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.
Plain medication talkBenefits, side effects, and the boring truth
Education next doorDeep dives open on psychiatry.help
No refill millMedication only when it fits
OR + WA careTelehealth or Vancouver visits
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
Mood disorders & atypicals
Bipolar depression and stabilizer options
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
Weight & GLP-1
Metabolic and appetite medications
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.
Book an evaluationFrom people who actually came in
What Patients Are Saying
Came in already on three meds from three different providers, none of whom were talking to each other. We sat down and went through each one, what it was for, was it still doing the job. Knocked two of them off the list after about six weeks. Cleaner now.
Greg, 53Refills used to be the thing I dreaded most, calling around, getting voicemail, waiting three days. The portal here actually works, I message, it gets sent, pharmacy has it. Sounds basic until you've spent five years dealing with the alternative.
Joe, 51What I appreciated was Ragnar didn't just write the same script the last guy wrote. We talked about why that one wasn't quite doing it, switched to a different option in the same class, and it's working better. Took ten extra minutes to have that conversation.
Brian, 40