COMMONLY USED PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS po = by mouth; prn = as needed; qd = 1x/day; bid = 2x/day; tid = 3x/day; qid = 4x/day; qod = every other day; qhs = at bedtime; qac = before meals; = on WalMart’s $4 Rx plan, however not al dosages may be covered IMPORTANT CLINICAL INFORMATION Commonly used Antidepressants and Antianxiety Medications
Start: 100mg bid titrating to 150 mg bid or tid
SR or XL preparation is longer acting (bid dosing)
Seizure risk ; Stimulating; not good for anxiety
Less GI distress than other SSRIs; No clinical CYP 450 interactions
Side effect profile like SSRIs and venlafaxine
Less GI distress than other SSRIs; No clinical CYP 450 interactions
20 – 80mg qam (Start: 10 – 20mg qam)
More stimulating than other SSRIs; Long half life prevents withdrawal
Sedating and appetite promoting; Neutropenia risk (1 in 1000)
20 – 50mg qhs (Start: 10 – 20mg qhs)
Anticholinergic, sedating, withdrawal syndrome
50 – 200mg qam (Start: 25 – 50mg qam )
50 – 150mg qhs for sleep (Start: 25mg qhs)
Commonly used as sleep aid; Priapism risk
Start: 37.5 – 75mg bid with titration to 300 – 375mg daily
XR preparation is longer acting (once daily dosing)
Side effects like SSRIs; HTN and withdrawal risk
Commonly used Antianxiety and Sleep (Hypnotic) Medications
Indicated for panic disorder and anxiety; Equivalent dose: 0.5mg
Start: 0.25 – 0.5mg bid with doses up to 1 – 4mg in panic disorder and up to
Indicated for panic disorder and seizure disorder; Has been effective in mania
Onset: intermediate; Elimination: 18 – 50 hrs; Equivalent dose: 0.25mg
Start: 2 – 10mg bid to qid with doses varying widely based on the reason for
Many indications including anxiety, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, & muscle spasm
Onset: fast; Elimination: 30 – 100 hrs; Equivalent dose: 5mg
Start: 10mg bid or tid for anxiety. Insomnia: start with 15 mg at bedtime.
Indicated for alcohol withdrawal and anxiety; Equivalent dose: 15mg Indicated for insomnia, anxiety, pre-anesthesia, and status epilepticus
Safer in liver disease; Equivalent dose: 1mg
Start: 1 – 2mg at bedtime titrated to 3mg
Approved for long term use; no evidence of dependence over six month treatment
Essentially like zolpidem; Has a very short half life of one hour.
Melatonin receptor agonist; Appears safe for long term use in insomnia
Commonly used Antimanic Medications (Mood Stabilizers)
Start: 150 – 300mg bid with doses up to 1200 – 1500mg daily based on renal
Black box warning: toxicity and the need to check levels; Level established (0.5 - 1.2 meq/L)
Start: 250mg bid with end dose of 1000 – 2000mg divided bid
Black box warning: hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis, and teratogenicity; Therapeutic levels (80-120mcg/mL)
Start: 25mg daily for two weeks then 50mg daily for two weeks with a final
Commonly used Antipsychotic Medications
Hyperprolactinemia common; Decanoate (injection) preparation available.
Start: 0.5 – 1mg qhs or bid titrating to 4 – 6mg daily or bid
Orally dissolvable tablet excellent for acute agitation
Start: 5 – 10mg daily titrating to 15 – 30mg daily once or divided bid
Sedation, weight gain, and metabolic complications are common.
Start: 20mg bid titrating to 400 – 600mg daily divided bid (max dose:
Very sedating with a low incidence of extrapyramidal side effects.
Start: 20mg bid titrating to 40 – 80mg bid
Start:10 – 15mg daily titrating to 15 – 30mg daily
May have less metabolic complications than other atypicals
Also has an indication for bipolar disorder
Start: 12.5 daily or bid titrating slowly to 300-450mg daily in divided doses
Most effective antipsychotic for treatment refractory patients
Agranulocytosis, orthostasis, tachycardia, weight gain, and drooling Classic typical, high potency neuroleptic. Causes Parkinsonian symptoms (EPS).
Start: 0.5 to 5mg daily or bid titrating to 5- 20 mg daily
Comes in an elixir and can be given PO, IM. Long acting (depot) form available.
Start: 1mg at bedtime (titrate slowly as needed to effect)
Orthostatic hypertension– Patient should move slowly from resting to standing
COMMONLY USED PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS po = by mouth; prn = as needed; qd = 1x/day; bid = 2x/day; tid = 3x/day; qid = 4x/day; qod = every other day; qhs = at bedtime; qac = before meals; = on WalMart’s $4 Rx plan, however not al dosages may be covered IMPORTANT CLINICAL INFORMATION Commonly used Antidepressants and Antianxiety Medications
Start: 100mg bid titrating to 150 mg bid or tid
SR or XL preparation is longer acting (bid dosing)
Seizure risk ; Stimulating; not good for anxiety
Less GI distress than other SSRIs; No clinical CYP 450 interactions
Side effect profile like SSRIs and venlafaxine
Less GI distress than other SSRIs; No clinical CYP 450 interactions
20 – 80mg qam (Start: 10 – 20mg qam)
More stimulating than other SSRIs; Long half life prevents withdrawal
Sedating and appetite promoting; Neutropenia risk (1 in 1000)
20 – 50mg qhs (Start: 10 – 20mg qhs)
Anticholinergic, sedating, withdrawal syndrome
50 – 200mg qam (Start: 25 – 50mg qam )
50 – 150mg qhs for sleep (Start: 25mg qhs)
Commonly used as sleep aid; Priapism risk
Start: 37.5 – 75mg bid with titration to 300 – 375mg daily
XR preparation is longer acting (once daily dosing)
Side effects like SSRIs; HTN and withdrawal risk
Commonly used Antianxiety and Sleep (Hypnotic) Medications
Indicated for panic disorder and anxiety; Equivalent dose: 0.5mg
Start: 0.25 – 0.5mg bid with doses up to 1 – 4mg in panic disorder and up to
Indicated for panic disorder and seizure disorder; Has been effective in mania
Onset: intermediate; Elimination: 18 – 50 hrs; Equivalent dose: 0.25mg
Start: 2 – 10mg bid to qid with doses varying widely based on the reason for
Many indications including anxiety, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, & muscle spasm
Onset: fast; Elimination: 30 – 100 hrs; Equivalent dose: 5mg
Start: 10mg bid or tid for anxiety. Insomnia: start with 15 mg at bedtime.
Indicated for alcohol withdrawal and anxiety; Equivalent dose: 15mg Indicated for insomnia, anxiety, pre-anesthesia, and status epilepticus
Safer in liver disease; Equivalent dose: 1mg
Start: 1 – 2mg at bedtime titrated to 3mg
Approved for long term use; no evidence of dependence over six month treatment
Essentially like zolpidem; Has a very short half life of one hour.
Melatonin receptor agonist; Appears safe for long term use in insomnia
Commonly used Antimanic Medications (Mood Stabilizers)
Start: 150 – 300mg bid with doses up to 1200 – 1500mg daily based on renal
Black box warning: toxicity and the need to check levels; Level established (0.5 - 1.2 meq/L)
Start: 250mg bid with end dose of 1000 – 2000mg divided bid
Black box warning: hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis, and teratogenicity; Therapeutic levels (80-120mcg/mL)
Start: 25mg daily for two weeks then 50mg daily for two weeks with a final
Commonly used Antipsychotic Medications
Hyperprolactinemia common; Decanoate (injection) preparation available.
Start: 0.5 – 1mg qhs or bid titrating to 4 – 6mg daily or bid
Orally dissolvable tablet excellent for acute agitation
Start: 5 – 10mg daily titrating to 15 – 30mg daily once or divided bid
Sedation, weight gain, and metabolic complications are common.
Start: 20mg bid titrating to 400 – 600mg daily divided bid (max dose:
Very sedating with a low incidence of extrapyramidal side effects.
Start: 20mg bid titrating to 40 – 80mg bid
Start:10 – 15mg daily titrating to 15 – 30mg daily
May have less metabolic complications than other atypicals
Also has an indication for bipolar disorder
Start: 12.5 daily or bid titrating slowly to 300-450mg daily in divided doses
Most effective antipsychotic for treatment refractory patients
Agranulocytosis, orthostasis, tachycardia, weight gain, and drooling Classic typical, high potency neuroleptic. Causes Parkinsonian symptoms (EPS).
Start: 0.5 to 5mg daily or bid titrating to 5- 20 mg daily
Comes in an elixir and can be given PO, IM. Long acting (depot) form available.
Start: 1mg at bedtime (titrate slowly as needed to effect)
Orthostatic hypertension– Patient should move slowly from resting to standing
Provide d by Mental H ealth Infrastructure a nd Train ing (MHIT) Project an d REACH NOLA (w ww.reac hno la.org)
MAXIMUM THERAPEUTIC DOSES (mg PER DAY) OF
(Medication "failures" are often due to inadequate dosing*)
*Treat at the maximum tolerated therapeutic dose for 6 to 8 weeks before switching.
• Dangerous interactions with other necessary medications
• It was never "indicated" to begin with (wrong diagnosis or wrong medicine for diagnosis)
• It has been at the maximum therapeutic dose for 6 to 8 weeks with no results
Originally created by Alex Thompson, MD, MPH, MBA and Stephen Thielke, MD, MPH
MAXIMUM THERAPEUTIC DOSES (mg PER DAY) OF
(Medication "failures" are often due to inadequate dosing*)
*Treat at the maximum tolerated therapeutic dose for 6 to 8 weeks before switching.
• Dangerous interactions with other necessary medications
• It was never "indicated" to begin with (wrong diagnosis or wrong medicine for diagnosis)
• It has been at the maximum therapeutic dose for 6 to 8 weeks with no results
Originally created by Alex Thompson, MD, MPH, MBA and Stephen Thielke, MD, MPH
Provide d by Mental H ealth Infrastructure a nd Train ing (MHIT) Project an d REACH NOLA (w ww.reac hno la.org)
Stress and Overeating: Does stress make you gain weight? Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist Does stress make you gain weight? For some of us it may. When we are under stressful situations, we tend to grab the worst foods possible, and lots of it. Typical foods we indulge in include those high in simple sugars such as sodas, candy, cakes; and easy, high fat foods such as fast fo
Student Medication Form “Medication” is any substance a person takes to maintain and/or improve his or her health. This includes vitamins & natural remedies. Provide enough of each medication to last the entire time the student will be at St. John’s College. The following guidelines pertain to administering medications: 1.) Written parent/guardian permission is requir