Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

What are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)?

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants. While mostly used for treatment of depression, SSRIs are often prescribed for other uses including treatment of anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and social phobia.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are rationally designed drugs. Rather than being discovered by accident, SSRIs were specifically designed while considering the biological causes of depression.

SSRIs only work after they have built up in your system, and thus need to be taken regularly, and will start to have their effects after two weeks of treatment or possibly longer.

How Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Work

Depression is caused by a lack of stimulation of synaptic neurons. SSRIs stimulate the synapse by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT). Serotonin is one particular neurotransmitter related to depression. By inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, concentrations of serotonin in the synaptic gap increase, making it more likely that enough serotonin will build up to set off the impulse in the next neuron.

SSRIs are described as 'selective' because they affect only the reuptake pumps responsible for serotonin. Earlier antidepressants also affect other monoamine neurotransmitters. As a result, SSRIs lack some of the side effects of the the more general drugs.

Examples of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

The following Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically to treat depression:

• Paxil (Paroxetine)
• Prozac (Fluoxetine)
• Lexapro (Escitalopram Oxalate)
• Celexa (Citalopram)
• Zoloft (Sertaline)

Side effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

The most common side effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are gastro-intestinal effects including:

• nausea and vomiting
• indigestion
• abdominal pain
• diarrhoea or constipation

Other side effects may include:

• loss of appetite, weight loss
• increased appetite, weight gain
• allergic reactions
• dry mouth
• irritability / anxiety
• sleeplessness
• drowsiness
• headache
• shaking
• dizziness
• fits / convulsions
• disturbance of sexual function (but this is also a feature of depression)
• sweating
• bruising
• manic or hypomanic behaviour
• abnormal movements
• low sodium level
• suicidal ideas

While the list of side effects is extensive, most of these are unlikely to happen. If you do experience side effects, the most likely effect will be nausea, and most often this is only lasts for a few days. The good effects, however may take 2-6 weeks to come on, so it pays to be patient if you can.