Page 105 - Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments in Psychiatry

Appendix | 105

Non-psychotropic medications
− Sympathomimetics (often found in non-prescription cold
and allergy medications): epinephrine, norephinephrine,
isoproteronol, levodopa, dopamine hydrochloride,
dobutamine, terbutaline sulfate, ephedrine, pseudo-
ephedrine
− Xanthene derivatives (asthma medications, coffee, colas,
over-the-counter pain remedies): aminophylline,
theophylline, caffeine
− Anti-inflammatory agents: indomethacin
− Thyroid preparations
− Insulin (via hypoglycemic reaction)
− Corticosteroids
− Others: nicotine, ginseng root, monosodium glutamate

Drug withdrawal (common cause of anxiety-type syndromes—
caffeine, nicotine, and all sedative hypnotics, tricyclic
antidepressants, and anticholinergics can cause withdrawal)
Psychotropic medications can cause anxiety symptoms
− Antidepressants (including MAO-inhibitors), drugs for
treatment of attention deficit disorders (on rare occasions
cause anxiety-type syndromes)
− Tranquilizing drugs: benzodiazepines (paradoxical response
most common in children and in elderly), antipsychotics
(akathisia may present as anxiety)
− Anticholinergic medications can cause a delirium which, in
early stages, may easily be confused with anxiety:
scopolamine and sedating antihistamines (found in over-the-
counter sleep preparations) antiparkinsonian agents,
tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics