Antidepressants, i.e. antidepressants, affect the nervous system of the patient, making the patient feel better, feel more calm, gain a better mood. They also work in such a way that they facilitate falling asleep, thanks to which insomnia, which over time appears in depression, is also cured. It should be remembered, however, that antidepressants work only after a few weeks, and sometimes even several months, after starting their use. Therefore, you cannot be discouraged and put off taking medications in case of illness.
How do antidepressants work?
The cells that make up the brain are called neurons. We will also find glial cells in it, which are a kind of support for neurons that create networks and also provide them with nutrients. Between neurons there are synapses, special places where “information” is transmitted between individual neurons. One of the mechanisms that occur at synapses is the so-called reuptake. The neurotransmitter is “released” from one neuron and “caught” by the other. Antidepressants are designed to block the uptake of certain neurotransmitters or other substances that affect the patient’s mood.
The most well-known of them are SSRIs – or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These are currently the most commonly used drugs, which are called drugs of the new generation.
- Serotonin: is a neurotransmitter and hormone that improves mood, regulates sleep, appetite, blood pressure and even body temperature. Low levels of serotonin are correlated with greater aggressiveness, fatigue, and sensitivity to pain.
Other antidepressants
- MAO – inhibitory monoaminooksydazy
- TCAs – tricyclic antidepressants
- Lithium salts – stabilize the mood
- SNRIs – serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
New discoveries of scientists
Modern research has made it possible to specify the role of antidepressants in the treatment of depression. It turns out that they not only selectively affect the patient’s mood, but also can actually contribute to the reconstruction of damaged brain regions and help in the multiplication and formation of nerve cells. This conclusion was reached by scientists from Johns Hopkins University.
So far, these studies have only been conducted on animals. However, it seems that their results can also be applied to humans. The antidepressants increased the production of the SFRP3 protein, which is a regulator of new cell formation in the brain.