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Although chemicals
have long been used throughout history to alter cognition, mood, and
behavior, the so-called “psychopharmaceutical era” originated in the late 19th
and mid-20 centuries.
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The Food and Drug
Administration is the U.S. governmental agency which approves and regulates
medications. Currently, there are more
than 100 different pharmaceuticals which have received FDA “approval” for the
treatment of psychiatric conditions.
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Excluding the
chemicals which are specifically used to treat nicotine (varenicline),
alcohol (disulfiram, acamprosate) and opioid dependence (naltrexone,
methadone, buprenorphine), there are five major categories of psychotropic
drugs:
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antidepressants
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antipsychotics (sometimes called “major” tranquilizers)
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mood stabilizers (anticonvulsants and lithium)
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sedatives/anxiolytics (sometimes called “minor” tranquilizers)
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stimulants
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