how do antidepressents work and why do they take so long to be effective
2007-04-29 06:23:58 · 8 answers · asked by MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION 5 in Health ➔ Other - Health
The current most popular group are called SSRIs, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors.
Serotonin is a brain chemical responsible in part for mood elevation. In many types of impression its levels in the brain fall, a good example is in SAD. Serotonin is stimulated by sunlight, in the winter levels fall and some people become seasonally depressed. Serotonin is manufactured from the amino acid tryptophan which is why tryptophan containing foods and drugs are also said to help mood. A classic example of this is chocolate.
SSRIs like Prozac reduce the break down of serotonin so levels rise, it takes about 3 weeks for this to come about, hence the time delay.
2007-04-29 08:05:34 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Frank 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use this link to the Mind website,
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Making+sense/Making+sense+of+antidepressants.htm
it should be able to answer these questions for you.
Also see the link below about depression
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+depression.htm
Remember that there are other ways and alternative therapies that can also help with depression.
There isn't a magic wand or miracle cure, sorry to say.
I know, I've suffered with clinical depression for over 20 years.
But there is good help and support available.
2007-04-29 10:14:53 · answer #2 · answered by Jules 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
SSRI's (most commonly used) work by delaying the reuptake of seratonin (a neurotransmitter) in your brain, which makes the neurotransmitter "sit" in the synapse longer in a usable form. MAOIs work by inhibiting an enzyme that breaks down seratonin. Both take some time to get to levels at which you will notice a difference.
2007-04-29 06:28:08 · answer #3 · answered by michele 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anti depressants work by balancing the seretonin levels in the brain. They act as a re uptake inhibitor
2007-04-29 06:41:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This link answers you question. If you take any yourself, I hope they work for you in the long run.
2007-04-29 06:43:47 · answer #5 · answered by tattyhead65 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they put back into your body what it is you've lost and so the build up takes time to be effective
2007-04-29 07:27:13 · answer #6 · answered by srracvuee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of them work by relaxing the muscles in the body.Like most drugs they take long because you need to get a build up of them into your system.
2007-04-29 06:36:27 · answer #7 · answered by Julie 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/Organizations/DDIL/SSRI.htm
2007-04-29 06:34:06 · answer #8 · answered by RICHARD W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋