Mental Health
Mental health medicines here span antipsychotics, mood stabilisers and treatments for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression, grouped by what each is used for. Diagnosis, symptom pattern and how a person tolerates a medicine shape what a prescriber chooses.
Lithium Tablets and Capsules
150mg · 300mg
Indicated to address bipolar manic fluctuations to manage clinical mood levels and support psychiatric balance.
Lamictal Dispersible
50mg · 100mg
Designed to support psychological and neural stability to manage mood swings and alleviate epileptic seizures.
Key points
- NICE recommends antipsychotic medication together with psychological interventions such as family intervention and cognitive behavioural therapy for a first episode of psychosis.
- NICE recommends routinely monitoring weight, and cardiovascular and metabolic indicators, in people who take antipsychotic medication for psychosis or schizophrenia.
- NICE treats an acute manic or depressive episode in bipolar disorder differently from long-term relapse prevention.
Medicines for psychosis and schizophrenia
Zyprexa, Risperdal, Abilify, Solian, Geodon, Thorazine, Mellaril, Loxitane and Latuda are antipsychotic medicines for schizophrenia. Abilify contains aripiprazole and, like Geodon, Risperdal and Zyprexa, is also used for bipolar I disorder. Clozaril contains clozapine and is reserved for schizophrenia that has not responded to other antipsychotics, and Thorazine also treats manic episodes and severe behavioural problems. NICE notes that stopping smoking can change how the body processes clozapine and olanzapine.
Medicines for bipolar disorder
Lithium Tablets and Capsules contain lithium carbonate for manic episodes and for longer-term relapse prevention. Valparin contains valproic acid and is also used for seizure disorders. Lamictal Dispersible contains lamotrigine for both bipolar I disorder and epilepsy.
Medicines for anxiety, OCD and depression
Buspar contains buspirone and Atarax contains hydroxyzine; both treat generalised anxiety disorder, and Atarax also treats itching and sedation before surgery. Luvox contains fluvoxamine for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Tofranil contains imipramine for major depressive disorder and for bedwetting.
Two medicines here for different reasons
Axepta contains atomoxetine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a distinct condition from the ones above. Kemadrin contains procyclidine for drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms and parkinsonism, managing a movement problem rather than a mental health condition.
Further reading
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