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medications

Medications

What are medications for mental illnesses?

Deciding whether to start your child on medication can be a difficult decision. Below we have printable information on the use of specific medications in children and youth. 

Medications for treating mental illnesses are also sometimes called psychiatric medications. These medications are used to treat the symptoms of many mental illnesses. These medications are prescribed by doctors, such as family physicians and psychiatrists, and are often used with other treatments such as counselling or psychotherapy. They can play and important role in treating many mental illnesses.

When discussing the use of psychiatric medications with your doctor, open communication can help to find the right psychiatric medication(s) for you child or youth. To learn more about medications for mental illnesses, listen to our podcast on this topic.  

 

Medications A-Z

BC Children's Hospital

Aripiprazole (Abilify®)

Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medication and is also used for treatment of irritability of autism.

BC Children's Hospital

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines is a group of medications used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, seizure disorders, symptoms of catatonia, to promote sleep, and for several other purposes.

BC Children's Hospital

Benztropine (Cogentin®)

Benztropine is used for the treatment of extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) of antipsychotic medications (such as muscle stiffness, drooling, tremor).

BC Children's Hospital

Buprenorphine (Sublocade®)

Buprenorphine extended-release injection (Sublocade®) is a medication that belongs to a group of medications called opioid agonist therapy (OAT). It is primarily used for the management of adults with moderate to serve opioid dependence. 

BC Children's Hospital

Buprenorphine-Naloxone (Suboxone®)

Buprenorphine-Naloxone (Suboxone®) is a medication that belongs to a group of medications called opioid agonist therapy (OAT). It is primarily used for the management of adults with moderate to serve opioid dependence. 

BC Children's Hospital

Clomipramine (Anafranil®)

Clomipramine is used for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive & related disorders (OCD), depression, anxiety disorders, and chronic pain disorders.

BC Children's Hospital

Clonidine (Catapres®, Dixarit®)

Clonidine is a non-stimulant medication used to treat ADHD, tic disorders, irritability of autism and disruptive behaviour disorders.

BC Children's Hospital

Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq®)

Desvenlafaxine helps to treat depression when other treatments have not been effective or tolerated.

BC Children's Hospital

Duloxetine (Cymbalta®)

Duloxetine (Cymbalta®) is an antidepressant medication used in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.

BC Children's Hospital

Gabapentin

Gabapentin anti-seizure medication for adults. Gabapentin is not approved by Health Canada for use in children and adolescents. However, there is evidence to support the use of gabapentin in adults with neuropathic pain, anxiety, restless legs syndrome, cannabis use disorder, and alcohol use disorder.

BC Children's Hospital

Guanfacine XR (Intuniv XR®)

Guanfacine XR ia a long-acting non-stimulant medication used in the treatment of ADHD, disruptive behaviour disorders and tic disorders.

BC Children's Hospital

Is My Child Taking Their Medication?

Explains the possible signs and reasons why a child may not take medication as prescribed. Includes suggestions for how to talk with your child and your health care team when it is suspected a child is not taking their medication.

BC Children's Hospital

Lamotrigine (Lamictal®)

Lamotrigine is an anti-seizure and mood stabilizer medication used in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

BC Children's Hospital

Lurasidone (Latuda®)

Lurasidone is developed to treat psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia and can also help treat depression associated with bipolar disorder.

BC Children's Hospital

Metformin (Glucophage®, Glumetza®)

Metformin is used to manage type 2 diabetes in adults. Metformin may be prescribed “off-label” for weight management related to antipsychotic use in children and adolescents.

BC Children's Hospital

Methylphenidate (Foquest®)

Methylphenidate is used for mental and behavioural symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including difficulties paying attention, impulsive behaviour and hyperactivity.

BC Children's Hospital

Naltrexone (ReVia®)

Naltrexone belongs to a group of medications called opioid antagonists and is commonly used for the management of alcohol use disorder.

BC Children's Hospital

Olanzapine (Zyprexa®, Zyprexa® Zydis)

Olanzapine is an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medication used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and symptoms associated with mood and anxiety disorders.

BC Children's Hospital

Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®)

Oxcarbazepine is an anti-seizure and mood stabilizer medication used in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

BC Children's Hospital

Paliperidone SR (Invega®)

Paliperidone is used for treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, management of acute mania in bipolar disorder, and irritability associated with autism spectrum disorder. 

BC Children's Hospital

Prazosin (Minipress®)

Prazosin is for the treatment of nightmares associated with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hypertension, and Raynaud’s phenomenon in children and adolescents.

BC Children's Hospital

Pregabalin (Lyrica®)

Pregabalin is primarily used for the management of nerve pain and fibromyalgia in adults. It is sometimes used for treatment of anxiety in adolescents when standard treatments are not helpful or tolerated.

BC Children's Hospital

Propranolol (Inderal®)

Propranolol is used for the treatment of restlessness, high blood pressure, prevention of migraine headaches, heart rhythm abnormalities and several other conditions in children and adolescents.

BC Children's Hospital

Quetiapine (Seroquel®, Seroquel XR®)

Quetiapine is an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medication used in the treatment of schizophrenia, autism symptoms, depression, anxiety disorders and other conditions.

BC Children's Hospital

Risperidone (Risperdal®)

Risperidone is an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medication and is also used for treatment of irritability of autism and tic disorders.

BC Children's Hospital

Topiramate (Topamax®)

Topiramate is an anti-seizure and mood stabilizer medication used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, behavioural disorders, alcohol dependence and in the prevention of migraine headaches.

BC Children's Hospital

Traditional Antidepressants (TCAs)

Traditional Antidepressants are antidepressant medications used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, ADHD, depression, nerve-related pain disorders, OCD and sleep disorders.

BC Children's Hospital

Traditional Antipsychotics

Traditional Antipsychotics are antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medications used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, tic disorders, autism symptoms and behavioural disorders.

BC Children's Hospital

Trazodone (Desyrel®)

Trazodone is an antidepressant medication that is commonly used to promote sleep.

BC Children's Hospital

Valproic acid/divalproex (Depakene®/Epival®)

Valproic acid/divalproex is an anti-seizure and mood stabilizer medication used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, behavioural disorders and in the prevention of migraine headaches.

BC Children's Hospital

Venlafaxine (Effexor XR®)

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication used in the treatment of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other anxiety disorders.

BC Children's Hospital

Ziprasidone (Zeldox®)

Ziprasidone is an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer medication used in the treatment of schizophrenia, autism symptoms, bipolar disorder and tourette syndrome.

BC Children's Hospital

Zolpidem (Sublinox®)

Zolpidem is commonly referred to as a “sleeping pill.” It is used for the relief of sleeping difficulties (insomnia) by children or adolescents.

Where You Are Podcast

Through real stories, expertise, and practical tips, this podcast helps families promote their mental health and wellness, navigating important topics to meet you where you are in your journey.