Drugs and the Brain: Drug Classes

Classifications of Psychoactive Drugs

by Keith A. Trujillo, Ph.D. and Andrea B. Chinn
Last Revised 10/2/96

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Drug Class
Description
Examples

Antidepressants

Used to treat major depression. Desipramine
Fluoxetine
Sertraline

Antipsychotics

Also called major tranquilizers or neuroleptics. A group of drugs used primarily in the treatment of schizophrenia. Chlorpromazine
Haloperidol

Antimanics

Used to treat bipolar disorder (also known as manic depressive disorder). Lithium
Carbamazepine

Sedative-Hypnotics

These drugs depress behavior, moderate excitement, and induce calmness. They are used clinically as muscle relaxants, antiepileptics, preanesthetic medication, and antianxiety drugs. Secobarbital
Diazepam

Psychostimulants

A class of drugs that increase arousal, induce wakefulness and stimulate behavior. Ampthetamine
Cocaine

Psychedelics

A class of drugs that produce profound changes in perception. LSD
Psilocybin

Opiates

Because of their ability to profoundly suppress pain responsiveness, these drugs are used clinically as analgesics. They are also widely used outside the clinic for their reinforcing properties. Heroin
Morphine

Cannabinoids

The most notable cannabinoid is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive substance in marijuana. Marijuana

Ethanol

Ethanol is the alcohol in beer, wine and hard liquor, and is one of the most popular psychoactive drugs. Beer
Wine
Liquor

Nicotine

Nicotine, a mild stimulant, is the psychoactive substance in the leaves of the tobacco plant. Tobacco


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Keith A. Trujillo, Ph.D.
Andrea B. Chinn
Comments to author: keith@mailhost1.csusm.edu

All contents copyright (C) 1996, Keith A. Trujillo, Ph.D. All rights reserved.