Psychotropic Drug Overview
Psychotropic drugs are medications that act on the psyche. They cannot cure but can have a supportive effect on the healing process and a stabilizing effect.
Overview of Psychotropic Drug Groups
Section titled “Overview of Psychotropic Drug Groups”| Group | Effect | Application | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neuroleptics | Dampening/inhibiting to sedating | Antipsychotic, for psychoses, delusions, hallucinations, severe anxiety | Haloperidol, Thioridazine, Melleril, Seroquel |
| Tranquilizers | Sedating to sleep-inducing | Stress situations, neurotic disorders, strong emotional tension | Diazepam, Ativan, Librium, Meprobamate |
| Hypnotics | Sleep-inducing to narcotic | Sleep-enforcing (precise distinction from sedatives/tranquilizers not possible) | Valium, Mogadon, Zopiclone |
| Analeptics | Anticonvulsant/circulatory stimulant to performance-enhancing | Circulatory stimulation, overdose of narcotics/hypnotics | Caffeine, Effortil, Cardiazol |
| Stimulants | Performance/drive-enhancing, sleep-postponing | Acute performance enhancement, vigilance tasks | Pervitin, Methylphenidate, Captagon |
| Thymoanaleptics | Drive-enhancing to stimulating/exciting | Depression, mood-elevating, anxiolytic | Seroxat, Cipralex, Trevilor, Imipramine |
| Psychotomimetics | Special category (no medical use anymore) | - | Mescaline, LSD, Psilocybin, Ecstasy |
Neuroleptics
Section titled “Neuroleptics”Neuroleptics are distinguished between high-potency and low-potency neuroleptics.
Effect
Section titled “Effect”- Dampening
- Inhibiting to sedating
- Antipsychotic
Application
Section titled “Application”- Treatment of psychoses
- Reduction of severe anxiety
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Haloperidol, Thioridazine, Melleril, Reserpine, Omca, Megaphen, Seroquel
Tranquilizers (Sedatives)
Section titled “Tranquilizers (Sedatives)”Effect
Section titled “Effect”- Sedating
- Sleep-inducing
Application
Section titled “Application”- Stress situations
- Neurotic disorders
- Strong emotional tension
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Diazepam, Ativan, Librium, Miltaun, Meprobamate
Hypnotics (Sleeping Pills)
Section titled “Hypnotics (Sleeping Pills)”Effect
Section titled “Effect”- Sleep-inducing
- Soporific
- Narcotic
Application
Section titled “Application”A precise distinction from sedatives and tranquilizers is not possible. Hypnotics enforce sleep.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Valium, Doriden, Revonal, Mogadon, Zopiclone
Analeptics
Section titled “Analeptics”Effect
Section titled “Effect”- Anticonvulsant
- Circulatory stimulant
- Performance-enhancing
Application
Section titled “Application”- Stimulation of circulation
- Overdose from narcotic/hypnotic poisoning
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Caffeine, Effortil, Cardiazol
Stimulants (Wakefulness and Pep Pills)
Section titled “Stimulants (Wakefulness and Pep Pills)”Effect
Section titled “Effect”- Performance-enhancing
- Drive-enhancing
- Sleep-postponing
Application
Section titled “Application”- Acute performance enhancement
- Vigilance tasks
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Pervitin, Benzedrine, Tradon, Methylphenidate (works differently in ADHD), Preludin, Captagon
Thymoanaleptics (Antidepressants)
Section titled “Thymoanaleptics (Antidepressants)”Effect
Section titled “Effect”- Drive-enhancing
- Stimulating to exciting
Application
Section titled “Application”- Treatment of depression
- Mood-elevating
- Drive-enhancing
- Anxiolytic
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Seroxat, Paroxat, Tofranil, Nortrilen, Surmontril, Niamid, Imipramine, Cipralex, Trevilor
MAO Inhibitors (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)
Section titled “MAO Inhibitors (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)”More strongly drive-enhancing and less strongly mood-dampening than other antidepressants.
Psychotomimetics
Section titled “Psychotomimetics”These occupy a special position among psychotropic drugs. There is no medical application (anymore).
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Mescaline, LSD, Psilocybin, Ecstasy
Frequently Abused Medications
Section titled “Frequently Abused Medications”Sleeping Pills
Section titled “Sleeping Pills”Radedorm, Noctamid, Dalmadorm, Mogadan, Betadorm, Halcion, Staurodorm, Luminal, Vesperax, Medinox, Sekundal, Zopiclone
Sedatives (Benzodiazepines)
Section titled “Sedatives (Benzodiazepines)”Tavor, Valium, Distraneurin, Lexotanil, Tranxilium, Praxiten, Diazepam, Adumbran, Librium, Tafil, Normoc, Musaril, Oxazepam, Atarax, Meprobamate, Insidon, Buspirone, Rohypnol
Pain Medications
Section titled “Pain Medications”Optalidon, Valoron, Dolantin, Rosimon, Dolviran, Remedacen, Gelonida, Melabon, Teupel N, Thomapyrin, Spalt N, Quadronal, Voltaren, Fortreal, Temgesic, Vivimed, Silentan, Spasmo-Cibalgin, Tramal
Stimulants and Pep Pills
Section titled “Stimulants and Pep Pills”Captagon, Hallo-Wach, AN1, Reactivan, Ritalin, Pervitin, Katovit, Percoffedrinol, Tradon, Senior 20, Contac H
Time to Dependence
Section titled “Time to Dependence”| Substance Group | Psychological Dependence | Physical Dependence |
|---|---|---|
| Barbiturates (sleeping pills) | 15% with regular use | After approx. 3 weeks |
| Sedatives (tranquilizers) | - | After approx. 6-10 weeks |
Half-Lives
Section titled “Half-Lives”The half-life is the time the active substance remains in the body. Unlike alcohol, it is not broken down at a constant rate.
| Medication | Half-Life |
|---|---|
| Valium | approx. 32 hours |
| Prazepam | approx. 67 hours |
Cross-Tolerances
Section titled “Cross-Tolerances”Certain medications (morphines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates) bind to the same receptors in the brain as alcohol.
When alcohol and such medications are consumed simultaneously — or vice versa — the effect is amplified exponentially. There are no calculations for this.
Cross-tolerances inevitably develop.
This overview does not claim to be comprehensive and does not replace consultation with a doctor or pharmacist.