Medications

There are many medications in mental health and it's often difficult to know how to know which is the best for you. We can help you understand their differences, potential benefits and possible negative side-effects. Some pages have downloadable versions that you can print and read offline.

Antidepressants

This section gives information about antidepressants. They can help with different mental health problems, including low mood, depression, and anxiety. This information is for adults affected by mental illness in England. It’s also for their loved ones and carers and anyone interested in this subject.

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Antipsychotics

Antipsychotic medications are generally used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. But they can also be used to treat bipolar disorder and depression. This section explains more about antipsychotics. This information is for adults affected by mental illness in England. It’s also for their loved ones and carers and anyone interested in this subject.

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Benzodiazepines

This section gives information about benzodiazepine medication. Your doctor may prescribe benzodiazepines if you are experiencing severe anxiety or if you’re very distressed. This information is for people affected by mental illness in England who are 18 or over. It’s also for their carers, friends and relatives and anyone interested in this subject.

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Mood stabilisers

This section gives information about mood stabilising medication, which can balance out the highs and lows of your mood. It can help if you live with mood swings linked to mental illness or a personality disorder. This information is for adults affected by mental illness in England. It’s also for their carers, friends and relatives and anyone interested in this subject.

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Medication - Choice and managing problems

Your doctor may offer you medication if you experience symptoms of a mental illness. Sometimes you might not want to take medication or feel it is not right for you. This section explains how you can try and deal with problems with medication. This information is for people who live with mental illness and their carers.

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Stopping antidepressants

If you experience mental illness, your GP might offer you antidepressant medication to help. If you feel that your medication isn’t right or you’re thinking of stopping, this page can help you understand your choices.

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