SSRIs are the most common form of antidepressant. Since the introduction of Prozac in 1987, SSRIs have been prescribed to patients to combat depression.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most widely prescribed antidepressants in the United States. They include popular medications such as Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro.
This class of drugs was once thought to work by increasing the brain’s serotonin levels. Neurons use neurotransmitters like serotonin to send and receive messages. After carrying a message, serotonin is typically reabsorbed by the neurons.
SSRIs supposedly “inhibit” this “reuptake”, thereby increasing the levels of available serotonin. This corrects a chemical imbalance in the brain.
SSRIs do work for many people, but they can also present issues. Despite increasing serotonin levels immediately, it can take patients about a month or more to start seeing results. SSRIs also require the patient to stick to a daily pharmaceutical regime of taking pills that can have negative side effects.