A
number of medications intended to treat psychiatric disorders are
themselves capable of causing psychiatric adverse effects.
Unfortunately, these medication-induced adverse effects can be mistaken
for a lack of therapeutic efficacy, leading to increased dose
prescribing, leading to even more adverse effects. In addition, a
number of medications not intended to treat psychiatric disorders are
capable of causing psychiatric adverse effects. Following are some
general categories of medications that fall into these categories.
|
Indication |
Severe Adverse Effect |
|
Accutane |
cystic acne |
depression, headaches, psychosis, seizures, suicide |
|
Adderall |
attention deficit, hyperactivity |
depression, seizures |
|
Ambien (zolpidem) |
insomnia |
amnesia, anxiety, cognitive impairment, depression, drowsiness,
sleepwalking, sleep driving, worsening of depression, suicidal
thoughts. |
|
Chantix |
smoking cessation |
suicidal thoughts |
|
estrogen |
hormone deficiency, regulation of menstruation |
depression |
|
Duragesic (fentanyl) |
pain control |
Somnolence, insomnia, confusion, asthenia, dizziness,
nervousness, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, euphoria,
tremor, abnormal coordination, speech disorder, abnormal
thinking, abnormal gait, abnormal dreams, agitation, paresthesia,
amnesia, syncope, paranoid reaction |
|
Interferons |
viral hepatitis |
agitation, depression, headache, suicidal thought, drug-seeking
behavior |
|
Lariam |
malaria |
depression, psychosis |
|
Lamictal |
bipolar disorder, seizure disorder |
depression |
|
Lupron GnRH |
children with central precocious puberty, advanced prostate
cancer |
Memory disorder, Mood swings, Nervousness |
|
Meridia (sibutramine) |
obesity |
depression |
|
Reglan |
gastric dysmotility |
depression, suicidal thought |
|
SSRI: Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft |
depression |
aggitation, irritability, seizures, psychosis, suicide |
|
Reserpine |
hypertension |
Anorexia, Dizziness, Nausea, Vomiting, Concentration Difficulty,
Nervousness, Nightmares |
|
Xanax |
anxiety disorders |
Agitation, mental confusion, depression, headache, irritability,
nervousness, slurred speech, sleep disturbances, euphoria,
lethargy, stupor. |
|
