Clinical Psychopharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple Top Page

| | Primary Chemical | Top Drug Class | Clinical Pearl | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Sadness + Worry | Serotonin | SSRI (Fluoxetine, Sertraline) | Start low, go slow. Works in 4-6 weeks. | | Fatigue + Apathy | Norepinephrine | SNRI (Venlafaxine, Duloxetine) | Can raise BP. Good for pain syndromes. | | Hallucinations / Paranoia | Dopamine | Antipsychotic (Risperidone, Olanzapine) | Block D2 receptors. Watch for metabolic syndrome. | | Panic / Insomnia | GABA | Benzodiazepine (Lorazepam, Clonazepam) | Immediate relief. High abuse potential. Tolerance. | | Mood swings (mania) | GABA / DA | Mood Stabilizer (Lithium, Valproate) | Lithium is gold standard. Need labs. | | Inattention / Hyperactivity | Dopamine / NE | Stimulant (Methylphenidate, Amphetamine) | Schedule II. Increases focus via D1/D5. |

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If you are a medical student, a psychiatric resident, a nurse practitioner, or even a seasoned therapist looking to brush up on your prescribing knowledge, you have likely felt the weight of the books. Let’s face it: traditional textbooks are dense. They are filled with receptor subtypes, obscure second-messenger systems, and drug interaction tables that seem to blur together at 2:00 AM. clinical psychopharmacology made ridiculously simple top