Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor: Difference between revisions

'''Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors''' (commonly abbreviated as '''SSRIs''') refers to a class of pharmaceutical [[antidepressant]] medications that are commonly prescribed for the treatment of major depressive disorder and other conditions, including anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and in some cases, migraine, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), addiction/dependence, and sleep disorders. While the precise pharmacological mechanism of action SSRIs is unknown, they are believed to increase the extracellular level of serotonin, leading to increased mood. Because SSRIs increase the levels of serotonin in the synapses, they can be dangerous when used in combination with other drugs that increase or modulate serotonin such as [[MDMA]] and [[MAOI|Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors]] (MAOIs). If SSRIs are used with these drugs, it could potentially lead to [[serotonin syndrome]], which requires immediate hospitalization and can be fatal in extreme cases. SSRIs do not work for everyone and take 3-6 weeks to start having noticeable effects.

SSRIs have fewer side effects and are much safer in overdose than older antidepressants like [[MAOI|monoamine oxidase inhibitors]] and [[tricyclic antidepressants]]. [[MAOI |Monoamine oxidase inhibitors]] also interact with many other medications and foods, leading to a hypertensive crisis that can be fatal, while SSRIs do not do this. SSRIs commonly cause sexual dysfunction and compulsive yawning as side effects. SSRIs can have strong withdrawal symptoms which include flu-like symptoms, as well as [[brain zaps]].