Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are SSRIs?TypesPossible Side EffectsSafety and PrecautionsWhich is the Right SSRI?Frequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are SSRIs?
Types
Possible Side Effects
Safety and Precautions
Which is the Right SSRI?
Frequently Asked Questions
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, were the third class or generation of antidepressants developed. They are now the most commonly prescribed antidepressant medications.They are prescribed to treatdepressionbut are also used to treat a broader range of depressive disorders,anxiety disorders, andpost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).
Having depression is common. Depression affects around 6.7% of the population (16.1 million people) of the United States each year, and that’s just the people with clinical diagnoses. Medications such as SSRIs, along with other depression treatment options like talk therapy, can make depression a very treatable condition.
This article explains how SSRIs work, what conditions they are used for, and the different types you may encounter on your own mental health journey. You will also learn about the most common side effects and important safety precautions.
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Depression Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
True to their name, SSRIs are medications that inhibit or limit the reuptake ofserotonin. Serotonin is the chemical messenger associated with mood, energy, sexual functioning, digestion, and sleep.It is naturally present in the gut, brain, and central nervous system.
By inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin,SSRIs work to increase levels of serotonin in your body. While low levels of serotonin are associated with symptoms of depression, there isn’t one single cause, and many factors, including environmental, genetic, and biological, play a role.
Serotonin vs. Dopamine: What Are the Differences?
How Are SSRIs Used?
FDA-approved SSRIs to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders include:
Serotonin partial agonist reuptake inhibitors (SPARIs) have further effects:
Not every SSRI is approved to treat every mood disorder.
Lexapro vs. Zoloft: Drug Comparison
Possible SSRI Side Effects
The FDA lists the following common side effects from SSRIs:
Seizures, abnormal bleeding or bruising, and withdrawal symptoms when adjusting medication can be more serious side effects of SSRIs.
How SSRIs Affect Periods
SSRIs may not be an option for everyone. Only you and your healthcare provider can decide what, if any, is the right antidepressant for you.
Drug Interactions
If you’re already taking other medications, SSRIs may interact with them, increasing the risk of adverse reactions or symptoms of overdose.
Negative drug interactions usually involve combinations of an SSRI with other psychotropics (psychoactive drugs that alter nervous system functions), especially tricyclic antidepressants andmonoamine oxidase inhibitor(MAOI),lithium, clozapine, and methadone. Drug interactions are common with SSRIs, especially with other psychotropic.The risk with these specific agents isserotonin syndrome, which requires emergency care.
Herbal and natural products can also cause drug interactions with SSRIs. Examples include:
Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening reaction to having excessive amounts of serotonin in the nervous system.This can happen when taking SSRIs and other substances that impact serotonin known as serotonergic drugs.
Pain medications, certain migraine medications, herbal supplements (such as Saint-John’s-wort), and antidepressants like SSRIs fall into this category. It causes:
Pregnancy
SSRIs are generally considered safe during pregnancy. Untreated depression during pregnancy is not safe for the person or the growing fetus with specific neonatal needs.
Previously, there was a public health advisory for SSRIs during pregnancy due to risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), which is a low concentration of oxygen in the blood due to circulation issues. That advisory has since been recalled as it was based on a single published study. Newer data show PPHN is rare, and that doctors should not alter their treatment of depression.
Children and Teens
Antidepressants carry an FDAboxed warningabout a risk of increased suicidal thinking and behavior in some individuals under the age of 25.
Benefits of SSRIs may outweigh risks, but close monitoring of children and teens taking antidepressants is necessary.
Suicidal Thoughts
There is risk ofsuicidal thinkingassociated with depression, mood disorders, and antidepressant use, but it’s not a direct relationship, nor is it explained simply. A 2021 study demonstrated suicidal thoughts were more likely in the month before starting antidepressants than the month after or at the year-after mark. Results don’t support that SSRI treatment increases the risk of suicidal behavior, but it is possible that SSRI treatment reduces the risk.
When to Stop Treatment
Depression, like any mental health condition, truly is different for everyone. This means there is no “standard” treatment course for antidepressants. That said, healthcare providers usually recommend taking the medication for six to nine months before deciding to go off them.
However, if you’ve had three or more recurrences of depression, your provider may recommend maintaining treatment for two years after your symptoms stop or stabilize.Only you and your providers can determine when or if stopping treatment is best for your situation.
How Long Do Antidepressants Take to Work?
How to Find the Right Antidepressant
The right antidepressant may take trial and error to find. This is because it’s not possible to predict for certain how your body chemistry will respond to the medication.
If one SSRI doesn’t seem to be working–or the side effects are unmanageable–talk to your prescribing provider about trying another antidepressant. This can include another SSRI or another class of drugs like selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
What Are the Similarities and Differences Between SSRIs and SNRIs?
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Depression is a complex mental health condition with many potential causes and factors that can either work in support of recovery or against treatment efforts. While medications can be a lifesaving tool for people with depression, they are not the only option, nor should they be seen as the only tool for managing depression. You may also want to considertalk therapy, which can help you work through any underlying problems (past or present).
How Depression Is Treated
Frequently Asked QuestionsProzac (fluoxetine) is the most well-researched SSRI for treating depression, but which SSRI is best for you will depend upon individual factors. Only you and your healthcare provider can determine what antidepressant may be most beneficial for your situation.No. SSRIs are used to treat a variety of conditions, including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and other mood disorders. Healthcare providers may also prescribe SSRIs for off-label uses, depending on the person’s medical history and health condition.Yes. SSRIs are used to treat anxiety. Serotonin impacts a range of moods and emotions, not just depression or happiness. Adequate levels of serotonin are associated with calm along with happiness.the term “inhibit the reuptake of serotonin” means to prevent the reabsorption of serotonin in order to increase overall levels in your body.Drinking alcohol when taking antidepressantsis advised against. You should not combine them. Doing so could have side effects like impaired thinking and increased drowsiness.The difference is that SSRIs target serotonin only, but SNRIs block or inhibit the reabsorption of serotonin and another chemical messenger associated with mood called norepinephrine. It is used to treat other conditions along with depression, including fibromyalgia.Learn MoreSymptoms of Fibromyalgia
Prozac (fluoxetine) is the most well-researched SSRI for treating depression, but which SSRI is best for you will depend upon individual factors. Only you and your healthcare provider can determine what antidepressant may be most beneficial for your situation.
No. SSRIs are used to treat a variety of conditions, including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and other mood disorders. Healthcare providers may also prescribe SSRIs for off-label uses, depending on the person’s medical history and health condition.
Yes. SSRIs are used to treat anxiety. Serotonin impacts a range of moods and emotions, not just depression or happiness. Adequate levels of serotonin are associated with calm along with happiness.
the term “inhibit the reuptake of serotonin” means to prevent the reabsorption of serotonin in order to increase overall levels in your body.
Drinking alcohol when taking antidepressantsis advised against. You should not combine them. Doing so could have side effects like impaired thinking and increased drowsiness.
The difference is that SSRIs target serotonin only, but SNRIs block or inhibit the reabsorption of serotonin and another chemical messenger associated with mood called norepinephrine. It is used to treat other conditions along with depression, including fibromyalgia.Learn MoreSymptoms of Fibromyalgia
The difference is that SSRIs target serotonin only, but SNRIs block or inhibit the reabsorption of serotonin and another chemical messenger associated with mood called norepinephrine. It is used to treat other conditions along with depression, including fibromyalgia.
Learn MoreSymptoms of Fibromyalgia
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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