In Section 2 of the PDR®, Brand and Generic Name Index, find another product name for each of the drugs on the Representative Drugs table on pages 453–456.
Representative Psychotropic Drugs
Category, Namea, and Route | Uses and Diseases | Actions | Usual Doseb and Special Instructions | Side Effects and Adverse Reactions |
Miscellaneous Antidepressants | ||||
Venlafaxine(Effexor) Oral | Major depression | Inhibits uptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine | 75 mg bid or tid | Anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, hypertension, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, constipation, suicidal attempts |
Trazodone(Desyrel) Oral | Depression without anxiety | May inhibit serotonin uptake by the brain cells, resulting in an increased serotonin concentration in the synapse; may also cause changes in binding of serotonin to receptors | 150 mg bid initially, then increase by 50 mg daily to a total of 400 mg daily in divided doses | Hypertension or hypotension, syncope, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, delayed urine flow, nightmares |
Bupropion (Wellbutrin) Oral | Major depression | Unknown, does not inhibit MAO, weakly blocks uptake of epinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine | Immediate release: 100 bid for three days followed by 100 mg tid Extended release: 150 mg daily, followed by 300 mg daily | Headache, dizziness, insomnia, tachycardia, hypotension, excessive sweating, muscle spasms, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting |
Tricyclic Antidepressants | ||||
Amitriptyline(Elavil) Oral, IM | Depression | Is a tricyclic antidepressant; inhibits serotonin reuptake | 75 mg/day in divided doses; may increase to 150 mg daily; 20–30 mg qid IM, or 80–120 mg at bedtime | Dizziness, drowsiness, constipation, dry mouth, orthostatic hypotension, blurred vision |
Imipramine (Tofranil) Oral, IV | Depression | Is a tricyclic antidepressant; inhibits serotonin reuptake | 75–100 mg/day in divided doses or in a single dose at bedtime; up to 300 mg given to hospitalized patients; caution patient to avoid alcohol, OTC drugs, prolonged exposure to sunlight, and hazardous activities that require alertness | Drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, urine retention, constipation, weight gain, tachycardia, photosensitivity |
Selective Seroton in Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) | ||||
Escitalopram(Lexapro) Oral | Major depression | Inhibits serotonin reuptake | 10 mg daily | Insomnia, somnolence, dizziness, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, palpitation |
Fluoxetine(Prozac) Oral | Depression | Inhibits serotonin reuptake | 20–80 mg/day, given once or twice daily in divided doses | Anxiety, insomnia, weight loss, sexual dysfunction, nausea, headache, diarrhea, dry mouth |
Sertraline(Zoloft) Oral | Depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders | Inhibits serotonin reuptake | Begin with 50 mg po and gradually increase every few weeks; range 50–200 mg | Headaches, nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, male sexual dysfunction |
Paroxetine (Paxil) Oral | Depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders | Inhibits serotonin reuptake | 20–50 mg/day po in divided doses | Headache, sedation, nausea, dry mouth |
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) | ||||
Tranylcypromine (Parnate) Oral | Depression | Increases concentration of epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in the CNS by inhibition of MAO | 10 mg bid; increase to 30 mg/day after 2 weeks; not to exceed 60 mg/day; avoid foods high in tyramine | Dizziness, drowsiness, constipation, weight gain, orthostatic hypotension, edema, urinary hesitancy |
Antianxiety Agents and Sedatives/Hypnotics | ||||
Lorazepam(Ativan) Oral, IM, IV | Anxiety, tension, insomnia, agitation, premedication before operative procedure | Depresses the central nervous system | 2–6 mg daily in divided doses; caution patient to avoid alcohol; may cause drowsiness; 2–4 mg IM | Drowsiness, lethargy; dependence |
Alprazolam(Xanax) Oral | Anxiety and tension | Is a benzodiazepine; depresses the central nervous system | 0.25–0.5 mg tid | Drowsiness, lightheadedness, suicidal tendencies |
Diazepam (Valium) Oral, IM, IV | Anxiety, tension before surgical procedures, muscle spasms, adjunct in seizure disorders | Is a benzodiazepine; depresses the central nervous system | 2–10 mg tid to qid po, adjusted individually to the lowest effective maintenance dose; caution patient to avoid alcohol; give with food to avoid upset stomach | Drowsiness, slurred speech, blurred vision, pain at injection site, unusual fatigue, dependence |
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) Oral, IM, IV | Anxiety, tension before surgical procedures, alcohol withdrawal | Depresses the central nervous system | 5–25 mg 3 or 4 times daily po; up to 100 mg IM or IV | Drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, lethargy, thrombophlebitis |
Chloral hydrate (Noctec) Oral, rectal | Insomnia, sedation | Unknown but has sedative effect | 250–1000 mg tid or at bedtime for hypnotic effect; give with full glass of liquid; caution patient to avoid alcohol and activities that require alertness | Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, drowsiness |
Flurazepam (Dalmane) Oral | Insomnia | Acts on the central nervous system to produce hypnotic effects | 15–30 mg at bedtime for hypnotic effect; may take 2 or 3 nights for medication to reach full effectiveness; caution patient to avoid alcohol and activities that require alertness | Dizziness, daytime sedation, headache, lack of coordination |
Triazolam (Halcion) Oral | Insomnia | Acts on the central nervous system to produce hypnotic effects | 0.125–0.5 mg at bedtime | Headache, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness |
Sedatives and Hypnotics | ||||
Zolpidem(Ambien) Oral | Short-term treatment of insomnia | Nonbenzodiazepine central nervous depressant | 10 mg at bedtime | No clear evidence of withdrawal syndrome; may experience fatigue, nausea, flushing, lightheadedness, uncontrollable crying, abdominal cramps, nervousness |
Antipsychotic Agents | ||||
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) Oral, IM, rectal | Psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, severe agitation, severe nausea and vomiting, intractable hiccups | Blocks dopamine receptors in the brain | 30–75 mg tid or qid and increased as necessary | Extrapyramidal reactions, sedation, tardive dyskinesia, dry mouth, constipation, urine retention, orthostatic hypotension |
Fluphenazine (Prolixin) Oral, IM | Psychotic disorders | Blocks dopamine receptors in the brain | 0.5–10 mg po daily in divided doses | Extrapyramidal reactions, tardive dyskinesia, dry mouth, constipation, urine retention, orthostatic hypotension |
Trifluoperazine (Stelazine) Oral, IM | Anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders | Blocks dopamine receptors in the brain | 1–2 mg bid | Extrapyramidal reactions, tardive dyskinesia, dry mouth, constipation, urine retention, blurred vision |
Haloperidol (Haldol) Oral, IM | Psychotic disorders | Blocks dopamine receptors in the brain | 0.5–5 mg bid or tid; may cause drowsiness | Severe extrapyramidal reactions, tardive dyskinesia, blurred vision, urine retention |
Antimanics | ||||
Lithium carbonate (Eskalith, Lithane) Oral | Prevention or control of mania | Unknown; decreases excitability of nerve conduction; increases reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine; decreases release of neurotransmitters | 300–600 mg tid | Fine hand tremors, polyuria, thirst, mild and transient nausea, general discomfort |
a Trade names given in parentheses are examples only. Check current drug references for a complete listing of available products.
b Average adult doses are given. However, dosages are determined by a physician and vary with the purpose of the therapy and the particular patient.
The doses presented in this text are for general information only.
Answers will vary depending on the edition of the PDR® used.