What groups of drugs are classified as psychotropic drugs. List of tranquilizer pills for psychiatric disorders

Psychotropic drugs are aimed at changing the mental and emotional state of a person.

Depending on the effects they have and the mechanisms of their action, all psychotropic drugs can be divided into several main groups.

Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics, or otherwise antipsychotics, are used to treat psychosis, mania, schizophrenia. The main property of antipsychotic drugs is their ability to eliminate hallucinations and delusions in patients with these disorders.

Especially often antipsychotics are used to treat schizophrenia - a disease characterized by significant thinking disorders, inadequate perception of the world around with accompanying hallucinations and delusions.

This group of drugs includes phenothiazine derivatives (chlorpromazine, etc.), butyrophenone (haloperidol, droperidol), thioxanthene (chlorprothixene).

The so-called atypical antipsychotics include clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, aripiprazole and others.

Antidepressants

The main property of antidepressants is the elimination of signs of a depressive state: depression, dreary mood, feelings of despair, self-accusation. Antidepressants must be used in a course, their main effect, as a rule, is delayed in time and manifests itself after 2-3 weeks of use. According to the type of action, antidepressants are divided into several classes.

Inhibiting the reuptake of monoamines. This group includes tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine, amitriplitine) that prevent the uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, as well as selectively disrupt the uptake of serotonin (fluoxetine, citalopram, paroxetine) and norepinephrine (maprotiline).
MAO inhibitors. Non-selective MAO inhibitors (nialamide, phenelzine, transamine) and MAO-A inhibitors (moclobemide).
Atypical antidepressants: mirtazapine, nomifeshine, venlafaxine, nefazadone.

Tranquilizers (anxiolytics)

Anxiolytics - psychotropic substances used to treat anxiety disorders. They reduce the feeling of fear, anxiety, eliminate emotional tension and anxiety.

The most common drugs in this group are benzodiazepine derivatives: diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, alprazolam, oxazepam.

Psychostimulants

Psychostimulants - a group of psychoactive substances that improve mental activity, increase concentration and increase efficiency, as well as give a feeling of vivacity and a burst of energy and temporarily reduce the need for sleep.

A powerful psychostimulant is, for example, amphetamine, but due to side effects and the development of dependence, its use is limited. In practice, the drug mesocarb (sidnocarb) is more often used. In addition, caffeine has a psychostimulating effect.

Sedatives

A group of drugs of synthetic and herbal origin that have a general calming effect, as well as reduce irritability and improve sleep.

Sedatives include bromides (sodium and potassium), preparations of valerian and motherwort, and benzodiazepines also have a sedative effect. Combined sedatives include corvalol, valocordin, validol, ankylosing spondylitis.

Nootropics

Nootropics - drugs that stimulate metabolic processes in the brain and have an antihypoxic effect. In some patients, nootropics improve memory, increase learning ability, prevent hypoxia, and improve blood circulation. Nootropics: piracetam, glycine, GABA, semax, ginkgo biloba and others.

Psychotropic substances are weapons of mass destruction, the victims of which at the moment are several hundred thousand people throughout Russia. It's not just about those who died from overdose or the consequences. A significant part of the addicts lost their normal life, and also the prospects to get out of the social bottom. The constant intake of synthetic poison destroys the personality and turns a successful person into a burden for relatives and friends.

What are psychotropic substances?

The division of prohibited substances into drugs and psychotropics is a convention that is indirectly related to reality. Both the first and second drugs cause persistent dependence, negatively affect the personality and health. However, psychotropics act somewhat differently, already from the first dose causing a change in the mental state of a person.

The most popular varieties of this poison are salts and spices, which are consumed by various methods. Substances are produced by artisanal methods, their quality is not controlled. Unlike "traditional" drugs (heroin, methadone, cocaine, LSD, morphine), the effect of psychotropics on the human body has not been studied enough.

It is safe to say that they instantly reduce cognitive functions. To make it clear, a spice lover will not be able to learn a new language, master another profession, or independently understand a complex book. Thoughts will be occupied with something completely different: finding money to purchase a new dose.

The most dangerous psychotropics:

Spice(classical). The substance affects people differently and can cause death. The total number of deaths due to poisoning is estimated at several hundred throughout Russia annually.
amphetamine. The drug, which has a powerful effect on the body, can cause respiratory arrest, spasm of the heart vessel. A sharp increase in body temperature leads to the breakdown of protein, without qualified assistance, a person will inevitably die.
Methaqualone. Psychotrope, actively used in the United States in the 70-80s of the last century, was mentioned in the famous work "The Wolf of Wall Street". The main danger of methaqualone is the most difficult overdose, which is practically not treated.
Methylphenidate. The substance was developed for the treatment of mild mental disorders and diseases, including the treatment of drug addictions. However, an overdose of the drug has shown side effects: cerebral hemorrhage, tachycardia, complex hallucinations, the occurrence of epilepsy, and much more.
Mephedrone(bath salt). The drug, which was positioned as a cheap alternative to cocaine, is the most dangerous psychotropic. And although no fatal cases of poisoning have been recorded, the substance is a "springboard" for a jump to more dangerous drugs.
Ketamine. A drug that, after prolonged use, has actually fallen out of circulation, contributes to the formation of voids in the brain. And although many scientists dispute this thesis, it’s definitely not worth experimenting on yourself.

The mechanism of action on the body

Various psychotropic substances and their mixtures can cause certain effects, but addicts are looking for euphoria and pleasure. In addition, spices, salts, mixes, etc. can both soothe and excite, provoking action. Given that all illegal substances are manufactured in an artisanal way, the concentration can vary from dose to dose.

If a relatively safe level is exceeded, irreversible consequences occur. A high load on the heart causes this organ to work several times more, which leads to heart failure. Without qualified assistance, this will lead to death as a result of poisoning.

An increase in pressure is a “crash test” for all body systems, primarily for the cardiovascular system. The brain suffers, a hemorrhage into which is at best a loss of functions, at worst - a "vegetable" state and subsequent death. Often, after psychotropics, a person ceases to distinguish tastes, smells, and cognitive functions sharply decrease.

How psychotropic substances are addictive

It should be noted that dependence on salts, spices, amphetamines and similar drugs is somewhat different than on traditional drugs. Opiates, morphine, methadone cause the strongest physiological addiction, making it impossible to produce individual enzymes.

Psychotropics act differently: they “give” a range of indescribable sensations, the whole body seems to be working in emergency mode, spending its “reserves” within a few minutes. This is an outburst of emotions, a completely new experience that the addict wants to return again and again. To do this, you have to increase the dose, but the desired effect no longer occurs. Young people instantly turn into old people who cannot work, study, need special therapy and treatment.

Psychological dependence is treated with difficulty: standard detoxification is not enough, because the breakdown products of psychotropics almost do not accumulate in tissues. But it is very difficult to get rid of craving for thrills: it will take years of work.

Stimulating effect

Many psychotropic substances (for example, salts) are used by drug addicts to speed up the reaction. However, it is impossible to control the dose, which would bring an exclusively stimulating effect. After it is exceeded, another extreme will come - loss of control over oneself, severe intoxication.

In this state, a person is capable of committing senseless and desperate acts. So, one young man in central Russia, after spices, raped an old woman, for which he received a real term. In neighboring Belarus, two guys under psychotropics with their bare hands tore out the eyes of a third - he remained disabled for the rest of his life. Such stories can be continued for a very long time - there are hundreds, if not thousands of them.

Neurodepressants

However, not all psychotropics cause an attack of activity: some have the exact opposite purpose. They calm and allow you to regulate the production of dopamine, serotonin and other hormones that affect mood. In the US, neurodepressants are called "legal psychotropics" and hundreds of thousands of people use them in that country.

But these products carry many dangers, some of which have not yet been studied. A banal overdose causes exactly the same sensations as from ordinary spices, salts. The frantic work of the heart can abruptly end along with its stop. A sharp increase in pressure is just one step away from a bursting brain vessel, which will lead to irreversible consequences.

Consequences of the use of psychotropic drugs:

Rapid wear of internal organs;
Decreased cognitive functions;
The strongest psychological dependence;
uncontrolled behavior;
Negative personality changes (temper, aggression, anger);
Instant loss of qualification, ability to learn;
Deterioration of coordination;
Reduced physical skills (detrimental to athletes).

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Psychotropic drugs are drugs that affect the human psyche. However, it must be said right away that if, after using such drugs, a person begins to experience convulsions that cannot be removed even with the help of anticonvulsants, then psychotropic drugs must be stopped, otherwise the case may end badly.

It should be borne in mind that when treating mentally ill people with such medications, the daily dose of such drugs should be significantly higher than the highest doses of psychotropic drugs that are indicated in the Pharmacopoeia. Such medications can often cause all sorts of side effects, and such side effects are sometimes so dangerous that the doctor decides to stop taking such medications, and sometimes you have to prescribe medications that eliminate the resulting complications.

It must be remembered that as soon as any kind of side effects occur, the use of psychotropic drugs should be stopped immediately, otherwise yellow liver atrophy may develop, and it can be in an acute form, which is extremely dangerous.

If the number of leukocytes falls below 3500 and at the same time granulocytes disappear, then such medications should be stopped immediately. And people who are under the influence of such drugs are strongly advised not to stay in direct sunlight for a long time, since there is a serious risk of developing allergic-type dermatitis, they develop very well when exposed to ultraviolet rays.

Varieties of psychotropic drugs

First of all, we are talking about typical neuroleptics, which have all the properties of such a group of drugs. If during the treatment process with psychotropic drugs thrombosis and thromboembolism occur, then treatment with such drugs is stopped immediately, otherwise the situation can be greatly aggravated. It should be noted that such drugs are different in their degree of impact and intensity, and each remedy has its own purpose. It is best to know what the list of psychotropic drugs looks like.

Sleeping pills

Such drugs are very common, since a person spends more than a third of his life during sleep. Of course, if we take into account sleeping pills, which act very strongly, then a prescription is required to purchase them. Here we are talking, first of all, about time-tested barbiturates. However, there are many sleeping pills that can be freely purchased without a prescription.

The fact is that they do not have the strongest psychoactive inhibitory effect on the body, and even with an overdose, significant problems should not arise. If a person’s sleep disorders are not the most complex, then such remedies will certainly provide significant support to the body. It is better to tell in more detail about the most common means of this type, it should be noted that sleeping pills are very often dispensed without a prescription.

List of sleeping pills

Melaxen, which contains melatonin, it is he who regulates sleep cycles. The main function of such a tool is to cause a drowsy effect, so that a person falls asleep pretty quickly. And this drug also has a sedative effect, that is, a sedative. The tool has the following advantages: you can not be afraid of an overdose, since the drug breaks down very quickly. Sleep here is of a physiological nature, which is clearly positive. There are no sleep disturbances, no nightmares, normal awakening. And it does not cause a feeling of weakness, it is possible to drive a car. However, there are also disadvantages: it can cause allergies, peripheral type edema, and it is also not cheap. Such a drug is well suited for moderate and mild insomnia, and the medicine also helps to adapt to sleep during a sharp jet lag;
Donormil is essentially an antihistamine-type drug. Nevertheless, its direct purpose is not to fight allergic reactions, but to resist insomnia and other sleep disorders. This sleeping pill is rightfully considered one of the best of its kind, it can be used by young, healthy people, and there is no need to fear any consequences. The advantages are undoubted: the tablet is effervescent, dissolves very quickly, a person falls asleep quickly and sleeps for a long time. However, there are disadvantages: there are side effects inherent in many antihistamines, namely, dryness appears in the mouth, it is difficult to wake up, and it can also make you sleepy during the daytime. And yet such a remedy cannot be used by people who have problems with the liver and whose respiratory process is disturbed during sleep, here sleeping pills are simply irreplaceable;
Corvalol is time-tested, it is the only such medicine that contains barbiturate. So such a tool has significant power, and its low cost ensures popularity that has not fallen for many years. It has a mild antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscles of the internal organs, it can be used even in the presence of tachycardia. If we talk about the shortcomings, then we need to mention the strong specific smell that permeates the entire room if such a remedy is used on a regular basis. Women who are breastfeeding should refrain from taking Corvalol, it is better not to use any sleeping pills in this state.

A few more popular sleeping pills

Novo-Passit is good because it is made on the basis of herbal remedies, a combined type remedy, it has a calming effect, it also has an anti-anxiety effect, so it is excellent for sleep disorders. If we talk about the benefits, then this is, first of all, a very fast effect, and if you use syrup, then the action is even faster. Cons: There may be daytime drowsiness, and in cases of overdose, there may be a depressed feeling. Do not use for children, and should not be used by those who are chronically ill with alcoholism;
Persen-forte is a combined preparation containing mint, valerian and lemon balm. The action is mild, has a sedative effect, there is no unpleasant odor. If we talk about the merits, then such a remedy is specially designed for use at night, if a person cannot fall asleep due to nervous excitement, then this remedy is perfect. There are also disadvantages, since the remedy cannot be purchased in liquid form, if a person has biliary tract disorders, then you should not use such a remedy, and children who are not yet 12 years old do not need it either. Do not use it for a long time, as this is fraught with the formation of constipation;
Fitosedan contains several types of medicinal herbs, such as thyme, valerian, oregano. Its action is very soft, soothing, and what is very important, natural, falls asleep very easily. You can not use it if a woman is expecting a baby or breastfeeding. It can be consumed only in the form of an infusion, and only in a warm form, all this takes time, the remedy is not available in the form of tablets, and it is medicines in tablets that are very popular.

It must be said right away that if a person simply cannot fall asleep due to the fact that he slept for 10 hours yesterday, then it is better to refrain from taking sleeping pills.

tranquilizers

Such drugs are widely used in various neuroses and conditions close to psychopathic. That is, such funds provide significant support when a person has fear, panic, he is very irritated and his emotionality is not stable. Such drugs are successfully used when a person has psychosomatic disorders.

If we talk about contraindications, then they certainly exist. Tranquilizers should not be taken by the elderly, as well as people with a weakened body, and children until they are 18 years old. Also, tranquilizers should not be used by pregnant women and those women who are breastfeeding. Tranquilizers should not be used by people who are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. If you have kidney or liver failure, then you should also refrain from such drugs. Concluding the conversation about contraindications, it must be said that if work is expected that requires close attention (for example, driving a car), then it is also worth abstaining.

It should be borne in mind that there are many tranquilizers, therefore, you should not rack your brains when choosing drugs, you should consult a doctor who will definitely give the necessary advice. If it comes to the fact that a person begins to take tranquilizers, then it is recommended to start with those that have a minimal degree of impact, you should not start treatment with the strongest means, believing that this will quickly help. When choosing such funds, it is very important to take into account the age of the person, his state of health. For example, there is such a very strong psychotropic drug as phenazepap, it is often advised by relatives and friends of a person, however, one must take into account that such a drug has great power. Therefore, if a person does not have really serious mental problems, then it is better to use standard sedatives at the initial stage.

Now we need to say about one more very important point - many believe that such funds are used only by the mentally ill and drug addicts. However, this is completely wrong. Of course, such drugs are very strong, however, they are by no means narcotic. However, recently, such funds have entered the market under completely new names so as not to injure the psyche of people. For example, today there is such a name as anxiolytics, literally speaking, these are means that can suppress feelings of fear and anxiety, and anti-neurotics have become very popular to suppress neurosis. However, all those drugs are called tranquilizers, they are also sedatives.

How tranquilizers work

These medications are prescribed to reduce feelings of panic and fear. Now we need to talk about how such drugs differ from other psychotropic drugs, in particular from neuroleptics. The fact is that such means in no way affect the consciousness of a person, that is, a person will not rave about them for sure. Also, there will be no hallucinations, psychoses, so such remedies can be safely used. However, they can only be used by those people who are mentally healthy, but found themselves in a situation where the psyche needs help. These are very good anti-anxiety sedatives.

If we talk about the mechanism of action of such funds, then it has not yet been fully studied.

Antidepressants

If a person is under the influence of a depressed emotional state, then he should use antidepressants. Such funds perfectly cheer up, create a positive emotional background and are excellent tools that relieve depression.

It should be noted that there are many such drugs that are dispensed without a doctor's prescription, however, this does not mean at all that uncontrolled intake is possible. If you take antidepressants for a long time, then negative consequences can occur. To avoid this, you should always consult with your doctor first.

It should be noted that all psychotropic drugs can be taken only after a person has consulted a doctor who will choose the most suitable from the entire list of drugs.

And it should also be said that you should not get too carried away with antidepressants, the same should be said about antipsychotics. Even the safest drug still affects the body, so they should be taken only if there is a real need.

Psychotropic drugs are a group of medicinal substances that affect mental processes, affecting mainly higher nervous activity. Psychotropic drugs are classified according to their clinical action and are divided into three groups: 1) (see), 2) antidepressants (see), 3) (see).

Mental disorders accompanied by delusions, hallucinations, intense anxiety or fear, as well as states with a predominance of excitation - catatonic, manic, states of altered consciousness, etc. are treated mainly with antipsychotics. Mental disorders manifested by lethargy - primarily various depressive syndromes - are treated with antidepressants.

Since a significant number of mental disorders usually combine the phenomena of excitation and, in practice, combined treatment with antipsychotics and antidepressants is more often used. The ratio of doses is changed depending on the change in the mental state of the patient.

It must be remembered that in the treatment of psychotropic drugs, the dosages used are significantly higher than the highest daily doses of psychotropic drugs indicated in.

Psychotropic drugs often cause side effects, in some cases so severe that because of them it is necessary to stop treatment and use drugs that eliminate the complications that have developed.
Side effects that occur most often in the first two to four weeks after the start of treatment.
Autonomic disorders: dry mouth or increased excretion; dry skin or, conversely, excessive sweating; , constipation, ; decrease or increase in body temperature; drop in blood pressure; increased or decreased heart rate; sharp constriction or expansion of the pupils; urination disorders.

Most of these disorders go away on their own. A decrease in blood pressure easily leads to a sharp drop in blood pressure when getting up from a prone position, therefore, the first weeks of treatment with psychotropic drugs, sudden changes in body position should be avoided and bed rest should be observed within an hour after taking the medication.

With prolonged urinary retention, bladder catheterization is performed, and treatment is temporarily canceled.

Endocrine disorders are manifested by menstrual irregularities and lactorrhea in women; decrease in potency in men. These phenomena do not require special treatment. Occurring occasionally disorders of the thyroid gland or disorders in the form of Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome (see Itsenko-Cushing's disease) require discontinuation of treatment.

Disorders of liver function. Manifested by headache, nausea, vomiting, pain in the liver. In the blood serum, the content of bilirubin increases. It is necessary to immediately stop treatment with psychotropic drugs, since acute yellow liver atrophy may develop.

Leukopenia and agranulocytosis. They occur most often in women. Develop gradually. A drop in the number of leukocytes below 3500 with the simultaneous disappearance of granulocytes requires the immediate cessation of treatment with psychotropic drugs.
Side effects that appear at different times after the start of treatment.
Allergic phenomena are more common in the form of dermatitis - eczema, exanthema, urticaria. Quincke's edema, allergic conjunctivitis, and allergic arthritis occur less frequently. Skin allergic dermatitis often occurs with the additional action of ultraviolet light. Therefore, patients during treatment with psychotropic drugs are not recommended to be in the sun.

Neurological disorders can be manifested by an akineticorigid syndrome (see) or a variety of hyperkinesias (see) - sometimes isolated, sometimes generalized, reminiscent (see). In elderly patients, oral hyperkinesis often occurs - smacking and sucking movements of the lips, involuntary contractions of the masticatory muscles. Sometimes there is a spasm of the gaze. To prevent the development of neurological disorders, antiparkinsonian drugs are usually prescribed already at the beginning of treatment with psychotropic drugs. The occurrence of thrombosis and thromboembolism during treatment with psychotropic drugs requires immediate discontinuation of treatment.

Convulsive seizures that appear despite the use of anticonvulsants require the withdrawal of treatment with psychotropic drugs.

Mental disorders. Most often they occur in the form of akathisia, i.e., a state of anxiety accompanied by a need to move, and in a disorder of nocturnal sleep.

Psychoses develop much less frequently - states of clouding of consciousness, depression, transient hallucinatory and hallucinatory-delusional disorders, various in their manifestations.

Contraindications to the use of psychotropic drugs are diseases of the liver, kidneys, and duodenum, severe forms of atherosclerosis, diabetes, blood diseases, organic diseases of the central nervous system.

Psychotropic drugs (Greek psyche - soul, mental properties; tropos - direction) - a group of drugs that affect mental processes by predominantly affecting higher nervous activity.

General principles of classification
Since 1950, after the synthesis of largactyl (synonym: chlorpromazine, chlorpromazine), psychotropic drugs quickly found application in psychiatric practice. There was a new section of pharmacology - psychopharmacology (see). To date, there are more than 150 psychotropic drugs that differ in their action and belonging to the most diverse groups of chemical compounds.

The classification of psychotropic drugs is currently based on the clinical effect of the drug.

Psychotropic drugs are divided into three large groups: 1) sedative, sedative action (synonym: tranquilizers, neuroleptics, neuroplegics, psycholeptics); 2) excitatory, stimulating action (synonym: antidepressants, analeptics, psychotonics) and 3) drugs that cause mental disorders (synonym: hallucinogens, psychotomimetics, psychodysleptic substances). This division is relative, since many psychotropic drugs have different effects depending on the characteristics of the psychopathological state, dosage, duration of use and other reasons; there are also psychotropic drugs of mixed action.

The drugs of each of these groups differ in the intensity of action (at equivalent dosages). Some of them are able to eliminate hallucinations, delusions, catatonic disorders and have an antipsychotic effect, while others have only a general sedative effect. In this regard, the group of neuroplegics (neuroleptics) is divided into "large" and "small" tranquilizers. Similarly, we can talk about "big" and "small" antidepressants.

Characteristics of individual drugs
In psychiatric practice, doses that are many times higher than those indicated in the pharmacopoeia are often used. They are designated in this article as maximum.

Big tranquilizers. The most common "large" tranquilizers (the list is compiled in descending order of strength of action within each chemical group) include the following drugs (synonyms are indicated in brackets):
Phenothiazine derivatives
1. Mazheptil (thioproperazine, thiopropemazine, thioperazine, sulfamidophenothiazine, vactin, vontil, cephalmin). The usual daily dose is 5-60 mg; max.- 200 mg.

2. Liogen (fluphenazine, fluphenazine, flumazine, prolixin, permitil, sevinol, moditen). The usual daily dose is 5-10 mg; max.- 20 mg.

3. Triftazin (see) (stelazin, trifluoroperazine, trifluoromethylperizan, terfluzine, eskasin, eskasinil, yatronevral). The usual daily dose is 5-40 mg; max - 100 mg.

4. Aminazine (see) (chlorpromazine, largactyl, plegomazine, megafen, thorazine, hibernal, contamine, phenactyl). The usual daily dose is 25-600 mg; max.- 1000 mg.

5. Levomepromazine (nosinan, methoxylevomepromazine, methotrimeprazine, sinogan, veractil, dedoran, neurocil, neuractil, neosin, nirvan, tizercin). The usual daily dose is 25-400 mg; max.-800 mg.

6. Stemethyl (tementil, meterazine, compazine, prochlorperazine, prochlorpemazine, ni-podal, dicopal, noramine). The usual daily dose is 20-100 mg; max, -200 mg.

7. Dartal (dartalan, thiopropazate). The usual daily dose is 5-60 mg; max.- 100 mg.

8. Frenolon. The usual daily dose is 30-60 mg; max, allowable - 100 mg.

9. Etaperazine (see) (trilafon, perphenazine, decentan, chlorperphenazine, fentacin, chlorpiprozin). The usual daily dose is 10-120 mg; max.- 300 mg.
10. Melleril (mellaril, mallorol, thioridazine). The usual daily dose is 75-400 mg; max, -1000 mg.

I. Mepazin (see) (Pekazin, pacatal, paktal, lacumin). The usual daily dose is 25-350 mg; max.- 700 mg.
12. Propazin (see) (promazin, sparin, verofen, talofen, alofen, liranol, neuroplegyl, protactyl, prazin, sediston, centractyl). The usual daily dose is 25-800 mg; max.- 2000 mg.
13. Diprazine (see) (protazine, promethazine, proazamine, atozil, fargan, ferergan, procyte, promesinemide, thiergan, tanidil, valergin, hiberna-lergigan). The usual daily dose is 150-200 mg; max.- 300 mg.

Rauwolfia alkaloids
1. Reserpine (see) (raunatin, serpasil, serpin, sedaraupin, serpiloid, serfin, serpazole, sandril, raunorin, raunova, raused, rausedin, reserpoid, reserpex, rivazine, roxinoid, quiescin, kristozerpin, eskaserp). The usual daily dose is 0.25-15 mg; max.-50 mg.

2. Deserpidin (harmony, canescin, raunormin, rekanescin). The usual daily dose is 0.25-5 mg; max.- 10 mg.

Butyrophenone derivatives
1. Triperidol. The usual daily dose is 1.5-2 mg; Max. - 6.5 mg.

2. Haloperidol (haloperidin, haldol, serenas). The usual daily dose is 3-10 mg; max.- 20 mg.

3. Haloanisone (sedalant). The usual daily dose is 75-130 mg; max.- 320 mg.

Thioxanthene derivatives
Taraktan (truxal, fruxal, chlorprothixene, prothixene, thioxanthene, tarazan). The usual daily dose is 50 - 500 mg; max.-1000 mg.

Small tranquilizers
The most commonly used small tranquilizers (partly, these are small antidepressants) include the following drugs.

benzodiazepine derivatives
1. Librium (elenium, chlordiazepoxide, metaminodiazepoxide). The usual daily dose is 5-30 mg; max.- 100 mg.

2. Valium (diazepam). The usual daily dose is 10-40 mg; max.-80 mg.

Derivatives of glycol and glycerol
Meprotan (see) (andaxin, meprobamate, mildtown, equinil, sedazil, tranquilin, urbil, harmony). The usual daily dose is 200-400 mg; Max. - 3000 mg.

Hydroxyzine derivatives
Atarax (Vistarin, Atarasoid, Hydroxyzine, Trans-Q). The usual daily dose is 25-100 mg; max, -400 mg.

Benactizine derivatives
1. Amizil (see) (dimicil, benactizin, valladan, difemin, kaffron, lucidil, nervactil, nervakton, nutinal). The usual daily dose is 8-12 mg; max.-25 mg.

2. Frenquel (azacyclonol, frenoton, ataractan, psychozan, kalmeran). The usual daily dose is 50-200 mg; max, extra - 500 mg.

Large and small tranquilizers make up the main group of psychotropic drugs - neuroplegic drugs.

For more detailed pharmaco-clinical characteristics of the drugs listed above, see Neuroplegics.

Antidepressants. The most commonly used psychoanaleptic drugs (antidepressants) include the following.

Amitriptyline derivatives
1. Tryptisol (Saroten, Triptanol, Elavil, Laroxil, Horizon). The usual daily dose is 75-200 mg; max.- 350 mg.

2. Nortriptyline (noritren, nortrilene, aventil). The usual daily dose is 100-150 mg; max.- 250 mg.

Iminobenzyl derivatives
1. Imizin (see) (imipramine, melipramine, tofranil). The usual daily dose is 25-300 mg; max.-400 mg.

2. Surmontil (trimeprimine, trimepromine). The usual daily dose is 25-300 mg; max.-400 mg.

Monoamide oxidase inhibitors(MAOI) (incompatible with iminobenzyl and phenothiazine derivatives; if necessary, sequential combination, pause between drugs for at least 2 weeks; exclude cheese, cream, meat extracts, beer, dry wine from the diet of patients!).
1. Iprazide (see) (marsilide, marsalid, iproniazid). The usual daily dose is 25-150 mg; max.-200 mg.

2. Niamid (nialamid, niamidal, nuredal). The usual daily dose is 75-200 mg; max.- 400 mg.

3. Transamine (see) (parnate, tranylcypromine). The usual daily dose is 5-30 mg; max.- 50 mg.

4. Felazine (phenelazine, nardil, nardelzin, cavodil, stinevral). The usual daily dose is 15-75 mg; Max. - 150 mg.

5. Benazid (isocarboxazid, marplan). The usual daily dose is 20-40 mg; max.- 80 mg.

6. Katron (phenizine, feniprazine, catroniazid, cavodil). The usual daily dose is 3-12 mg; max.- 25 mg.

7. Indopan. The usual daily dose is 5-20 mg; max.- 30 mg.

Minor antidepressants also include the now rarely used amphetamine derivatives (dexedril, phenamine, pervitin, phenatin) and diphenylmethane derivatives (pyridrol, centedrin, phenidate).

As antidepressants, substances classified as antipsychotics, such as nosinane, taractan, frenolon, are quite widely used.

Psychotomimetics. Substances that cause mental disorders include mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, and sernil. In clinical practice, they are not used; serve for experimental psychopathological research. See also Psychotomimetic agents.

Psychotropic drugs can cause unwanted side effects. The latter is revealed when using various psychotropic drugs to varying degrees and in the form of very diverse disorders - from mild, when neither discontinuation of treatment nor the use of corrective agents is required, to very severe ones, when it is necessary to immediately stop the course of treatment and apply appropriate medical prescriptions aimed at elimination of complications caused by psychotropic drugs.

Vegetative disorders are diverse: hypotension, hypo- and hyperthermia, dizziness, nausea, tachycardia and bradycardia, diarrhea and constipation, miosis and mydriasis, severe sweating or dry skin, urination disorders. These are the mildest and most frequent complications.

They occur when using a wide variety of psychotropic drugs, usually at the beginning of treatment or when relatively high dosages are reached, are retained for a short time and spontaneously (without additional drug intervention) disappear. The greatest attention should be paid to hypotension and urinary retention. Hypotension often leads to orthostatic collapses (to prevent the latter, it is recommended to stay in bed during the first 2-3 weeks of treatment, avoid sudden changes in body position). Urinary retention in some cases can reach complete anuria, requiring discontinuation of treatment and catheterization.

Allergic phenomena in the treatment of psychotropic drugs decrease in frequency from year to year (apparently due to the relatively higher quality of new drugs) and are currently observed in 2-4% of patients treated with psychotropic drugs. There are exanthemas, erythema, urticaria, various forms of allergic eczema, in rare cases - Quincke's edema, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic monoarthritis. Skin allergic phenomena occur more often with ultraviolet irradiation, so patients receiving a course of treatment with psychotropic drugs are not recommended to be in the sun. This recommendation also applies to personnel undertaking relevant assignments. If allergic phenomena occur, antihistamines are used, if there is no effect, the dosages are reduced, in extreme cases they are completely canceled.

Endocrine disorders in the form of menstrual disorders and lactorrhea in women and a decrease in libido and potency in men are usually observed only in the first 3-4 weeks of treatment with psychotropic drugs and do not require either discontinuation of treatment with these drugs or special intervention.

Doses are reduced up to the complete abolition of treatment with psychotropic drugs, specific corrective treatment is prescribed.

Hypokinetic parkinsonism occurs frequently in the treatment of psychotropic drugs and requires the timely administration of antiparkinsonian drugs. However, cases of such a pronounced hypokinetic parkinsonism, which would force a reduction in the dosage of psychotropic drugs or a complete rejection of them, are extremely rare. These phenomena, no matter how sharply expressed, are usually completely reduced at the end of treatment.

Hyperkinetic paroxysmal syndrome (excito-motor) proceeds differently. It develops from the previous one or occurs immediately, expressed in tonic convulsions of the face, pharynx, cervical and lingual muscles, torticolli-like tonic convulsions of the shoulder and occipital muscles, sharp oculogiric convulsions, myoclonus, torsion-dystonic and choreatic movements. Sometimes there are even generalized pictures, as in Huntington's chorea. Occasionally, atactic and dyskinetic disorders are observed simultaneously, which can be regarded as signs of damage to the cerebellum.

Often, after such seizures, breathing, swallowing and speech disorders occur. The described complications in the treatment of psychotropic drugs require immediate intervention, although they often disappear spontaneously. Almost always they are inferior to the introduction of antiparkinsonian drugs. If this does not help, it is necessary to stop the effect of psychotropic drugs by injecting caffeine. This kind of complication occurs in 1.5-2% of cases of treatment with psychotropic drugs.

Seizures rarely occur during treatment with psychotropic drugs, mainly in patients with organic brain changes. If before treatment p. there were no seizures, there is no need to stop treatment, it is possible to combine treatment with psychotropic drugs with anticonvulsants; but in cases where the convulsive threshold is sharply lowered (seizures in the past, recurrent seizures after the appointment of anticonvulsants, seizures in series), psychotropic drug treatment has to be abandoned.

Toxic disorders of liver function are among the most frequent and important somatic complications. They are observed among those treated with psychotropic drugs in about 1% of cases and occur on the 2-3rd week of treatment, rarely later and are determined, apparently, by narrowing of the bile capillaries; the direct effect of psychotropic drugs on liver cells is unlikely. Clinically, these disorders are usually manifested by pressing pains under the costal arch, headache, nausea and vomiting. Cholestatic hepatitis in severe cases occur with a significant increase in the content of basic phosphatase and serum cholesterol, with usually moderately elevated bilirubin. Bile pigments are excreted in the urine. The blood formula has been shifted to the left. If such phenomena are detected, treatment with psychotropic drugs should be immediately discontinued. Under the influence of liver protective therapy, or even spontaneously within two weeks, the symptoms of liver damage disappear, bilirubin in the blood serum is retained only for a long time. If liver damage is not diagnosed in a timely manner and intensive treatment with psychotropic drugs is continued, the prognosis can become threatening - cirrhosis, massive necrosis (yellow liver atrophy).

Leukopenia and agranulocytosis are rarely observed during treatment with psychotropic drugs (in 0.07-0.7% of cases), but close attention should be paid to these complications (especially the last one) due to the severity of the suffering. Agranulocytosis occurs mainly in the treatment of middle-aged and elderly women with phenothiazine derivatives. The initial manifestations of agranulocytosis occur at the end of the 4th week of treatment; after the 10th week, you can not be afraid of the appearance of phenothiazine agranulocytosis. Unlike other agranulocytosis, phenothiazine does not develop suddenly, but gradually. A drop in the number of leukocytes below 3500 with the simultaneous disappearance of granulocytes is a signal for the immediate cessation of treatment with psychotropic drugs. Agranulocytosis should be distinguished from blood changes that do not require the withdrawal of psychotropic drugs: short-term drops in the number of leukocytes and eosinopenia in the first days of treatment, transient eosinophilia with a maximum at the 2-4th week of treatment, moderate leukocytosis, which becomes especially pronounced during long-term treatment with psychotropic drugs.

Hemorrhagic diathesis is observed as a complication in the treatment of psychotropic drugs in approximately 0.6% of cases and manifests itself in the form of bleeding gums and bleeding from the nose. Sometimes mild hematuria is observed at the same time. The thrombelastogram is usually without deviations. These disorders do not take a chronically relapsing course and are eliminated by reducing dosages. Only in exceptional cases does a complication of this kind take on a more serious character (hemorrhage in the liver and other internal organs, multiple hematomas) and the withdrawal of psychotropic drugs is required.

Thrombosis and thromboembolism are a serious complication and are observed in the treatment of psychotropic drugs is not so rare (approximately 3-3.5% of patients, especially those who have dysfunction of the cardiovascular system or varicose symptom complex). A known role in the development of such complications, in addition to the disorders of the cardiovascular system that the patient has at the beginning of treatment, is apparently played by a long stay in bed and a decrease in muscle tone caused by most psychotropic drugs. Blood supply (including cellular) when using psychotropic drugs is not disturbed; there are also no violations (with the exception of local ones with intravenous administration) of the walls of blood vessels. Violation of blood circulation is determined mainly by stasis in the limbs. Nevertheless, massage and shortening the period of stay in bed do not have significant preventive value. A well-known preventive effect was noted when atropine was administered to patients prone to stasis during treatment with psychotropic drugs. The occurrence of thrombosis and thromboembolism during treatment with psychotropic drugs requires immediate discontinuation of treatment.

Mental disorders that occur as complications during treatment with psychotropic drugs are manifested by the following syndromes: a state of confusion, delirious states, transient hallucinatory and hallucinatory-paranoid disorders and depression with lethargy, difficult to distinguish from endogenous. Disorders that belong to reactions of the exogenous type require a very serious attitude to themselves, often they are an expression of the incompatibility of psychotropic drugs. If they occur, treatment with psychotropic drugs should be stopped immediately. The belonging of endogenous syndromes to side effects is not yet completely clear - they are often eliminated by replacing one psychotropic drug with another, stronger one.

Contraindications to the use of psychotropic drugs
Psychotropic drugs should not be prescribed for diseases of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular system, allergic diseases, organic diseases of the central nervous system, skin. Various psychotropic drugs differ quite significantly in their ability to cause complications; the dosage, the rate of its build-up matter. In each specific case, the indications and contraindications depend on the somatic state of the patient, changes in his condition that occurred during the trial (slow) increase in dosages, on the choice of one or another psychotropic agent in accordance with the somato-neurological characteristics of the patient.