Psych Drug Acronyms Explained!

Neuroskeptic iconNeuroskeptic
By Neuroskeptic
Aug 10, 2009 6:00 AMNov 5, 2019 3:32 AM

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Modern psychiatry is an alphabet soup of acronyms. Sometimes it seems like there are almost as many as there are drugs. This can be confusing. So, here's a quick guide to what they really mean.

Please add any of your own in the comments!

SSRI - Sexual Stimulation Required Increased(*)Also, Suicides? Suppress Report Immediately!(*)Also, Stopped Suddenly - Regret Imminent?(*)

NRI

- No Real Impact?(*)Also, Nix Relevant Information(*)

NASSA (mirtazapine) - Never Again Slim; Sleep Alot.(*)Also, Nighttime, And Strange Sights Abound(*)

TCA - The Classic Antidepressants(*)Also, Toxicity - Cardiac Arrests(*)

ECT -

Effective, Cheap Treatment(*)Also Erases Childhood Thoughts?(*)

VNS - Very Nebulous Science(*)Also, Very New Snakeoil?

fMRI - Future Marketable Research Initiative(*)Disclaimer - The digs at SSRIs are probably unfair: in my experience, the withdrawal symptoms are mild and I think the claimed link to suicide is most likely a myth. But it's funny.

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