The recent discussion in the media has focussed on the anxiety and depression medication that Sushant Singh Rajput was allegedly told to take by his sister.

Now, medication like this must only be taken if prescribed by a psychiatrist, and FIT talks to Dr Ruksheda Syeda to break down what these medicines do and what harm they can do if taken without supervision.

“First”, says Dr Syeda, “We want everyone to understand that the brain is an organ just like any other one. It has a lot of functions, and one of them is the mind - where you are thinking, feeling etc. Now if there is a problem in the functioning of the brain you are also going to get mind symptoms - just like you will get physical symptoms.”

She adds that these symptoms will tell doctors what functioning of the brain is currently disordered, “based on this we come to a diagnosis and give you medication.”

So can any doctor prescribe psychiatry medication for me?

No, says Dr Syeda, “What I mean by a licensed doctor is that if you are a Homeopathic doctor you cannot prescribe allopathic drugs and vice versa. Certain doctors are licensed to write certain medications.”

She adds that while general physicians with an MBBS degree can prescribe medications, “because it is so specialized, most MBBS doctors aren't trained in it to fully understand and prescribe.”

Under certain stressful circumstances, yes one can go get an emergency prescription from a GP, but they should always follow up with a psychiatrist.

Explaining Psychiatric Medications

Basically, it’s not one-size-fits-all. “I need to understand your symptoms, which part of the brain might be malfunctioning, what are the neurotransmitters that might be involved. Even in depression, there are different symptoms, some will come with more sadness, some with more functional impairment. So depending on these I prescribe.”

She adds the while doctors also need to take care to explain the issues to their patient and refer them to a specialised doctor, it is also up to the patient to be more proactive about their health. As for loved ones thinking they are helping by providing medication by illegal means, she says, “It’s sort of like gaslighting and not taking the person’s condition seriously enough to take them to a doctor.”

What about the medications - Librium, Nexito and Lonazep - what do they really do?

Librium

Librium is the trade name for the medicine Chlordiazepoxide, which is used to treat anxiety and alcohol withdrawal writes WebMD.

It belongs to the class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which act on the brain and nerves to create a calming effect and works by enhancing the effect of the chemical Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) which is naturally present in our bodies.

Side effects of Librium include dizziness, nausea, constipation and blurred visions though most people do not get serious side effects like fainting, stomach pain or persistent symptoms. If you do, it's best to visit your prescribing psychiatrist immediately.

Nexito

According to 1mg, Nexito is often used to treat mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and panic disorder.

It is a common anti-depressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which helps people by relieving stress and increasing the levels of a chemical called serotonin in the brain which can lift off the depression.

Lonazep helps to treat seizures, panic and anxiety disorders reports 1mg,

Dr Syeda says that these 3 medications all have different uses, and it is important for a doctor to assess if they can be taken together for a particular patient, at what dose, when to increase the dose, and more technicalities. “Nexito is not always going to suit everyone, so it’s important for a doctor to advise you, knowing your case history.”

She adds that even regular over-the-counter medication is not always safe all the time for everyone, and so for schedule H drugs, supervision and the correct medication for the symptom is a must.