Medications
These are PsychiatryRx's plain-language guides to individual psychiatric and sleep medications. Each one covers what the medication treats, how it works, what to expect week by week, the common and the serious side effects, how it affects weight and sleep, and how to come off it safely. The guides span antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, ADHD medications, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and sleep medications. Every page is reviewed by a board-certified psychiatrist, and every page is general education, not a substitute for advice from your own prescriber.
Alprazolam (Xanax)
A fast-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety and panic, intended mainly for short-term or occasional use.
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
An older tricyclic antidepressant used off-label at low doses for sleep, with notable anticholinergic side 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.
Atomoxetine (Strattera)
A non-stimulant medication for ADHD, taken daily.
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.
Citalopram (Celexa)
An SSRI antidepressant used mainly for depression.
Clonazepam (Klonopin)
A long-acting benzodiazepine used for panic disorder and certain seizure conditions.
Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
An SNRI antidepressant, closely related to venlafaxine.
Diazepam (Valium)
A long-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety and several other conditions.
Doxepin (Silenor)
A tricyclic antidepressant used at very low doses as a non-habit-forming sleep medication for staying asleep.
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.
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.
Guanfacine (Intuniv)
A non-stimulant ADHD medication, often used on its own or added to a stimulant.
Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
An antihistamine used for anxiety, often as needed, without the dependence risk of benzodiazepines.
Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
A mood stabilizer used mainly to prevent depressive episodes in bipolar disorder.
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.
Lorazepam (Ativan)
A benzodiazepine used for anxiety, intended mainly for short-term or occasional use.
Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
A stimulant medication for ADHD, one of the two main stimulant types.
Mirtazapine (Remeron)
An atypical antidepressant often chosen when depression comes with poor sleep and loss of appetite.
Paroxetine (Paxil)
An SSRI antidepressant used for depression and a wide range of anxiety disorders.
Propranolol (Inderal)
A beta blocker used off-label for the physical symptoms of situational anxiety, such as performance anxiety.
Quetiapine (Seroquel)
An atypical antipsychotic used for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and as an add-on for depression.
Ramelteon (Rozerem)
A non-habit-forming sleep medication that works on the body clock, used for trouble falling asleep.
Sertraline (Zoloft)
An SSRI antidepressant used for depression, anxiety, panic, OCD, PTSD, and PMDD.
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.
Trazodone (Desyrel)
An older antidepressant now used most often, at low doses, as a sleep aid.
Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)
An SNRI antidepressant used for depression and several anxiety disorders.
Vortioxetine (Trintellix)
A newer antidepressant for depression, with a lower rate of sexual side effects than many SSRIs.
Zaleplon (Sonata)
The shortest-acting z-drug, used for trouble falling asleep with little next-day hangover.
Zolpidem (Ambien)
The most widely prescribed z-drug, a fast-acting sleep medication used mainly for trouble falling asleep.