Psychiatric medication guide.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors — the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. First-line treatment for depression and most anxiety disorders.

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors — work on both serotonin and norepinephrine. Often helpful for pain, fatigue, and anxiety in addition to depression.

Antidepressants that don't fit neatly into SSRI/SNRI categories — often used for specific symptom profiles or as augmentation.

Tricyclic Antidepressants — an older class with strong evidence, often used for treatment-resistant depression, chronic pain, migraines, and OCD when newer medications haven't worked.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors — powerful antidepressants usually reserved for treatment-resistant cases due to dietary restrictions and drug interactions.

Used primarily for bipolar disorder to prevent mood episodes. Some are also used for augmentation in treatment-resistant depression.

Used for psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and as augmentation for depression and anxiety when other treatments have been insufficient.

First-line treatment for ADHD. Controlled substances requiring ongoing monitoring. Highly effective when appropriately prescribed.

Non-controlled ADHD medications. Slower onset than stimulants but valuable when stimulants are contraindicated, poorly tolerated, or ineffective.

Medications used specifically for anxiety. Includes non-habit-forming options as well as controlled substances used carefully for acute symptoms.

Medications prescribed specifically for insomnia. Includes multiple classes with different mechanisms, risk profiles, and appropriate use cases.

Medications that enhance the effects of primary treatments, address specific symptoms, or serve specialized purposes in psychiatric care.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) medications are FDA-approved to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). They reduce cravings, prevent relapse, and improve outcomes when combined with counseling.

Medications used to treat Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. They do not stop disease progression but can temporarily improve or stabilize cognitive symptoms and daily functioning.

First-generation (typical) antipsychotics — the original class developed in the 1950s–60s. They primarily block dopamine D2 receptors and are highly effective for psychosis, but carry a higher risk of movement side effects (EPS) than newer antipsychotics.

Recently FDA-approved medications and emerging treatments that represent advances in psychiatric pharmacology — including fast-acting, novel-mechanism options for treatment-resistant conditions.