and i found this about medications:
Antidepressants
These are one of the most commonly prescribed groups of drugs for mental illness. They not only reduce depression in people who are experience long-term or major depressive episodes, they also help prevent future episodes.
These medications are most often used to treat people who have been diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder (manic-depression). But they may also be prescribed to people who suffer from other mental illnesses, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder, as these illnesses may be accompanied by depression.
Below are the brand names of some commonly prescribed antidepressants:
- Anafranil
- Celexa
- Desyrel
- Effexor
- Elavil
- Luvox
- Nardil
- Norpramine
- Pamelor
- Parnate
- Paxil
- Prozac
- Reboxetine
- Remeron
- Serzone
- Surmontil
- Tofranil
- Vivactil
- Wellbutrin
- Zoloft
Anti-Anxiety Agents (also known as tranquilizers):
These medications reduce anxiety, worry, nervousness and panic, including physical symptoms of anxiety such as dizziness, rapid breathing, nausea, and sweating.
Unfortunately, these medications are physically addictive, which is why they are prescribed only for people diagnosed with extreme cases of anxiety. They are most often prescribed to people diagnosed with depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and various personality disorders.
Below are the brand names of some commonly prescribed anti-anxiety agents:
- Ativan
- Xanax
- Klonopin (may also be used to reduce manic episodes)
- Valium
- Librium
- Tranxene
Antipsychotics (also known as major tranquilizers):
These medications reduce psychotic symptoms (such as hearing voices or delusional thinking) and reduce agitation. Some kinds may also act like mood stabilizers (see description of mood stabilizers below). They are most often prescribed for people suffering from schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder and depression.
Below are the brand names of some commonly prescribed antipsychotics:
- Clozaril
- Haldol
- Mellaril
- Moban
- Navane
- Orap
- Prolixin
- Risperdal
- Seroquel
- Stelazine
- Thorazine
- Trilafon
- Zyprexa
Mood Stabilizers
These medications help stabilize emotions in people who suffer from extreme highs (such as 'manic' episodes) and lows (such as clinical depression). They are most often prescribed to people who suffer from bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and various personality disorders. Below are the brand names of some commonly prescribed mood stabilizers:
- Carbatrol
- Cibalith (lithium)
- Depakote/Depakene
- Eskalith/Eskalith-CR (lithium)
- Lithobid (lithium)
- Lithonate (lithium)
- Lithotabs (lithium)
- Tegretol
Psychostimulants (often prescribed for ADHD)
These medications help people pay attention and control extreme impulsive behavior (such as uncontrollable talking or fidgeting). Although they are 'stimulants', this group of drugs helps people with mental illnesses gain control by increasing activity in the part of the brain that exercises control. They are most often prescribed to people who have been diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or narcolepsy (the inability to stay awake.)
Below are the brand names of some commonly prescribed psychostimulants:
- Adderall
- Catapres (this drug is a hypertensive primarily used for people with high blood pressure, but sometimes it can be used to treat the symptoms of ADHD)
- Concerta
- Cylert
- Desoxyn
- Dexedrine
- DextroStat
- Metadate
- Methylin
- Ritalin/Ritalin-SR