Psychiatric Medications

Anti-Anxiety Medications

Several medication classes are used to manage anxiety disorders, each with different mechanisms, timelines, and appropriate use cases.

• Buspirone — a non-habit-forming option for generalized anxiety disorder that works gradually over several weeks
• Benzodiazepines — fast-acting medications for acute anxiety and panic; used short term due to tolerance and dependence risk. Examples include lorazepam and clonazepam.
• Beta-blockers — used for situational anxiety such as performance anxiety; they address physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat and trembling
• SSRIs and SNRIs — also first-line treatments for most anxiety disorders when long-term management is needed

Mood Stabilizers

Mood stabilizers are primarily used to treat bipolar disorder, helping to prevent or reduce the severity of manic and depressive episodes. They are also used as adjunctive treatments for depression and other mood conditions.

• Lithium — one of the most studied and effective mood stabilizers, used for both acute mania and long-term bipolar maintenance; requires regular blood monitoring
• Valproate (Depakote) — effective for mania and mixed episodes; also used in epilepsy treatment
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal) — particularly effective for the depressive phase of bipolar disorder and often well tolerated
• Carbamazepine and Oxcarbazepine — additional anticonvulsant medications used as mood stabilizers in certain patients

Antipsychotic Medications

Antipsychotics are used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and other conditions involving psychosis or severe mood instability.

• Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics — the most commonly prescribed class today, including medications such as quetiapine, aripiprazole, risperidone, olanzapine, and lurasidone. Used for psychosis, bipolar disorder, and as adjunctive treatment for depression.
• First-generation (typical) antipsychotics — older medications such as haloperidol that remain useful in certain clinical situations
• Clozapine — reserved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia; highly effective but requires close monitoring due to a rare but serious side effect profile

Stimulants and Non-Stimulant ADHD Medications

ADHD medications are used to improve attention, reduce impulsivity, and support executive functioning in both adults and adolescents.

• Stimulants — the most effective class for ADHD, including amphetamine-based medications (Adderall, Vyvanse) and methylphenidate-based medications (Ritalin, Concerta). They work quickly and are highly effective for most patients.
• Non-stimulants — options for patients who do not tolerate stimulants or prefer a non-controlled medication. Include atomoxetine (Strattera), guanfacine (Intuniv), and bupropion.

Sleep Medications

Psychiatric sleep medications are used when insomnia is related to a mental health condition or when other interventions have not been sufficient.

• Low-dose trazodone or mirtazapine — antidepressants with sedating properties often used off-label for sleep
• Quetiapine at low doses — sometimes used for sleep in patients with mood or anxiety disorders
• Orexin receptor antagonists — newer sleep medications such as suvorexant (Belsomra) that work by blocking wakefulness signals
• Short-term sleep aids — including zolpidem and eszopiclone, used carefully and for limited durations due to dependence risk

Medications for Substance Use Disorders

Several medications are FDA-approved to support recovery from opioid, alcohol, and tobacco use disorders as part of a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program. These include buprenorphine, naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram, and nicotine replacement therapies. Learn more on our Medication-Assisted Treatment page.