Medication reference

Prescriptions we actually talk about at LiveWell.

Each entry links to the full breakdown on psychiatry.help: how it works, who it is for, real side effects, and what to expect. No spin.

Meds need a reasonNot just a list

Benefits and tradeoffsWe talk through both

No forced fitYou can say no

Need the deeper dive?Psychiatry.help has it

ADHD

Stimulants and non-stimulants for attention

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Smooth, long-acting prodrug. Where we typically start for adults with ADHD. 12-14 hour coverage.Read the education note Adderall (amphetamine salts)Classic. IR and XR forms. More noticeable on/off cycle. Wide generic supply.Read the education note Concerta (methylphenidate XR)Different mechanism from amphetamines. Steady 8-12 hour coverage. The call when amphetamines do not sit right.Read the education note Guanfacine (Intuniv)Non-stimulant. Useful when anxiety is on board, sleep is rough, or stimulants are not appropriate.Read the education note

Depression

Antidepressants and mood-support medications

Wellbutrin (bupropion)NDRI, not an SSRI. No sexual dysfunction. Energy-activating profile. Good when motivation is the problem.Read the education note Zoloft (sertraline)Most prescribed SSRI. Broad-spectrum: depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, panic. Decades of data.Read the education note Prozac (fluoxetine)Long half-life, forgiving of missed doses. Activating side. Also used for OCD and bulimia.Read the education note Trintellix (vortioxetine)Newer. Cleaner cognitive profile. Good when brain fog is dragging alongside mood.Read the education note Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)SNRI. Useful when energy, pain, and mood are all in the mix. Fewer CYP interactions than venlafaxine.Read the education note

Anxiety & Sleep

Non-controlled options we reach for first

Hydroxyzine (antihistamine)PRN anxiety plus sleep. Not a controlled substance. Sedating, short-acting, non-addictive. Underrated.Read the education note Propranolol (beta-blocker)Performance anxiety: heart rate, voice, hands. Take 60-90 minutes before the event. Not for daily use.Read the education note Trazodone (SARI)Sleep without the dependency of sleep aids. Also useful for nightmares in PTSD. Low morning grogginess at low doses.Read the education note Remeron (mirtazapine)Heavily sedating. The call when sleep is broken and appetite is gone. Weight gain is real.Read the education note Melatonin (supplement)OTC. Lower doses often work better than the giant tablets everyone buys. Timing matters more than dose.Read the education note Luvox (fluvoxamine)Strong OCD evidence. The real play when OCD is driving the anxiety, not a first-line SSRI.Read the education note

Controlled sleep aids further down this page

Mood disorders & atypicals

Bipolar depression and stabilizer options

Latuda (lurasidone)FDA-approved for bipolar I depression. Take with food. Generally well-tolerated metabolically.Read the education note Caplyta (lumateperone)Newer atypical. Bipolar I and II depression. Cleaner metabolic profile than older atypicals.Read the education note

Sleep aids (controlled)

Prescription sleep medications -- used carefully

Schedule IV controlled substances. We prescribe them in specific situations and avoid long-term use. Not the first or second call for insomnia.

Ambien (zolpidem)Short-term sleep. Behavior effects like sleepwalking and sleep-driving are real. Read the risks before starting.Read the education note Lunesta (eszopiclone)Similar to Ambien. Slightly longer half-life. The metallic taste is real and persistent for some people.Read the education note Ativan (lorazepam)Benzodiazepine. Narrow legitimate use. Dependence risk is real. Read the breakdown before asking for it.Read the education note

Sexual health

ED and performance medications

Sildenafil (Viagra)PDE5 inhibitor. 4-6 hour window. Take on an empty stomach. Best-understood safety profile.Read the education note Tadalafil (Cialis)36-hour window. Daily low-dose option is popular because you stop timing things. Also FDA-approved for BPH.Read the education note

Weight & GLP-1

Metabolic and appetite medications

Semaglutide (Wegovy / Ozempic)GLP-1 agonist. Weekly injection. Works on appetite signaling in the brain, not willpower.Read the education note Tirzepatide (Zepbound / Mounjaro)Dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist. Outperformed semaglutide head-to-head in major trials.Read the education note

Antibiotics

Prescriptions in the context of men's health

We prescribe antibiotics primarily in men's health contexts: acne, STI treatment, common infections. Full guides on psychiatry.help.

DoxycyclineBroad use in men's health: acne, chlamydia, gonorrhea, tick-borne illness. Often the first call for antibiotic acne treatment.Read the education note Azithromycin (Z-Pack)Short-course tool for respiratory infections and certain STI cases. Convenient dosing when appropriate.Read the education note

A note on how we prescribe

We prescribe medications that support the actual work, not instead of it. For most conditions we treat, medication is one part of the plan, not the whole plan. If medication is the right tool for where you are, we will figure out which one and start low.

We are a small practice in Vancouver, WA, licensed in Oregon and Washington. Telehealth is available for most medication management. Controlled substances, stimulants, sleep medications, and sleep aids require a video visit under current DEA rules.

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