Psychiatric Drug Introduction Psychiatric medications can be broken down into the following categories antidepressants antipsychotics bipolar medications anxiolytics Overview Drugs fluoxetine paroxetine sertraline citalopram fluvoxamine Mechanism serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) takes 2-3 weeks for antidepressants to have an effect should try for at least 6 weeks prior to this time, persistence of symptoms indicates inadequate trial Clinical use depression OCD bulimia social phobias Toxicity much milder than other depression therapies anxiety, agitation, insomnia weight gain GI distress sexual dysfunction (anorgasmia) serotonin syndrome diagnose using using the Hunter Serotonin Toxicity Criteria login to view 6 more bullets characterized by autonomic instability (HR changes, sweating, shivering, flushing), mental status changes treatment includes: login to view 4 more bullets risk factors login to view 3 more bullets