Psychotropics

Psychotropics are substances that affect the central nervous system and alter mood, perception, cognition, or behavior. The term covers a broad range of drugs, including those used therapeutically in psychiatry as well as non-prescription substances that influence mental state. In clinical contexts psychotropics are typically grouped by their primary use: antidepressants for depressive and certain anxiety disorders; antipsychotics for psychosis and mood disorders with psychotic features; anxiolytics for anxiety disorders; mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder; stimulants for attention disorders and fatigue; sedative-hypnotics for sleep disorders; and hallucinogens or dissociatives that are being investigated for various conditions.

Most psychotropics act by modulating neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Common targets include monoamine pathways (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine), GABAergic and glutamatergic signaling, and acetylcholine. Some drugs have multiple mechanisms or influence neuroplasticity and receptor signaling over time.

Examples of major classes include antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine, sertraline) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (venlafaxine); antipsychotics like risperidone, olanzapine, and haloperidol; anxiolytics such as benzodiazepines (diazepam) and non-benzodiazepine options like buspirone; mood stabilizers such as lithium and valproate; stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine salts; sedative-hypnotics such as zolpidem; and psychedelics or dissociatives such as psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine, which are the subject of ongoing research.

Regulation varies by country. Many psychotropics require a prescription and may be controlled substances due to misuse potential and safety concerns. Use requires medical oversight to manage efficacy, adverse effects, interactions, and withdrawal risks. Ongoing research explores new targets, psychedelic-assisted therapies, and personalized approaches to treatment.