Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are actually effective antidepressant medications.
Introduced into the U.S. in the 1980s, these drugs have been one of the most sought after drugs in almost all places where anxiety disorders are very apparent.
Well known SSRIs’ actually include Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil), and Fluvoxamine (Luvox). Among all four, Fluoxetine (Prozac) is the first one to be introduced in the U.S. and the first one to made a name inside and outside U.S.
How SSRIs Work?
In the case of depression, some neurotransmitters like serotonin are lacking, so they can’t be taken back in full and hence can’t send the next message then. Basically, SSRIs assist the brain in maintaining enough supply of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
Likewise, SSRIs slow down the process of returning serotonin to the end of the neuron. Thus keeping enough serotonin for setting off impulse in the next neuron. In short, SSRIs work by teaching or guiding the body on how to make use of the most reduced amounts of serotonin possible.
When to Use SSRIs and Why Use Them?
Generally, SSRIs can be best used when you have some sort of depression, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder. By nature, SSRIs are well tolerated medications that are indeed safe to use and likewise also safe in terms of overdose instances.
What’s more, there are also no withdrawal effects unless the patient stops using them all of a sudden leaving no time for the body to prepare and adjust.
Why not SSRIs?
Yes, it’s true that SSRIs can really help but they also have some side effects like body discomforts most especially during the first two weeks of the medication, so it is really significant that you consider them first.
In relation, patients under an SSRI drug indeed oftentimes experience a temporary worsening of anxiety symptoms during the first weeks. Likewise, sudden discontinuation of the SSRIs could cause you some flu-like symptoms.
Not to mention the sexual problems more than what you could experience from other antidepressants and other side effects like insomnia, nausea, initial agitation and headaches, they can really trouble or sometimes stress you up.
