Psychotropic Drugs: Types, Effects, Indications, Dosage

Products

Psychotropic drugs are commercially available, for example, in the form of tablets, melting tablets, dragées, capsules, drops, solutions and as injectables. The first psychotropic drugs were developed in the 1950s.

Structure and properties

Psychotropic drugs vary chemically, but groups with a common structure can be identified, for example, the benzodiazepines, the phenothiazines, and the tricyclic antidepressants.

Effects

Psychotropic drugs are medicines that have an effect on the psyche of humans. For example, they are effective against depression, sleep disorders, and psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders, psychosis, and agitation. The effects are based on interaction with various neurotransmitter systems, for example, norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, GABA and histamine. They inhibit the reuptake of the substances into the presynaptic neuron or they interact with the neurotransmitter receptors as agonists or antagonists. They may also act at synaptic vesicles and block ion channels on neurons.

Indications

Indications for psychotropic drugs include mental illness (selection):

  • Anxiety disorders
  • Panic, states of agitation
  • Depression
  • Psychoses, schizophrenias, mania
  • Sleep disorders
  • Burnout
  • Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Dosage

According to the professional information. The drugs are usually taken perorally. Some may also be injected parenterally. Therapy is usually started gradually and the dose is adjusted individually. With rapid discontinuation, withdrawal symptoms may occur. Therefore, therapy should be discontinued gradually.

Active Substances

Drug groups:

  • Antidepressants
  • Anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications)
  • Tranquilizers (sedatives, tranquilizers).
  • Neuroleptics (antipsychotics)
  • Sleeping pills (hypnotics)
  • Mood stabilizers (mood stabilizers).
  • Stimulants (stimulants)

Abuse

Some psychotropic drugs can be abused as intoxicants because of their depressant, euphoric, antianxiety, or stimulant properties. Examples are listed below:

Contraindications

Full precautions can be found in the drug label.

Interactions

Psychotropic drugs are susceptible to drug-drug interactions. Many are substrates of CYP450 isoenzymes and may prolong the QT interval. Combining centrally depressant drugs is potentially dangerous.

Adverse effects

Psychotropic drugs can potentially cause numerous adverse effects. These include (general selection):

  • Central side effects such as fatigue, drowsiness, dullness, headache, dizziness.
  • Digestive problems such as diarrhea and constipation.
  • Dry mouth
  • Increase in appetite, overweight
  • Cardiovascular disorders, prolongation of the QT interval, cardiac arrhythmias.
  • Movement disorders (extrapyramidal symptoms).
  • Respiratory disorders, respiratory depression
  • Serotonin syndrome
  • Psychiatric disorders, paradoxical reactions
  • Visual disturbances: Double vision, blurred vision
  • Blood count disorders

Some psychotropic drugs can be addictive and cause addiction. This is not true for all representatives.