Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors as Anti-Depressants

Lisa Lings recent documentary in CNN on the dangers and harmful side effects of benzodiazepines, a drug prescribed to treat anxiety prompted me to do some search on antidepressants because I have two closed relatives taking anti-depressant medications. 

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.

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft revolutionized the treatment of depression and related disorders when they arrived on the market in the 1980s. But research has found that SSRIs can cause serious side effects ranging from withdrawal complications to birth defects to suicidal thoughts and behavior in younger patients.

Eleven percent of Americans aged 12 years and over take an antidepressant medication, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The use of antidepressants increased nearly 400 percent between 1988 and 2008. SSRIs are the most common class of antidepressants in the U.S. and are believed to be safer and generally cause fewer side effects than other antidepressants.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved these SSRIs to treat depression:

• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)

All SSRIs are thought to work in a similar way and generally can cause similar side effects, though some people may not experience any. Many side effects may go away after the first few weeks of treatment, while others may lead you and your doctor to try a different drug.

Possible side effects of SSRIs may include, among others:

• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Insomnia
• Nervousness, agitation or restlessness
• Dizziness
• Sexual problems, such as reduced sexual desire, difficulty reaching orgasm or inability to maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction)
• Impact on appetite, leading to weight loss or weight gain

Which antidepressant is best for you depends on a number of issues, such as your symptoms and any other health conditions you may have. For details click on:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/ssris/art-20044825

SSRI's should not be withdrawn without consultation with your physician. Sudden withdrawal will usually cause patients to suffer SSRI discontinuation syndrome.