolol. 

Common side effects of anti-anxiety medications:

• Dizziness 
• Drowsiness
• Nausea 
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Constipation
• Loss of appetite 

Individuals taking anti-anxiety medication should consult with their doctor every step of the way, as there is a significant risk of dependency and withdrawal symptoms if treatment is abruptly stopped. 

Stimulants

Stimulants are medications that are used to treat attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. These occur when an individual has trouble focusing and staying organized. Stimulants work by increasing dopamine in the brain. The effect of increased dopamine is a corresponding increase in concentration, and a decrease in hyperactivity and impulse behaviors. 

Common examples of stimulants: 

• Adderall
• Ritalin

Side effects: 

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Dry mouth
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Dizziness

Antipsychotics

Antipsychotic medications are used to treat mental health diagnoses that include psychosis. Psychosis takes many forms, but a common characteristic among patients is a separation from reality, which may result in delusions or hallucinations. 

Antipsychotics work by altering chemicals in the brain to reduce psychotic symptoms. Because these medications do not cure psychosis, they are taken as a maintenance medication to help patients with these disorders by keeping them stable. 

Some conditions that antipsychotics are used to treat include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.

Examples of antipsychotics:

• Abilify
• Seroquel
• Risperidone
• Latuda

Side effects:

• Drowsiness
• Sedation
• Weight gain

Mood stabilizers

As the name suggests, mood stabilizers are used to treat disorders that cause extreme moods. The most common use of mood stabilizers is to treat bipolar disorder. These work mostly by reducing activity of the areas of the brain that are hyperactive, which stabilize mood. 

Examples of mood stabilizers:

• Lamictal – used to treat bipolar depression
• Depakote – used to treat manic and mixed episodes of bipolar disorders
• Lithium – used to treat manic and mixed episodes of bipolar disorders

Side effects:

• Upset stomach
• Weight gain
• Dizziness
• Confusion

Myth vs Fact: Debunking 6 Common Misconceptions About Psychotropic Medications

While research and treatment for mental health has progressed significantly, there is still a large amount of stigma and misinformation surrounding the topic. Let’s separate opinions from facts, and shed light on the realities of treating mental illness:

Myth 1: Having a mental illness makes you “weak”, and using medication to treat it means you’re not “trying hard enough” to get better. 

Fact: Nothing could be further from the truth. Just as having low blood sugar or iron deficiency doesn’t mean you are “weak” or that your body isn’t “trying hard enough”, needing medication for a mental health condition doesn’t mean you are weak or not trying hard enough. It just means that your brain, like any other organ in your body, needs support to function properly. Psychotropic medications help to improve conditions of the brain,, the same as other medications help manage physical conditions (American Psychiatric Association).

Myth 2: Taking psychotropic medications changes your personality. 

Fact: When prescribed and taken correctly, psychotropic medications regulate your brain chemistry to alleviate the symptoms brought on by mental illness, and do not change a person’s personality. Because these medications often have side effects, it’s important to be in constant communication with your doctor. According to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, most individuals taking antidepressant medications reported that their mood and quality of life had improved, without feeling like their personalities have changed (Fava et al. 183).

Myth 3: If you start taking psychotropic medications, you’ll have to continue taking them for the rest of your life.

Fact: Depending on the patient’s condition, some psychotropic medications are prescribed for temporary use, while others are prescribed for long-term use. This by no means implies that a patient will be taking them forever. Again, it’s critical that a patient’s use of these medications is monitored by a doctor, who can determine the necessary dosage and duration over time.

Myth 4: Taking psychotropic medication can “cure” an individual of their mental illness on its own.

Fact: Psychotropic medications have been found to be most effective when coupled with therapy and lifestyle changes. Making a comprehensive plan with your doctor is the best way to overcome a mental illness.

Myth 5: Psychotropic medications make you feel numb or like a “zombie”.

Fact: Treating mental illness with psychotropic medication is not about making the patient feel numb. It’s about restoring balance in their brain, leading to an improved quality of life. Because these medications have side effects, it’s not unlikely that a patient may need to try different medications, and different dosages, to achieve this balanced feeling, instead of a “numb” feeling. Emotional numbing is common with certain antidepressants, which is why adjusting the medication and its dosage is important for achieving the intended emotional regulation (Jakubovski and Bloch 5).

Myth 6: Lifestyle changes and naturally occurring remedies are equally as effective as medication when it comes to resolving mental health conditions. 

Fact: While it’s true that diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes to reduce stress all play a role in achieving sound mental health, they are by no means total replacements for treating mental illness, especially in more severe cases. When it comes to conditions like schizophrenia or major depressive disorder, intervening with the use of psychotropic medications is a necessary approach to achieve significant symptom relief (Gelenberg et al. 12).

If you’re feeling symptoms associated with mental illness, talking to your doctor is a great first step to addressing them. Just as with any other physical condition, individuals should not take it upon themselves to self diagnose mental conditions. Discussing your symptoms with your general practitioner is a valuable first step, because they can likely recommend you to a psychiatrist. 

Achieving balance with the help of a professional

Remember that mental illness is an incredibly common occurrence. If you are feeling symptoms of mental illness, you are not alone in what you’re feeling, and you definitely don’t have to fight it alone. By working with a psychiatrist to determine if you indeed have a mental illness, and if that mental illness requires medication, you’ll be on the path to improving your quality of life.

Works Cited

American Psychiatric Association. Understanding Mental Disorders: Your Guide to DSM-5. American Psychiatric Publishing, 2015.

Fava, Maurizio, et al. “The Impact of Antidepressant Treatment on Personality: Evidence from a Prospective Clinical Trial.” The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, vol. 66, no. 2, 2005, pp. 183-191.

Gelenberg, Alan J., et al. “Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder.” American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 167, no. 10, 2010, pp. 12-18.
Jakubovski, E., and M. H. Bloch. “Reduction of Emotional Side Effects of SSRI Therapy: Current Perspectives.” Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, vol. 10, 2014, pp. 5-14.