If serotonin regulation is the key to relieving depression, then why do other non-SSRIs work?

Question

There seems to be many in the medical community who think that serotonin regulation with SSRI's are the key to treating depression. However, many earlier drugs have proved effective in treating depression such as MAOs, tricyclics, lithium. I am not arguing here which is more effective and has the least side effects. The question is the key really serotonin regulation in the brain or is there another cause to depression? I feel drug companies push SSRI's and say it is a chemical imbalance, because they sell chemicals and only their chemicals work.

There has been a study published that agreed that SSRI's work for depression, but that study showed that SSRI's worked in the exact opposite way that the drug companies have argued. I.e., to me it is still an open question as to what depression in the brain truly is.

Some scientists now believe that depression is an auto-immune disease of the brain. SSRI's and other anti-depressant medication suppress the immune system.

Answer 1

the medical community is slowly coming to the realization that depression is a symptom of hormonal imbalance. but since is it more profitable to treat a symptom rather than cure the underlying cause, their focus is on the use of anti-depressants.

Answer 2

Depression cannot be painted by a single paintbrush
The American Psychiatric Association classifies depression under many types and categories
Lithium is usually used for Bi-polar depression w/ bouts of mania

The many different types of medication available are made to complement the many types of depression and the many phases that occur w/ depression since it is not a black or white condition like pregnancy (u either are or not - this is not the case when it comes to a depressed individual)

Serotonin is not the only amino-acid of focus for depression, but its research & the results on the treatment have shown the most promising
The main area of study has been the Monoamine Theory of Depression
Monoamines are the bioamines which are serotonin, epinephrine, norepinephrine & dopamine
They all play strong roles in regulating proper brain function as well as physiological function

As complicated as the brain is, it only takes a small inbalance in one of these bioamines to throw off regular function and determining which one it is, why it is inbalanced and how to correct it is very difficult - and many side effects occur as a result

Every person is unique, a cookie cutter drug is not the solution or 'cure' to an intricate problem like depression

Answer 3

I don't know the science of your question but I have depression. I take an SSRI and it has helped me tremendously. There are also side effects if I stop taking it, like getting so dizzy I cannot get out of bed (that takes only 2 days without medication). I was told stress depletes the seretonin and the SSRI helps keep the level of seretonin up. Seretonin affects the transmitters that send signals to the rest of your body. When you have a low level of seretonin, no only are you depressed, but the rest of your body slowly stops working. I don't have a medical degree--this is what the doctors told me.

Answer 4

SSRIs actually do not regulate serotonin, they inhibit its reuptake into the synaptic cleft. This causes the serotonin to be bound to the receptor for a longer period of time which equates to a longer stimulus/action/reaction from the receptor bond. Also having the serotonin in the cleft a little longer can lead to more bonds being formed by other receptors being introduced into the synaptic cleft. Anytime the chemical reuptake inhibition is altered, the effects can be vast depending on the receptor that is being inhibited. Hope this helps a little. Try looking into reuptake inhibitors for more light shed on this.