Role of SSRI as antidepressant medication?
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Hello, my sister is 23 years old. She was preparing for medical entrance examination. However she could not clear it twice. She broke down very badly. She became depressed also. She is under treatment and also undergoing counselling process. Doctor has prescribed SSRI for her. I am a biology student. I do not have any prior knowledge of medicine. But still I would like to understand how this group of medicine helps in alleviating depression. Please help.
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@amitesh Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. They can ease symptoms of moderate to severe depression, are relatively safe and typically cause fewer side effects than other types of antidepressants do. SSRIs treat depression by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) that carry signals between brain nerve cells (neurons). SSRIs block the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin into neurons. This makes more serotonin available to improve transmission of messages between neurons. SSRIs are called selective because they mainly affect serotonin, not other neurotransmitters. SSRIs may also be used to treat conditions other than depression, such as anxiety disorders.