A mental health medication is any medication used to help treat a mental health condition, reduce the symptoms of a mental health condition, or prevent a mental health condition from returning. Mental health medications are usually used in combination with other treatments like talk therapy. There is a wide range of medications used to treat mental health issues, and each one has its own combination of uses and side-effects. 

Building your understanding of mental health medications can help you make more informed choices when it comes to your mental health treatment. This article contains basic information about mental health medication, but it doesn’t cover all medications available and should not be used to make medical decisions. If you are making decisions about mental health medication, this should be done through consultation with a professional like a GP or psychiatrist. 

How are mental health medications prescribed?

Mental health medications can only be prescribed by a psychiatrist or a medical doctor like your GP. Your medical professional will take a number of factors into account when deciding if they will recommend medication as part of your treatment plan. This will include things like what mental health issues you are facing, what symptoms you are experiencing, how long you’ve been experiencing these symptoms, symptom severity, how your life is being affected, and your broader medical history. 

Mental health medications affect people in different ways. This means that you could react differently, or be more/less sensitive to a particular medication compared to others who are experiencing similar symptoms. It often takes some time to find the right medication and dosage to suit your needs. When you are first prescribed medication for your mental health, your doctor will often monitor how helpful the medication is and whether or not you’re experiencing any side-effects. This process can take time because some medications only start having an effect after you’ve been taking them for a period of time. If the medication isn’t working as well as expected, they may tweak the dosage or try a different medication instead, or in combination with the one you’re already on. 

How do mental health medications work?

Mental health medications work by changing the levels of a group of chemicals in the brain that help carry brain signals. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters have an influence on mood, emotions, and thinking.

Although mental health medications work by changing the levels of chemicals in the brain, researchers still aren’t sure how these processes work and it doesn’t mean that mental health conditions are caused by imbalances of these chemicals. Mental health medications can be helpful in reducing the symptoms of mental health conditions, but they don’t always address their underlying causes. For that reason, these medications are usually best used alongside other treatments such as therapy.

Will I have to take mental health medication my whole life?

Everyone interacts differently with mental health medications, so it can take time to tailor your medication treatment to your needs. Sometimes, mental health medication is used for a short-term to help someone get over an immediate mental health crisis. In other circumstances, medications are used as a long-term treatment to help someone manage mental health symptoms. For many people, mental health medication allows them to live the lives they want to live without being restricted by symptoms of mental health conditions.

Types of mental health medications

Learning about mental health medications can be really confusing at first. There are many different mental health medications out there, there are new ones being developed all the time, and the same medication can be known by different names. Every medication has a generic name, but they can also be known by the brand name of the company that manufactures them. For example, paracetamol can also be known as the brand name Panadol. 

Some mental health medications are made by several manufacturers, which means the same medication can be known by multiple different brand names, depending on who made it.  Understanding how mental health medications get their names and being aware that sometimes people will use different names to refer to the same medication can be helpful if you are discussing medications with your GP or mental health professional.   

Depending on their effects and what types of mental health issues they are used to treat, most mental health medications can be divided into four main categories: antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, anti-psychotic medication, and mood stabilisers.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are a group of medications used to treat clinical depression or prevent it from recurring. While they are called antidepressants, these medications can also be used to treat other conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain.

Do antidepressants work?

There is good evidence that antidepressants help ease the symptoms of depression and other mental health conditions for many people. These medications appear to be more effective for people who have severe depression and not as effective in cases of mild depression.

How long do I have to take antidepressants?

A course of antidepressant treatment often lasts around 6 months. Some people who have a previous history of depression take them for 2 years or longer, while others take them indefinitely.

Antidepressants can take a number of weeks before they start being effective. Different antidepressants can have a range of different side effects. The most common side effects are usually mild, happen in this initial adjustment period, and wear off quickly. Sometimes, side effects can persist for longer. If you are experiencing side effects, or have still not felt any benefits after 4 weeks, speak to your GP or mental health professional. 

What are the different types of antidepressants?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used to treat symptoms of anxiety. Common SSRIs are listed below by their generic names, with brand names in brackets: 

• Fluoxetine (Prozac, Gerozac, Prozamel) 
• Citalopram (Cipramil, Ciprotan, Citrol, Escriprex, Escitalopram, Escitalpro, Lexapro) 
• Paroxetine (Parox, Seroxat) 
• Sertraline (Depreger, Lustral, Seretral, Serimel, Serlan).

Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are like SSRIs. There is evidence that SNRIs can be a more effective antidepressant than SSRIs for some people, while others respond better to SSRIs. Common SNRIs are listed below by their generic names, with brand names in brackets:

• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Venlafaxine (Efexor, Ireven, Majoven, Vedixal, Venex, Venlablue, Venlaflex, Venlatev).

Noradrenaline and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NASSAs) are sometimes prescribed for people who can’t take SSRIs. The side effects of NASSAs are like those of SSRIs. They also may also make you drowsy at first. Common NASSAs are listed below by their generic names, with brand names in brackets:

• Mirtazapine, (Mirap, Zismirt, Zispin)

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are an older type of antidepressant. They’re no longer recommended as a first-line treatment for depression. This is because they can be more dangerous if you take an overdose. They also cause more unpleasant side effects than SSRIs and SNRIs. They are still sometimes used for people who have severe depression that doesn’t respond to other treatments. Common TCAs are listed below by their generic names, with brand names in brackets:

• Amitriptyline (Astilin) 
• Clomipramine (Anafranil) 
• Imipramine (Surmontil)

Anti-anxiety medication

Anti-anxiety medications are a group of medications used to treat symptoms of anxiety conditions like panic attacks and extreme fear and worry, or prevent them from recurring. Many of the medications used to treat depression, like SSRIs and SNRIs, are also used to treat anxiety.

Does anti-anxiety medication work?

For many people, anti-anxiety medication is an effective tool that helps them manage anxiety symptoms and improve their quality of life. Not everyone will respond to these medications in the same ways and they are not suitable for everyone. Some people will experience side effects or won’t experience a reduction in their anxiety.  

How long do I have to take anti-anxiety medication?

Some types of anti-anxiety medications, like SSRIs and SNRIs, can be prescribed in courses lasting around 6 months. These medications can also be taken for longer periods if needed, and usually take a few weeks of daily use before becoming effective.  

Other types of anti-anxiety medications, like benzodiazepines, are used to treat short-term symptoms of anxiety and aren’t designed to be taken for an extended period of time because people can become tolerant or dependent on them. You might have medications like these prescribed as pro re nata (PRN), which means you take them as needed rather than following a regular schedule of taking them. 

Different anti-anxiety medications can have a range of different side effects. The most common side effects are usually mild, happen in the first few weeks, and wear off quickly. Sometimes, side effects can persist for longer. If you are experiencing side effects, speak to your GP or mental health professional.

What are the different types of anti-anxiety medication?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used to treat symptoms of anxiety. Common SSRIs are listed below by their generic names, with brand names in brackets: 

• Fluoxetine (Prozac) 
• Citalopram (Ciprotan, Citrol, Esciprex, Escitalopram, Escitalpro, Lexapro) 
• Paroxetine (Parox, Seroxat) 
• Sertraline (Depreger, Lustral, Seretral, Serimel, Serlan).

Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are like SSRIs. There is evidence that SNRIs can be a more effective antidepressant than SSRIs for some people, while others respond better to SSRIs. Common SNRIs are listed below by their generic names, with brand names in brackets:

• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Venlafaxine (Efexor, Ireven, Majoven, Vedixal, Venex, Venlablue, Venlaflex, Venlatev).

Pregabalin is another medication that is used to treat anxiety symptoms. This medication can be prescribed to people who don’t respond well to SSRIs and SNRIs. This medication is also used to treat conditions like epilepsy. Pregabalin can be sold under the brand name Lyrica.

Benzodiazepines are a type of sedative that can sometimes be prescribed to treat severe symptoms of anxiety for a short period. These drugs act very quickly, taking 30-90 minutes to start easing anxiety. Benzodiazepines can be addictive if they are used for too long, so they usually aren’t prescribed for any longer than 2-4 weeks at a time. The most common benzodiazepine is diazepam, which is sometimes sold under the name Anxicalm.

Anti-psychotic medication

Anti-psychotic medicines are used to treat symptoms of psychosis like hallucinations and delusions. 

Does anti-psychotic medication work?

Anti-psychotic medications help many people recover from psychosis and live the lives they want to live by reducing and controlling their psychotic symptoms. They are not suitable or effective for everyone. These medications can come with side effects which can affect people differently. In some cases, these side effects can be severe.   

How long do I have to take anti-psychotic medication?

Some psychotic symptoms, like hallucinations, can go away within days of starting anti-psychotic medication. Other symptoms, like delusions, usually go away within a few weeks of starting anti-psychotic medication. It can take up to 6 weeks to experience the full effects of anti-psychotic medication.

How long someone takes anti-psychotic medication depends on their symptoms. People often take anti-psychotic medication long-term, even after they have recovered from their psychotic symptoms, to prevent them from reoccurring. Some people take anti-psychotic medication for a number of years, while others take them for most of their life.

What are the different types of anti-psychotic medication?

Anti-psychotic medications fall into 2 main categories. Older anti-psychotic medications are usually called ‘first generation’ or ‘typical’ anti-psychotics, while newer medications are called ‘second generation’ or ‘atypical’ anti-psychotics. Taking older, first-generation anti-psychotics for a long time can cause health complications. Some of the newer, second-generation anti-psychotics can also cause health complications in some cases, so people who take these medications will sometimes have their weight, glucose levels, and lipid levels monitored regularly.

Common first-generation anti-psychotic medications are listed below by their generic names, with brand names in brackets: 

• Chlorpromazine (Clonactil)
• Haloperidol (Haldol)

Common second-generation anti-psychotic medications are listed below by their generic names, with brand names in brackets:

• Aripiprazole (Abilify)
• Asenapine (Sycrest)
• Brexpiprazole (Rxulti)
• Cariprazine (Reagila)
• Clozapine (Clozaril, Denzapine, Leydex)

Mood stabilisers

Mood stabilisers are a group of drugs used to treat bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions that cause mood changes like depression. 

How long do I have to take mood stabilisers?

It can take a number of weeks of regular use before mood stabilisers become effective. How long someone takes mood stabilisers depends on their symptoms. People often take mood stabilisers long-term, for 6 months or more, to help prevent relapse. For some people who have been taking mood stabilisers for a while and are feeling well, their doctor will sometimes move them to a lower dosage to maintain their effectiveness. 

What are the different types of mood stabilisers?

There are 3 main types of medications that mental health professionals use as mood stabilisers; lithium, anti-convulsants, and anti-psychotic medications. 

Lithium is a commonly prescribed mood-stabilising medication. It can sometimes be known by the brand names Camcolit and Priadel.

Some anti-psychotic medications can be used as mood stabilisers, including: 

• Haloperidol (Haldol)
• Olanzapine (Olazax, Rolyprexa, Zalasta, Zyprexa)
• Quetiapine (Geroquel, Notiabolfen, Quentiax, Quentex, Quetiapine, Seropia, Seroquel, Tevaquel)
• Risperidone (Okedi, Perdamel, Risperdal, Rispeva, Rispone).

Some anti-convulsant medications are used to stabilise moods. These include: 

• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal, Larig)

How to talk to your doctor about mental health medication

It can be scary and confusing if your GP or mental health professional recommends that you take mental health medication. No matter what mental health issues you are facing, you deserve to have your voice and concerns heard when it comes to your healthcare. If a healthcare professional suggests a medication as part of your treatment plan, they should take the time to give you all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether or not the medication is right for you.  

Here are some questions that you can ask your GP or mental health professional to figure out if a mental health medication is right for you. 

• What symptoms will this medication help with?
• How long does it take for this medication to be effective?
• Does this medication have any side-effects?
• What are the most common side-effects of this medication?
• What are the most severe or worrying side-effects of this medication?
• How long will I have to take this medication?
• Are there any other treatments I could use instead of this medication? 
• Are there any other treatments I can use alongside the medication to help me feel better? 

I want to stop taking my mental health medication

If you’re taking any type of medication for your mental health, it’s important not to stop taking it or reduce your dose without the support of your GP or mental health professional, even if you are feeling better. Suddenly stopping prescribed medication could cause your symptoms to come back or could cause other side effects that could harm your health. 

If you want to stop taking your mental health medication, discuss it with your GP or mental health professional. They can discuss the pros and cons of stopping your medication, let you know what to expect from the process. They can work with you to make a plan to stop taking your medication gradually and safely. They will also oversee the process with regular check-ins to monitor your progress. 

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