Psychiatry

30 source-linked study cards in this body system.

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Drug classes in this body system

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Sertraline · Escitalopram · Fluoxetine · Citalopram · Paroxetine

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

Duloxetine · Venlafaxine · Desvenlafaxine

Benzodiazepines

Alprazolam · Lorazepam · Diazepam

How each medicine works

Medicines in this body system: 30 · in a drug class: 11 · drug classes: 3

Sertraline — Potentiates serotonergic activity in the CNS by inhibiting neuronal reuptake of serotonin (5-HT).

Escitalopram — The S-enantiomer of citalopram inhibits neuronal serotonin reuptake. Its antidepressant action is presumed to relate to increased serotonergic activity in the CNS.

Bupropion — Relatively weak inhibitor of neuronal norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake; does not inhibit serotonin reuptake or monoamine oxidase.

Fluoxetine — Exact mechanism unknown; presumed linked to inhibition of CNS neuronal uptake of serotonin.

Trazodone — Inhibits serotonin reuptake and antagonizes 5HT2 receptors. Its antidepressant mechanism is not fully understood; enhancement of CNS serotonergic activity is a proposed explanation.

Amphetamine / Dextroamphetamine — Non-catecholamine sympathomimetic amines with CNS stimulant activity; mode of therapeutic action in ADHD is not known.

Duloxetine — Exact mechanism unknown; believed to potentiate serotonergic and noradrenergic activity in the CNS.

Hydroxyzine — Not a cortical depressant; action may be due to suppression of key subcortical CNS regions; antihistaminic effects demonstrated.

Buspirone — Mechanism is unknown. Preclinical studies show high 5-HT1A receptor affinity; buspirone also has moderate D2 affinity, no significant benzodiazepine-receptor affinity and no effect on GABA binding in the tested preclinical models.

Alprazolam — Binds the benzodiazepine site of GABA-A receptors, enhancing GABA-mediated synaptic inhibition.

Citalopram — Presumed to potentiate CNS serotonergic activity by inhibiting neuronal reuptake of serotonin (5-HT).

Venlafaxine — Thought to potentiate serotonin and norepinephrine in the CNS by inhibiting their reuptake.

Zolpidem — GABA-A positive modulator presumed to act through the benzodiazepine site of alpha1-containing GABA-A receptors, increasing chloride-channel opening frequency and inhibiting neuronal excitation.

Methylphenidate — Blocks reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine into presynaptic neurons and increases their release; therapeutic mode in ADHD unknown.

Lorazepam — Binds the benzodiazepine site of GABA-A receptors in the brain, enhancing GABA-mediated synaptic inhibition.

Quetiapine — Mechanism unclear; efficacy may be mediated by combined dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2 receptor antagonism.

Paroxetine — Presumed to potentiate CNS serotonergic activity by inhibiting neuronal reuptake of serotonin (5-HT).

Amitriptyline — Inhibits norepinephrine and serotonin uptake in adrenergic and serotonergic neurons. Its mechanism of antidepressant action in humans is not known; reuptake inhibition is a proposed explanation.

Mirtazapine — May act by antagonizing central presynaptic alpha-2 adrenergic autoreceptors and heteroreceptors, enhancing noradrenergic and serotonergic activity.

Aripiprazole — May act through partial agonism at D2 and 5-HT1A receptors and antagonism at 5-HT2A receptors.

Lisdexamfetamine — Prodrug of dextroamphetamine, a non-catecholamine sympathomimetic amine with CNS stimulant activity.

Dexmethylphenidate — CNS stimulant; the mode of therapeutic action in ADHD is not known.

Diazepam — A benzodiazepine that interacts at GABA-A sites; most clinical effects are thought to result from facilitation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.

Atomoxetine — Thought to act by selective inhibition of the presynaptic norepinephrine transporter.

Doxepin — Mechanism in sleep maintenance unclear; effect may be mediated through H1 receptor antagonism.

Olanzapine — Mechanism is unclear; efficacy in schizophrenia may involve combined dopamine and serotonin 5-HT2 antagonism.

Risperidone — Mechanism is unclear; activity in schizophrenia may involve combined dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2 receptor antagonism.

Nortriptyline — Mechanism of mood elevation unknown; appears to interfere with transport, release and storage of catecholamines.

Desvenlafaxine — Thought to potentiate serotonin and norepinephrine in the CNS by inhibiting their reuptake; a potent, selective SNRI.

Lithium — Mechanism of action as a mood stabilizer is unknown.

Each summary is the mechanism line from the medicine’s study card.

Listed most often on cards in this body system

Increased risk of bleeding · 3/30: Sertraline, Escitalopram, Paroxetine

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome · 3/30: Quetiapine, Aripiprazole, Risperidone

Interactions

MAOIs · 6/30: Bupropion, Fluoxetine, Trazodone, Amphetamine / Dextroamphetamine, Duloxetine, Amitriptyline

MAO inhibitors · 4/30: Buspirone, Citalopram, Venlafaxine, Doxepin

Opioids · 4/30: Alprazolam, Zolpidem, Lorazepam, Diazepam

MAOIs (contraindicated) · 4/30: Paroxetine, Mirtazapine, Lisdexamfetamine, Atomoxetine

Other serotonergic drugs · 3/30: Venlafaxine, Mirtazapine, Desvenlafaxine

Boxed warning

27/30: Sertraline, Escitalopram, Bupropion, Fluoxetine, Trazodone, Amphetamine / Dextroamphetamine, Duloxetine, Alprazolam, Citalopram, Venlafaxine (+17)

Same boxed-warning wording on: Sertraline, Escitalopram, Trazodone

Same boxed-warning wording on: Bupropion, Fluoxetine, Duloxetine

Same boxed-warning wording on: Alprazolam, Lorazepam

Same boxed-warning wording on: Citalopram, Venlafaxine

Same boxed-warning wording on: Paroxetine, Mirtazapine

Same boxed-warning wording on: Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline

Same boxed-warning wording on: Lisdexamfetamine, Dexmethylphenidate

Same boxed-warning wording on: Olanzapine, Risperidone

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.