Medication

Plain-language guides to the medicines we prescribe: what each one does, its side effects, and how starting and stopping are planned. Written for patients and reviewed by our psychiatrist.

• Escitalopram (Lexapro)Patient guide to escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex): what it's used for in Japan, its strengths, common side effects, and how starting and stopping are planned with your doctor.
• Sertraline (Zoloft / J Zoloft)Patient guide to sertraline (Zoloft, J Zoloft): what it's used for in Japan, its strengths, common side effects, and how starting and stopping are planned with your doctor.
• Paroxetine (Paxil)Patient guide to paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat): what it's used for in Japan, its strengths, common side effects, and how starting and stopping are planned with your doctor.
• Venlafaxine (Effexor SR)Patient guide to venlafaxine (Effexor SR): what it's used for in Japan, including generalized anxiety disorder, side effects, and how stopping is planned.
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)Patient guide to duloxetine (Cymbalta): what it's used for in Japan, including chronic pain, side effects, and how starting and stopping are planned.
• Vortioxetine (Trintellix)Patient guide to vortioxetine (Trintellix, Brintellix): what it's used for in Japan, its strengths, side effects, and how stopping is planned.
• Mirtazapine (Remeron / Reflex)Patient guide to mirtazapine (Remeron, Reflex): what it's used for in Japan, how it helps sleep and appetite, common side effects, and how treatment is planned.
• Trazodone (Reslin)Patient guide to trazodone (Reslin): what it's used for in Japan, its calming profile, common side effects, and how treatment is planned.
• Daridorexant (Quviviq)Patient guide to daridorexant (Quviviq): what it's used for in Japan, how this newer sleep medicine differs from older ones, and how to take it safely.
• Lemborexant (Dayvigo)Patient guide to lemborexant (Dayvigo): what it's used for in Japan, how this newer sleep medicine differs from older ones, and how to take it safely.
• Suvorexant (Belsomra)Patient guide to suvorexant (Belsomra): what it's used for in Japan, how this newer sleep medicine differs from older ones, and how to take it safely.
• Ramelteon (Rozerem)Patient guide to ramelteon (Rozerem): what it's used for in Japan, how this body-clock sleep medicine works, and why it isn't habit-forming.
• Eszopiclone (Lunesta)Patient guide to eszopiclone (Lunesta): what it's used for in Japan, how to take it safely, the bitter taste, and what to know about dependence.
• Zolpidem (Ambien / Myslee)Patient guide to zolpidem (Ambien, Myslee): what it's used for in Japan, how to take it safely, bringing it into Japan, and what to know about dependence.
• Alprazolam (Xanax / Solanax)Patient guide to alprazolam (Xanax, Solanax, Constan): its uses in Japan, how benefits are weighed against dependence, and bringing it into Japan.
• Lorazepam (Ativan / Wypax)Patient guide to lorazepam (Ativan, Wypax): what it's used for in Japan, how its benefits are weighed against dependence, and bringing it into Japan.
• Aripiprazole (Abilify)Patient guide to aripiprazole (Abilify): its uses in Japan, how it differs from other antipsychotics, side effects, and the monitoring that keeps it safe.
• Brexpiprazole (Rexulti)Patient guide to brexpiprazole (Rexulti): its uses in Japan, how it differs from other antipsychotics, side effects, and the monitoring that keeps it safe.
• Olanzapine (Zyprexa)Patient guide to olanzapine (Zyprexa): what it's used for in Japan, why diabetes matters with it, its side effects, and the monitoring that keeps it safe.
• Quetiapine (Seroquel)Patient guide to quetiapine (Seroquel): what it's used for in Japan, why diabetes matters with this medicine, side effects, and how treatment is managed.
• Risperidone (Risperdal)Patient guide to risperidone (Risperdal): its uses in Japan, how it differs from other antipsychotics, common side effects, and how treatment is managed.
• Lithium (Limas)Patient guide to lithium (Limas): what it's used for in Japan, its long-term role in bipolar care, and the blood tests and precautions that keep it safe.
• Valproate (Depakene)Patient guide to valproate (Depakene, Epilim): what it's used for in Japan, the pregnancy warning that matters most, side effects, and how it is monitored.
• Atomoxetine (Strattera)Patient guide to atomoxetine (Strattera): its use for ADHD in Japan, how this non-stimulant differs from stimulant medicines, and how treatment is managed.
• Guanfacine (Intuniv)Patient guide to guanfacine (Intuniv): what it's used for in Japan, how this non-stimulant ADHD medicine differs from stimulants, and how to take it.
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)Patient guide to lamotrigine (Lamictal): what it's used for in Japan, why the slow start matters, the rash rule to know, and how treatment is planned.
• Etizolam (Depas)Patient guide to etizolam (Depas), a Japanese anti-anxiety medicine not approved in the US, UK, or most of Europe: what it is and what to know.
• Clonazepam (Klonopin / Rivotril)Patient guide to clonazepam (Klonopin, Rivotril, Landsen): how its Japanese approval differs from the US, bringing it in, and how treatment is planned.

These pages are general information, not medical advice. Your doctor decides what's right for you.