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Medications Can Cause Psych Adverse Effects

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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 catageories of medications that fall into these categories.

Medication
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.