The document provides an overview of psychotropic drugs, categorizing them into five main types: antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics, and sedative-hypnotics. It explains their mechanisms of action, specific uses, side effects, and potential risks, emphasizing that these medications primarily treat mental health disorders rather than cure them. Additionally, it highlights the importance of monitoring drug interactions and the risks associated with misuse and dependence.

1. PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
BY - SHALOM NWACHUKWU

2. OUTLINE
1. Introduction.
2. Classification
3. Antipsychotics
4. Antidepressants
5. Mood stabilizers
6. Anxiolytics
7. Sedative-hypnotics
8. Risks and drug interaction

3. Psychotropic drug, in pharmacology, is any agent that induces changes in
awareness, behaviour, mood, perception, or sensation.
There are five main types of psychotropic medications: antidepressants, anti-
anxiety medications, stimulants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers.
They may also sometimes be referred to as psychiatric medications or
psychotherapeutic drugs.
Psychotropic drugs exert their actions by either mimicking the effects, blocking
the activity, or altering the storage, release, or uptake of neurotransmitters
Psychotropic medications are not a cure. They can only treat mental health
disorders, and they are sometimes most effective when combined with
psychotherapy.
introduction

6. ANTIPSYCHOTICS (NEUROLEPTICS)
Antipsychotics are a group of substances used primarily
to treat schizophrenia, psychosis, mania, delusions, and
states of agitation.
Antipsychotic drugs are subdivided into typical and
atypical antipsychotics.
- Typical antipsychotic drugs (first-generation
antipsychotics) work by blocking dopamine
receptors
- The mechanism of action of atypical antipsychotics,
sometimes called second-generation antipsychotics,
is less clear, though they seem to inhibit various
neurotransmitters, particularly acetylcholine,
dopamine, norepinephrine, or serotonin.

7. -First generation “typicals”, used mainly for positive symptoms such as
delusions and hallucinations.
First generation have higher risk of EPS (Extra Pyramidal Symptoms):
muscle spasms, tardive dyskinesia (irregular, jerky movements),
parkinsonism (rigidity, speech changes), akathisia (restlessness, unable
to sit still, need to move around to feel relief)
-Second Generation “atypicals”, used to treat negative symptoms flat
affect, apathy anhedonia as well as positive symptoms
Less EPS symptoms but still possible, Greater metabolic effects, weight
gain, hypertension, increase risk of diabetes

9. SIDE EFFECTS
Extrapyramidal symptoms: due to blockade of D2 receptors: acute dystonia,
akathisia, and tardive dyskinesia, are the most common side effects of first-
generation antipsychotics.
Metabolic side effects (e.g., weight gain, insulin resistance) are more typical
of second-generation antipsychotics.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is an emergency complication and
it can occur with both first and second gen antipsychotics.

11. Antidepressants
Depression is a mood disorder and is likely caused by a combination of
genetic, biologic, and environmental factors. In terms of the biologic basis,
there is an abnormality in neurotransmitters in the brain
Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals in the brain that affect mood and
emotional response. Antidepressant medications work to balance these
chemicals.
Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine are 3 neurotransmitters that are
involved in depression.
All antidepressants achieve their effects by inhibiting the body’s
reabsorption or inactivation of monoamine neurotransmitters, thus
allowing the neurotransmitters to accumulate and remain in contact with
their receptors for prolonged periods of time
Side effects include: constipation, weight gain, low libido, dry mouth

13. MOOD STABILIZERS
A group of drugs used to treat acute episodes of mania and depression and to
prevent relapses of manic, hypomanic, or depressive episodes in patients with
bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder.
Drugs used to stabilize mood work in a variety of ways.
Lithium reduces the excitatory activity of dopamine and glutamate and increases the
inhibitory activity of GABA.
Carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant drug, modulates inhibitory effects of neurons by
altering the activity of voltage-gated ion channels, including those involved in the
conductance of calcium, potassium, and sodium.

15. ANXIOLYTICS
Anti-anxiety medications treat an array of anxiety
disorders. These medications can be used to treat panic
attacks, phobias, generalized anxiety, and various anxiety-
related symptoms.
A variety of substances grouped together based on their
anxiety-reducing properties. Agents of several drug
classes have anxiolytic effects.
1. Benzodiazepines- alprazolam,chlordiazepoxide,
diazepam.
2. Azapirones -Buspirone, Ispapirone, gepirone
3. Beta blockers - Propranalol
4. Sedative antihistaminic - Hydroxyzine

16. SEDATIVE-HYPNOTICS
Sedative-hypnotics are a class of drugs that depress CNS
function, inducing sedation, sleep, and unconsciousness
with increasing dose.
They include benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepine
hypnotics (Z-drugs), barbiturates, and melatonin agonists.
Most sedative-hypnotic drugs increase GABAergic
transmission, except for melatonin agonists, which act on
hypothalamic melatonin receptors.

18. STIMULANTS
Stimulants can be prescribed for a variety of neurological or physiological
conditions e.g for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
narcolepsy, Hyperphagia.
Stimulants encompass a wide variety of prescription and recreational
drugs that are used to enhance arousal and/or alter mood and awareness.
They can have the potential for dependence and substance misuse..

19. SIDE EFFECTS
1. Common side effects result from excessive CNS
depression and include
confusion
somnolence
respiratory depression.
2. Long-term use of sedative-hypnotics is associated with
a risk of tolerance and seizures during withdrawal.

21. SIDE EFFECTS
Most stimulants achieve their desired neuropsychiatric effect by
increasing the concentration of synaptic neurotransmitters in
the central nervous system, but a simultaneous increase of
neurotransmitters in the peripheral nervous system can cause
generalized sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity such as
1. Hypertension, Tachycardia and/or tachyarrhythmias
2. Hyperthermia
3. Tachypnea, Diaphoresis, Mydriasis
4. Psychomotor agitation: anxiety, agitation, psychotic
symptoms, e.g., delusions, hallucinations
5. Seizures and/or dyskinesias
6. hyperactive bowel sounds, nausea, chest pain, abdominal
pain
7. Risk for addiction

22. Risks & Precautions for
Psychotropic
Medications
● Antidepressants: These psychotropic
medications carry an increase in
suicidal thoughts for certain people,
especially younger patients.
● Benzodiazepines: These medications
have a risk of abuse or misuse, risk of
physical dependence, and risk of
serious side effects, including death,
when combined with an opioid.
● Stimulants: These medications have a
serious risk of abuse and misuse.
● Antipsychotics: These medications
can increase the risk of death when
used in elderly patients with
dementia.
Taking a medication that interacts with a
psychotropic medication can be very
dangerous. It can cause severe reactions
with deadly side effects, or cause the
medications not to work as prescribed.
Some common drugs and substances that
can interact with psychotropic medications
include:
● Alcohol
● Opioids
● Serotonergic medications
● Seizure medications
● Asthma medications
Drug Interactions with
Psychotropic
Medications

23. References
MedEd PPD: http://www.mededppd.org/psychiatric-
drugs/
MGH Center for Mental Health:
http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/
National Institute of Mental Health:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-
health-medications/complete-index.shtml