Antidepressants
Includes SSRIs, SNRIs, and other antidepressants. They may be used for depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, and other conditions.
Examples: sertraline, fluoxetine, escitalopram, duloxetine, bupropion.Medication literacy
Mental health medications: a safer starting point
Learn broad medication categories, useful questions, and habits that support safer conversations with a prescriber or pharmacist.
Do not start, stop, skip, combine, or change a psychiatric medication based on this website.
Medication choice depends on diagnosis, age, pregnancy status, medical conditions, other drugs and supplements, side effects, and personal history. Contact your prescriber or pharmacist for individual advice.
Overview
Common medication categories
Examples are included for recognition only—not as recommendations.
Anti-anxiety medications
Includes buspirone and benzodiazepines. Benefits, sedation, dependence risk, and treatment duration should be discussed carefully.
Examples: buspirone, lorazepam, clonazepam.Mood stabilizers
Used in bipolar disorder and selected other situations. Some require blood tests, pregnancy precautions, or organ-function monitoring.
Examples: lithium, valproate, lamotrigine.Antipsychotic medications
Used for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, and sometimes depression or severe agitation. Monitoring may include weight and metabolic health.
Examples: aripiprazole, quetiapine, risperidone, olanzapine.ADHD medications
Includes stimulant and non-stimulant options. Heart health, sleep, appetite, substance-use risk, and other medications matter.
Examples: methylphenidate, amphetamine salts, atomoxetine, guanfacine.Sleep medications
Some are approved for insomnia; others are used off-label. Ask about next-day impairment, duration, interactions, and behavioral sleep treatment.
Examples vary by cause and individual health.Better questions
Ask before you leave the appointment
- What is this intended to help, and how will we know it is working?
- When might benefits begin, and what should I do while waiting?
- Which side effects are common, urgent, or likely to improve?
- What interactions matter with alcohol, cannabis, OTC drugs, or supplements?
- What monitoring or lab tests are needed?
- What should I do after a missed dose?
- How would we taper or stop safely if appropriate?
Medication list
Stored only in this browser. Do not include information you do not want saved on this device.
Use official drug information
Check the FDA medication guide and MedlinePlus drug information, then discuss what you find with a pharmacist or prescriber.