Common Drugs prescribed at the VA Trauma Recovery Program

I keep hearing the same names again and again.  Sometimes my mentor quizes me!  Anyhow, this is the most common stuff prescribed there:

-Citalopram:  very commonly prescribed SSRI.  They like it because it has few intereactions with other drugs.  Practically every depressed patient is on it.

-Trazodone:  very commonly used SARI.  Used to help patients get some sleep (and take care of some depressive symptoms at the same time).

-Valproic Acid:  not used commonly but is used sometimes.  patients on it have to have their blood checked (to make sure that levels of valproic acid are not too high and do a CBC to make sure there is no thromocytopenia).

-Wellbutrin:  One of the physicians put it nicely when he said "its to perk you up".  So, it actually helps patients have more energy.  Wellbutrin (or Bupropion) increases levels of Norepinephrine which has a stimulatory effect.  You want to avoid this drug if the person has seizures.