Medications. Understood.
Psychiatric medications, explained clearly.
Plain-language guides reviewed by a psychiatrist. Side effects, timelines, comparisons, and the questions worth asking.
PsychiatryRx is the medication education layer of The Shrink Network. It helps people understand psychiatric medications clearly before they speak with a clinician.
PsychiatryRx is an independent reference publication about psychiatric medications. It isn't a clinic or a pharmacy. It's a place to understand what you've been prescribed.
Popular medications
Plain-language guides to the medications people ask about most. Each one covers what it treats, how it works, what to expect week by week, side effects, and how to come off it safely.
Acamprosate (Campral)
A non-controlled medication used to support abstinence in alcohol use disorder.
Alprazolam (Xanax)
A fast-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety and panic, intended mainly for short-term or occasional use.
Amantadine (Symmetrel, Gocovri)
A dopamine-releasing NMDA antagonist used for drug-induced movement problems and Parkinson dyskinesia.
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
An older tricyclic antidepressant used off-label at low doses for sleep, with notable anticholinergic side effects.
Amoxapine (Asendin)
A tetracyclic antidepressant with dopamine D2 antagonism, which puts it in a category by itself: it can cause the movement side effects of antipsychotics on top of tricyclic effects.
Amphetamine (Adderall)
A stimulant medication for ADHD, the amphetamine-based type.
Aripiprazole (Abilify)
An atypical antipsychotic used for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and as an add-on for depression.
Armodafinil (Nuvigil)
The R-isomer of modafinil, with a longer half-life and once-daily dosing for narcolepsy and other causes of daytime sleepiness.
Asenapine (Saphris, Secuado)
An atypical antipsychotic available as a sublingual tablet (Saphris) and a transdermal patch (Secuado), used for schizophrenia and bipolar I.
Atomoxetine (Strattera)
A non-stimulant medication for ADHD, taken daily.
Brexanolone (Zulresso)
A 60-hour intravenous neurosteroid infusion for postpartum depression, delivered under a REMS program with continuous monitoring.
Brexpiprazole (Rexulti)
A dopamine partial agonist used for schizophrenia, as an add-on for depression, and for agitation in Alzheimer dementia.
Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Sublocade, Zubsolv)
A partial opioid agonist used for opioid use disorder and, in some formulations, for chronic pain.
Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
An atypical antidepressant, an NDRI, used for depression, seasonal depression, and smoking cessation.
Buspirone (BuSpar)
A non-sedating anti-anxiety medication for generalized anxiety, taken daily.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro)
A mood stabilizer used for acute mania and maintenance in bipolar disorder.
Cariprazine (Vraylar)
A dopamine D3-preferring partial agonist used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and as an add-on for depression.
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
A long-acting benzodiazepine, standard for alcohol withdrawal and sometimes used for anxiety.
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
A low-potency first-generation antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and other psychotic conditions, with sedation and anticholinergic effects that shape how it feels.
Citalopram (Celexa)
An SSRI antidepressant used mainly for depression.
Clobazam (Onfi)
A less sedating benzodiazepine approved for seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, structurally different from most others in the class.
Clomipramine (Anafranil)
The most serotonergic tricyclic antidepressant and the only tricyclic FDA-approved for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Clonazepam (Klonopin)
A long-acting benzodiazepine used for panic disorder and certain seizure conditions.
Clonidine ER (Kapvay)
An alpha-2 agonist used for ADHD, most often in children, either as a monotherapy or as an add-on to a stimulant.
Clorazepate (Tranxene)
A long-acting benzodiazepine prodrug that is converted in the stomach to a long-lived active form.
Clozapine (Clozaril)
The most effective antipsychotic for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, with a unique monitoring requirement.
Daridorexant (Quviviq)
A shorter-half-life dual orexin antagonist designed to reduce next-day sedation while helping both sleep onset and maintenance.
Desipramine (Norpramin)
The most norepinephrine-selective tricyclic antidepressant, sometimes chosen for its activating profile and lighter anticholinergic load.
Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
An SNRI antidepressant, closely related to venlafaxine.
Deutetrabenazine (Austedo)
A VMAT2 inhibitor used for tardive dyskinesia and chorea in Huntington disease.
Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)
The active d-isomer of methylphenidate, essentially half of Ritalin's molecule in isolated form.
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
The pure d-isomer of amphetamine, the same active molecule as one of the two components in Adderall.
Dextromethorphan-Bupropion (Auvelity)
A fixed-dose oral combination of dextromethorphan (NMDA antagonist) and bupropion (which boosts dextromethorphan levels), FDA-approved in 2022 for depression.
Diazepam (Valium)
A long-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety and several other conditions.
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
A deterrent medication for alcohol use disorder that causes a strong reaction if alcohol is consumed.
Donanemab (Kisunla)
An IV monoclonal antibody that clears amyloid plaques in early Alzheimer's disease.
Donepezil (Aricept)
A cholinesterase inhibitor used to slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
Doxepin (Silenor)
A tricyclic antidepressant used at very low doses as a non-habit-forming sleep medication for staying asleep.
Droperidol (Inapsine)
A butyrophenone first-generation antipsychotic used in acute care and emergency settings for agitation and nausea, not for chronic outpatient use.
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
An SNRI antidepressant that is also used for several chronic pain conditions.
Escitalopram (Lexapro)
An SSRI antidepressant used for depression and generalized anxiety disorder.
Esketamine (Spravato)
An intranasal NMDA antagonist for treatment-resistant depression and depression with acute suicidality, delivered under a REMS program with in-clinic monitoring.
Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
A z-drug that helps with both falling asleep and staying asleep, known for a distinctive bitter aftertaste.
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
An SSRI antidepressant used for depression, OCD, panic, and bulimia, known for its long half-life.
Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
A high-potency first-generation antipsychotic for schizophrenia, available as both oral tablets and a long-acting decanoate injection.
Flurazepam (Dalmane)
A long-acting benzodiazepine sleep medication with a long history, largely displaced by shorter-acting options and generally avoided in older adults.
Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
An SSRI antidepressant approved for OCD, with strong drug interactions to watch.
Gabapentin (Neurontin)
An anticonvulsant used off-label for anxiety, sleep, and alcohol use disorder.
Galantamine (Razadyne)
A cholinesterase inhibitor with a second mechanism at nicotinic receptors, used for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Guanfacine (Intuniv)
A non-stimulant ADHD medication, often used on its own or added to a stimulant.
Haloperidol (Haldol)
A high-potency first-generation antipsychotic used for schizophrenia, Tourette syndrome, and acute agitation.
Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
An antihistamine used for anxiety, often as needed, without the dependence risk of benzodiazepines.
Iloperidone (Fanapt)
An atypical antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar I mania, notable for requiring a slow titration to prevent orthostatic hypotension.
Imipramine (Tofranil)
A first-generation tricyclic antidepressant, historically foundational and still used for depression and childhood enuresis, with a heavy anticholinergic and cardiac profile.
Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
An irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor used for treatment-resistant depression, with the standard MAOI dietary and drug restrictions.
Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
A mood stabilizer used mainly to prevent depressive episodes in bipolar disorder.
Lecanemab (Leqembi)
An intravenous anti-amyloid antibody that modestly slows decline in early Alzheimer's disease.
Lemborexant (Dayvigo)
A newer sleep medication that blocks the brain's wakefulness signal, approved for trouble falling and staying asleep.
Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
An SNRI antidepressant with a stronger norepinephrine profile than most SNRIs.
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)
A long-acting stimulant for ADHD, taken once daily, also approved for binge eating disorder.
Lithium
A long-established mood stabilizer, still considered a benchmark treatment for bipolar disorder.
Lofexidine (Lucemyra)
An α2-adrenergic agonist used to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Lorazepam (Ativan)
A benzodiazepine used for anxiety, intended mainly for short-term or occasional use.
Loxapine (Loxitane, Adasuve)
A first-generation antipsychotic with some atypical-like activity, available as oral capsules and as an inhaled formulation for acute agitation.
Lumateperone (Caplyta)
An atypical antipsychotic with a favorable metabolic profile, approved for schizophrenia and bipolar depression.
Lurasidone (Latuda)
An atypical antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and bipolar depression, with a favorable metabolic profile.
Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
A tetracyclic antidepressant with strong norepinephrine reuptake inhibition and the highest seizure risk of the class.
Memantine (Namenda)
An NMDA receptor antagonist used for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, often combined with a cholinesterase inhibitor.
Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
A long-acting full opioid agonist used for opioid use disorder and severe pain.
Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
A prescription amphetamine analog with a limited but real role in ADHD and obesity, distinct from the illicit street drug.
Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
A stimulant medication for ADHD, one of the two main stimulant types.
Midazolam (Versed)
A very short-acting benzodiazepine used in hospitals and by EMS for procedural sedation and status epilepticus, not for chronic outpatient use.
Milnacipran (Savella)
An SNRI approved for fibromyalgia in the US, sometimes used off-label for depression.
Mirtazapine (Remeron)
An atypical antidepressant often chosen when depression comes with poor sleep and loss of appetite.
Modafinil (Provigil)
A wake-promoting medication used for narcolepsy, shift-work sleep disorder, and residual sleepiness in treated sleep apnea, chemically distinct from traditional stimulants.
Molindone (Moban)
A dihydroindolone first-generation antipsychotic notable for a weight-neutral to weight-losing profile.
Naloxone (Narcan)
A short-acting opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid overdose.
Naltrexone (Vivitrol, ReVia): oral
An opioid receptor blocker used for alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder.
Naltrexone injectable (Vivitrol)
A monthly injection of naltrexone used for alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder.
Naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave)
A combination of low-dose naltrexone and sustained-release bupropion used for chronic weight management.
Nefazodone (Serzone)
A SARI antidepressant with a boxed warning for rare but potentially fatal liver failure, no longer first-line and rarely used today.
Nicotine replacement therapy (patch, gum, lozenge, inhaler, spray)
Controlled nicotine delivery to reduce withdrawal and craving during smoking cessation.
Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
A secondary-amine tricyclic used for depression and chronic pain, with a serum level range that guides dosing and a lighter anticholinergic load than older tricyclics.
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
An atypical antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, effective but with notable metabolic side effects.
Oxazepam (Serax)
A slower-onset benzodiazepine with a metabolism that makes it a safer choice in liver disease and older adults.
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
An anticonvulsant sometimes used off-label as a mood stabilizer, related to carbamazepine.
Paliperidone (Invega)
The active metabolite of risperidone, available as an oral tablet and as long-acting injectables lasting up to 6 months.
Paroxetine (Paxil)
An SSRI antidepressant used for depression and a wide range of anxiety disorders.
Perphenazine (Trilafon)
A mid-potency first-generation antipsychotic used for schizophrenia, notable for its role in the CATIE trial as a comparator to atypicals.
Phenelzine (Nardil)
An irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor used for treatment-resistant depression and atypical depression, with a strict tyramine-restricted diet and long list of drug interactions.
Pimavanserin (Nuplazid)
A selective 5-HT2A inverse agonist antipsychotic with no dopamine activity, approved for hallucinations and delusions in Parkinson's disease psychosis.
Pimozide (Orap)
A selective D2 antagonist first-generation antipsychotic used mainly for Tourette syndrome, with prominent QTc and drug interaction considerations.
Pitolisant (Wakix)
A first-in-class histamine H3 inverse agonist for narcolepsy that is not a controlled substance.
Prazosin (Minipress)
An alpha-1 blocker used off-label for PTSD-related nightmares and sleep disturbance.
Pregabalin (Lyrica)
An anticonvulsant used for nerve pain, fibromyalgia, and, off-label in the US, anxiety.
Propranolol (Inderal)
A beta blocker used off-label for the physical symptoms of situational anxiety, such as performance anxiety.
Protriptyline (Vivactil)
An activating secondary-amine tricyclic antidepressant sometimes used for depression in patients who need a non-sedating tricyclic.
Quetiapine (Seroquel)
An atypical antipsychotic used for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and as an add-on for depression.
Racemic Ketamine IV (Off-Label for Depression)
Intravenous ketamine used off-label for treatment-resistant depression, delivered in clinic settings, distinct from FDA-approved esketamine nasal spray.
Ramelteon (Rozerem)
A non-habit-forming sleep medication that works on the body clock, used for trouble falling asleep.
Risperidone (Risperdal)
A widely used atypical antipsychotic for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, notable for prolactin elevation.
Rivastigmine (Exelon)
A dual cholinesterase inhibitor available as an oral capsule and a skin patch, used for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease dementia.
Selegiline Transdermal (Emsam)
A transdermal MAOI patch that bypasses gut MAO-A at the lowest dose, allowing no dietary restriction at 6 mg/24h; higher patches require the standard MAOI diet.
Serdexmethylphenidate/Dexmethylphenidate (Azstarys)
A combination stimulant capsule pairing an immediate-release dexmethylphenidate with a slow-release prodrug of the same molecule.
Sertraline (Zoloft)
An SSRI antidepressant used for depression, anxiety, panic, OCD, PTSD, and PMDD.
Sodium Oxybate / Oxybate Salts (Xyrem, Xywav)
A twice-nightly medication for narcolepsy with cataplexy and idiopathic hypersomnia, given under a REMS program because of its abuse and CNS depression risks.
Solriamfetol (Sunosi)
A dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor for excessive daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea.
Suvorexant (Belsomra)
A newer sleep medication that blocks the brain's wakefulness signal, used for trouble falling and staying asleep.
Temazepam (Restoril)
A benzodiazepine used for the short-term treatment of insomnia, with real dependence and withdrawal risks.
Tetrabenazine (Xenazine)
The original VMAT2 inhibitor, approved for chorea in Huntington disease.
Thioridazine (Mellaril)
A low-potency first-generation antipsychotic reserved for refractory schizophrenia because of prominent QTc prolongation.
Thiothixene (Navane)
A high-potency thioxanthene first-generation antipsychotic used mainly for schizophrenia.
Topiramate (Topamax)
An anticonvulsant used off-label for mood, migraine prevention, and alcohol use disorder.
Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
An irreversible non-selective MAOI with a mild amphetamine-like activating profile, used for treatment-resistant and atypical depression.
Trazodone (Desyrel)
An older antidepressant now used most often, at low doses, as a sleep aid.
Triazolam (Halcion)
A very short-acting benzodiazepine sleep medication with a high dependence potential and a well-documented anterograde amnesia problem.
Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
A high-potency first-generation antipsychotic used for schizophrenia and short-term treatment of severe anxiety.
Trimipramine (Surmontil)
A sedating tertiary-amine tricyclic antidepressant, sometimes used when depression is coupled with severe insomnia.
Valbenazine (Ingrezza)
A once-daily VMAT2 inhibitor for tardive dyskinesia and Huntington chorea.
Valproate (Depakote)
A mood stabilizer used mainly for acute mania and maintenance in bipolar disorder.
Varenicline (Chantix)
A nicotinic receptor partial agonist used for smoking cessation.
Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)
An SNRI antidepressant used for depression and several anxiety disorders.
Vilazodone (Viibryd)
A serotonin reuptake inhibitor with 5-HT1A partial agonism (SPARI), taken with food, with lower rates of sexual side effects than most SSRIs.
Viloxazine (Qelbree)
A once-daily non-stimulant ADHD medication that acts as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with additional serotonin activity.
Vortioxetine (Trintellix)
A newer antidepressant for depression, with a lower rate of sexual side effects than many SSRIs.
Xanomeline-Trospium (Cobenfy)
The first M1/M4 muscarinic agonist antipsychotic. FDA-approved 2024 for schizophrenia, with no dopamine blockade and a different side-effect profile from every other antipsychotic.
Zaleplon (Sonata)
The shortest-acting z-drug, used for trouble falling asleep with little next-day hangover.
Ziprasidone (Geodon)
An atypical antipsychotic notable for being metabolically neutral but requiring a meal for absorption.
Zolpidem (Ambien)
The most widely prescribed z-drug, a fast-acting sleep medication used mainly for trouble falling asleep.
Zuranolone (Zurzuvae)
An oral 14-day neurosteroid for postpartum depression, taken once nightly with a fat-containing meal, with sedation warnings and a contraception requirement.
Start here: guides
Short, practical guides for the moments where most questions show up: starting a medication, coming off one safely, and finding a prescriber.
Antidepressants and sexual side effects
How common sexual side effects are, why they happen, and what can be done about them.
Antidepressants and weight
What antidepressants tend to do to weight, which ones differ, and how to think about it.
Antidepressants for elderly patients, ranked
Which antidepressants are best for older adults, and which to avoid. Sertraline, escitalopram, and mirtazapine are usually first-line. Paroxetine and TCAs are usually avoided (Beers Criteria). Special considerations for hyponatremia, falls, drug interactions, and dementia.
Antidepressants safest in pregnancy, ranked by evidence
Which antidepressants have the best pregnancy safety data, which have concerning signals, and how to weigh treatment against untreated maternal depression. Sertraline is first-line for most patients; paroxetine has FDA warnings; MAOIs and specific SNRIs need caution.
Antidepressants with the lowest sexual side effects
Bupropion, mirtazapine, vortioxetine, vilazodone, and trazodone have the lowest rates of sexual dysfunction among antidepressants. Which drug to choose when preserving sexual function is a priority, and how the mechanisms differ.
Antidepressants with the lowest weight gain
Which antidepressants cause the least weight gain, and which cause the most. Bupropion is weight-neutral or causes weight loss. Mirtazapine causes the most among common antidepressants. Ranking and clinical decision framework.
Antipsychotic chlorpromazine equivalents
CPZ-equivalent doses for typical and atypical antipsychotics, WHO defined daily doses, and how to use them for cross-tapers and dose reviews.
Antipsychotics for elderly patients
Antipsychotics in older adults carry stroke and mortality warnings and require careful selection. Quetiapine and risperidone are most commonly used at low doses. Cobenfy and aripiprazole are lower-risk options. Boxed warning framing and non-drug alternatives first.
Antipsychotics with the lowest EPS risk
Which antipsychotics cause the least extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS): akathisia, parkinsonism, dystonia, tardive dyskinesia. Clozapine, quetiapine, and the newest drugs (Cobenfy, lumateperone) rank lowest.
Beers Criteria: psychiatric medications in older adults
The 2023 Beers Criteria list of psychiatric medications to avoid or use with caution in adults 65 and older, why, and safer alternatives.
Benzodiazepine equivalents
Diazepam-equivalent doses, half-lives, and onset for common benzodiazepines. The table for cross-tapers, inpatient conversions, and alcohol withdrawal protocols.
Benzodiazepines ranked by half-life
Every benzodiazepine used in psychiatry ranked by half-life, from ultra-short-acting midazolam to long-acting diazepam and clonazepam. Half-life determines onset, duration, withdrawal difficulty, and clinical use case.
Coming off an antidepressant safely
What discontinuation feels like, and how a careful taper makes stopping manageable.
Comorbidity-based medication selection in psychiatry
How specific comorbidities tip the choice: depression plus insomnia, depression plus sexual dysfunction concern, depression plus weight, depression plus anxiety, MDD plus ADHD, bipolar plus anxiety, psychosis plus PTSD.
CYP450 interactions in psychiatric prescribing
Substrate, inhibitor, and inducer status for every common psychiatric medication, organized by CYP enzyme, with the interactions that actually change clinical decisions.
Discontinuation syndromes in psychiatric medications
Recognition and management of SSRI/SNRI discontinuation, benzodiazepine withdrawal, stimulant hold, antipsychotic withdrawal dyskinesia, and lithium rebound.
Generic vs brand-name psychiatric medication
Whether generic psychiatric medications are as good as the brand, and what to know.
Hepatic dosing for psychiatric medications
Which psychiatric meds are LFT-friendly, which need dose reduction by Child-Pugh class, and which to avoid outright in liver disease.
How to get psychiatric medication management
Who can prescribe psychiatric medication, the in-person and telepsychiatry options, and how to choose.
Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) compared
Every FDA-approved long-acting injectable antipsychotic compared: dose interval, initiation loading, oral coverage, price, and where each fits. Aripiprazole, paliperidone, risperidone, olanzapine, haloperidol, fluphenazine LAIs plus 3-month and 6-month options.
Medication, therapy, or both
What the evidence says about medication, therapy, and combining them.
Medications for ADHD
What stimulants and non-stimulants are used for ADHD, when to pick which, and what the cardiac and growth monitoring picture looks like.
Medications for Alzheimer's
What medications are used across mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer's, where the anti-amyloid antibodies fit, and how to handle agitation.
Medications for anxiety
What medications are used for generalized anxiety, panic, and social anxiety, and where benzodiazepines fit and where they don't.
Medications for bipolar disorder
What medications are used across mania, bipolar depression, and maintenance, and where the pitfalls sit.
Medications for depression
What medications are used for depression, how prescribers pick among them, and what to do when the first one doesn't work.
Medications for insomnia
What sleep medications are used, where the newer orexin antagonists fit, and why CBT-I is still first-line.
Medications for OCD
What medications are used for OCD, why the doses run higher than in depression, and where clomipramine and augmentation fit.
Medications for opioid use disorder
What medications are used for opioid use disorder, how buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone compare, and where overdose reversal fits.
Medications for PTSD
What medications are used for PTSD, where prazosin fits for nightmares, and why benzodiazepines are usually avoided.
Medications for schizophrenia
What antipsychotics are used for schizophrenia, where clozapine and LAIs fit, and how metabolic monitoring changes the picture.
Mood stabilizers ranked for bipolar disorder
Lithium, valproate, lamotrigine, and second-generation antipsychotics as mood stabilizers. Which to use for acute mania vs depression vs maintenance, side effect trade-offs, and evidence base for each.
Most sedating antipsychotics, ranked
Which antipsychotics cause the most sedation, ranked from most to least sedating, with mechanism (H1, alpha-1, muscarinic), typical dose relationship, and when sedation is desired vs unwanted.
Non-stimulant ADHD medications ranked
The four main non-stimulant ADHD medications compared: atomoxetine, viloxazine (Qelbree), guanfacine ER, clonidine ER (including Onyda XR). Efficacy, side effect profiles, and when to choose each.
Over-the-counter and natural sleep aids: what the evidence shows
An honest look at antihistamines, melatonin, valerian, chamomile, and magnesium for sleep.
Psychiatric medication and alcohol
How alcohol interacts with antidepressants and other psychiatric medications, and why caution makes sense.
Psychiatric medication half-life quick reference
Half-lives across SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, mood stabilizers, and stimulants, with what that means for taper speed, discontinuation risk, and switching.
Psychiatric medication in pregnancy and breastfeeding
How decisions about psychiatric medication in pregnancy and breastfeeding are approached.
Psychiatric medication in pregnancy and lactation
A working framework for pregnancy and breastfeeding decisions across antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and stimulants, with LactMed pointers.
Questions for my appointment
A printable sheet to organize what you want to cover with your prescriber.
Renal dosing for psychiatric medications
Which psychiatric meds to avoid, dose-adjust, or feel safe with by eGFR band. Lithium first, then everything else.
Sleep medications ranked
Every prescription sleep medication compared: Z-drugs, benzodiazepines, DORAs (Belsomra, Dayvigo, Quviviq), doxepin, ramelteon, mirtazapine, trazodone. Which to choose for sleep initiation vs maintenance, safety in older adults, and dependence risk.
Starting a psychiatric medication: what the first month is like
A realistic week-by-week picture of beginning an antidepressant, and what is normal.
Switching antidepressants
Why people switch antidepressants, how a switch is done, and what to expect.
Switching antidepressants: cross-taper and washout matrix
Direct-switch, cross-taper, and MAOI washout rules for switching antidepressants, with the meds (fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine) that need special handling.
Switching antipsychotics
Cross-taper, plateau, and abrupt-switch strategies for antipsychotic changes, with attention to withdrawal dyskinesia, rebound psychosis, and metabolic switch considerations.
Why isn't my medication working?
Common reasons an antidepressant doesn't seem to be helping, and what usually comes next.
Popular comparisons
The medication match-ups people search for most. Start here if you're weighing two options or wondering how yours stacks up.
Lexapro vs Zoloft
How escitalopram and sertraline compare on uses, side effects, and what to expect.
Prozac vs Zoloft
How fluoxetine and sertraline compare, two widely used SSRIs.
Wellbutrin vs Zoloft
How bupropion and sertraline compare, two common antidepressants that work differently.
Cymbalta vs Lexapro
How duloxetine and escitalopram compare, an SNRI and an SSRI.
Xanax vs Ativan
How alprazolam and lorazepam compare, two fast-acting benzodiazepines for anxiety.
Klonopin vs Xanax
How clonazepam and alprazolam compare, two benzodiazepines that differ mainly in how long they last.
Adderall vs Vyvanse
How amphetamine and lisdexamfetamine compare, two amphetamine-based stimulants for ADHD.
Vyvanse vs Ritalin
How lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate compare, stimulants from the two main families.
Compare two medications
Choosing between two options, or wondering how yours compares? These side-by-side guides lay out the real differences.
Abilify vs Rexulti
How aripiprazole and brexpiprazole compare on side effects, uses, and cost.
Adderall vs Ritalin
How amphetamine and methylphenidate compare, the two main stimulant types for ADHD.
Adderall vs Vyvanse
How amphetamine and lisdexamfetamine compare, two amphetamine-based stimulants for ADHD.
Ambien vs Belsomra
How zolpidem and suvorexant compare for insomnia, an older GABA-based z-drug and a newer orexin blocker.
Ambien vs Lunesta
How zolpidem and eszopiclone compare, two z-drugs that differ mainly in how long they last.
Ambien vs Trazodone
How zolpidem and trazodone compare for sleep, a controlled z-drug sleeping pill and a non-habit-forming antidepressant widely used for insomnia.
Aricept vs Namenda
How Aricept and Namenda compare on uses, side effects, and what to expect in Alzheimer's care.
Ativan vs Klonopin
How lorazepam and clonazepam compare, two benzodiazepines used for anxiety and panic.
Austedo vs Ingrezza
How deutetrabenazine and valbenazine compare for tardive dyskinesia.
Buprenorphine vs Methadone
How the two main medications for opioid use disorder compare on safety, access, and outcomes.
Buspirone vs Xanax
How buspirone and alprazolam compare for anxiety, a daily non-habit-forming option and a fast-acting benzodiazepine.
Carbamazepine vs Oxcarbazepine
How Tegretol and Trileptal compare on drug interactions, side effects, and use in bipolar disorder.
Cariprazine vs Brexpiprazole
How Vraylar and Rexulti compare on receptor profile, side effects, and what to expect.
Clozapine vs Olanzapine
How clozapine and olanzapine compare on uses, side effects, and what to expect.
Cymbalta vs Effexor
How duloxetine and venlafaxine compare, two SNRI antidepressants.
Cymbalta vs Lexapro
How duloxetine and escitalopram compare, an SNRI and an SSRI.
Dayvigo vs Quviviq
How lemborexant and daridorexant compare as newer sleep medications.
Depakote vs Lamictal
How valproate and lamotrigine compare as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder.
Donepezil vs Memantine
How donepezil and memantine compare on uses, side effects, and what to expect in Alzheimer's care.
Donepezil vs Rivastigmine
How donepezil and rivastigmine compare on uses, side effects, and formulations for Alzheimer's and related dementias.
Effexor vs Pristiq
How venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine compare, two closely related SNRIs.
Fluvoxamine vs Fluoxetine
How Luvox and Prozac compare on uses, interactions, and dosing.
Klonopin vs Xanax
How clonazepam and alprazolam compare, two benzodiazepines that differ mainly in how long they last.
Latuda vs Vraylar
How lurasidone and cariprazine compare on uses, side effects, and what to expect.
Leqembi vs Kisunla
How Leqembi and Kisunla compare as anti-amyloid infusions for early Alzheimer's disease.
Lexapro vs Celexa
How escitalopram and citalopram compare, two closely related SSRIs.
Lexapro vs Prozac
How escitalopram and fluoxetine compare, two widely used SSRIs.
Lexapro vs Xanax
How escitalopram and alprazolam compare for anxiety, a daily SSRI and a fast-acting benzodiazepine.
Lexapro vs Zoloft
How escitalopram and sertraline compare on uses, side effects, and what to expect.
Lithium vs Lamictal
How lithium and lamotrigine compare, two mood stabilizers used in bipolar disorder.
Modafinil vs Adderall
How modafinil and Adderall compare on uses, side effects, and controlled-substance profile.
Olanzapine vs Quetiapine
How olanzapine and quetiapine compare on uses, side effects, and what to expect.
Olanzapine vs Risperidone
How olanzapine and risperidone compare on uses, side effects, and what to expect.
Provigil vs Nuvigil
How modafinil and armodafinil compare on duration, dosing, and what to expect.
Prozac vs Zoloft
How fluoxetine and sertraline compare, two widely used SSRIs.
Risperidone vs Aripiprazole
How risperidone and aripiprazole compare on uses, side effects, and what to expect.
Risperidone vs Paliperidone
How risperidone and paliperidone compare on uses, side effects, and what to expect.
Spravato vs Ketamine (IV)
How intranasal esketamine and IV racemic ketamine compare for treatment-resistant depression.
Strattera vs Adderall
How atomoxetine and amphetamine compare for ADHD, a non-stimulant and a stimulant.
Suboxone vs Sublocade
How the daily film and monthly injection forms of buprenorphine compare on adherence, cost, and flexibility.
Tegretol vs Depakote
How carbamazepine and valproate compare as mood stabilizers, on uses, side effects, and monitoring.
Trazodone vs Mirtazapine
How trazodone and mirtazapine compare, two sedating antidepressants used for sleep, with their effect on weight as the key difference.
Trintellix vs Lexapro
How vortioxetine and escitalopram compare, a newer antidepressant and a standard SSRI.
Valium vs Xanax
How diazepam and alprazolam compare, two benzodiazepines that differ mainly in how long they last.
Valproate vs Lithium
How valproate and lithium compare as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder.
Vivitrol vs Naltrexone (Oral)
How the monthly injection and daily pill forms of naltrexone compare for alcohol and opioid use disorder.
Vyvanse vs Ritalin
How lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate compare, stimulants from the two main families.
Wellbutrin vs Adderall
How bupropion and amphetamine compare, an antidepressant and a stimulant that both affect focus and energy.
Wellbutrin vs Effexor
How bupropion and venlafaxine compare, two antidepressants that work in very different ways and split on anxiety and sexual side effects.
Wellbutrin vs Lexapro
How bupropion and escitalopram compare, two common antidepressants that work in very different ways.
Wellbutrin vs Zoloft
How bupropion and sertraline compare, two common antidepressants that work differently.
Xanax vs Ativan
How alprazolam and lorazepam compare, two fast-acting benzodiazepines for anxiety.
Browse by drug class
How whole families of medication work, and how the drugs within them differ. A good place to start if this is all new.
ADHD medications explained
The two groups of ADHD medication, stimulants and non-stimulants, and how they compare.
Antipsychotics explained
What antipsychotics are, and how they are used in bipolar disorder and depression.
Atypical antidepressants explained
Antidepressants that work differently from SSRIs and SNRIs, and when they are used.
Benzodiazepines explained
What benzodiazepines are, how they work, and why they are usually used short-term.
Dementia medications explained
What the FDA-approved medications for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are and what they can and can't do.
First-generation antipsychotics explained
What the older, typical antipsychotics are, how they work, and when they're still chosen today.
Ketamine and esketamine explained
What NMDA-based antidepressants are, how they work, and where they fit for treatment-resistant depression.
MAOIs explained
What monoamine oxidase inhibitors are, why they're still around, and what makes them hard.
Mood stabilizers explained
What mood stabilizers are, how they are used in bipolar disorder, and how they differ.
Movement disorder medications explained
What the medications for tardive dyskinesia, antipsychotic-induced EPS, and Huntington chorea are, and how they compare.
Neurosteroid antidepressants explained
What brexanolone and zuranolone are, how they work for postpartum depression, and how they're different from other antidepressants.
Sleep medications explained
What the main sleep medications are, how they differ, and why most are used short-term.
SNRIs explained
What SNRIs are, how they work, and how they compare with SSRIs.
SSRIs explained
What SSRIs are, how they work, and how the medications in the class compare.
Substance use disorder medications explained
What the FDA-approved medications for opioid, alcohol, and tobacco use disorders are and how they work.
Tricyclic antidepressants explained
What TCAs are, how they work, and why an older class of antidepressants is still in use.
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Psychiatric medication is its own subject.
It has its own pharmacology, its own evidence base, and its own set of decisions a patient is asked to make.
A site that tries to be about every mental health topic ends up being thin on the one a person actually got prescribed.
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The medical editor
Shariq Refai, MD, MBA
Board-certified psychiatrist · Medical editor, PsychiatryRx
Dr. Refai reviews each guide on PsychiatryRx for clinical accuracy. He is a board-certified psychiatrist, the medical editor of AnxietyResource.org, DepressionResource.org, and AnxietyResearch.org, and the founder of shrinkMD, an independent telepsychiatry practice. If you're looking for medication management with a prescribing psychiatrist rather than more reading, that's what shrinkMD's medication-management service is for. That affiliation is disclosed on our about and disclosure pages.