They are typically the first choice of medication prescribed for conditions like depression and anxiety because they have fewer side effects. SSRI medications include:. SNRIs, on the other hand, block the uptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine. SNRI medications include:. Which medication works best varies based on the individual and the condition it is treating. SSRIs are most commonly used in treating:.
They may also be used to treat other conditions such as:. Which SNRI is used depends on the condition being treated. The following medications are often prescribed for particular disorders:. Cymbalta duloxetine. Effexor Venlafaxine. Fetzima levomilnacipran. Pristiq desvenlafaxine. Savella milnacipran. Reuptake inhibitors may be prescribed by a primary healthcare provider or a mental health professional who is able to prescribe medications, such as a psychiatrist. Your healthcare provider may order blood tests or other tests to check for other medical considerations that could influence which medication is most appropriate.
Once a medication is chosen, your healthcare provider will usually begin by prescribing a low dose and increase the dosage over time if needed. It can take from two weeks to two months for the benefits of the medication to take full effect. Your healthcare provider will likely schedule a follow-up within a few weeks to check in on how the treatment is going and if there are side effects.
They may advise continuing with the same medication and dosage, change the dosage, or switch to a different medication altogether. Always inform your healthcare provider and pharmacist about any medications prescriptions, over-the-counter, and herbal , supplements, and vitamins that you currently take. Potential interactions are not always obvious and have the potential to cause side effects, influence the effectiveness of the medications, or even be dangerous.
Always check with your healthcare provider about proper dosing, and never change doses without first discussing it with your healthcare provider. Too much serotonin can cause a condition called serotonin syndrome. This condition can range from mild to life threatening. It usually occurs when different medications that affect serotonin are taken together, but it can happen if SSRIs or SNRIs are taken in too high a dosage. Each individual medication has its own guidelines for ways in which it may or may not be modified.
Consult your pharmacist or medication package insert for more specific details. It is important to take reuptake inhibitors as prescribed and avoid missing a dose. Taking reuptake inhibitors with food may help prevent nausea. Unless otherwise specified, these medications should be:. Make sure medication is kept out of reach and sight of children. Your healthcare provider will prescribe a medication with these side effects in mind.
Additionally, SSRIs change your brain by stimulating the growth of new cells and creating stronger connections, particularly in an area of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex DLPFC. New cell growth in the DLPFC can regulate areas of your brain that control anger, fear, memories, and mood. If you are experiencing unwanted side effects, your provider will work with you to adjust your medication or recommend another SSRI that may be a better fit for your needs.
Experiences with depression may vary as individuals respond to medications in different ways. This is why matching you with the right medication for your individual needs is essential. Usually, side effects go away within a week or two after your body adjusts to the medication. We may simply need to adjust your dose.
Aside from treating depression, SNRIs are sometimes used to treat other conditions, including anxiety disorders and chronic pain, especially chronic nerve pain. While serotonin works on mental balance and creates feelings of well-being, norepinephrine promotes feelings of alertness and energy — this power duo can help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety and boost your mood.
That said, the most common potential side effects of SNRIs include:. Aside from these, there are also some less common side effects which may present themselves:.
It is a normal mechanism by which the body controls how long a nerve signal lasts. However, if you have significantly low levels of a neurotransmitter, reuptake can be a problem as it restricts the amount of neurotransmitters being actively circulated in the brain. To this end, limiting reuptake increases the extracellular concentrations of these chemicals and, by doing so, increases their ability to exert positive effects on your mood.
Because reuptake inhibitors limit the reabsorption of certain neurotransmitters, these medications are able to increase the availability of these neurotransmitters in the brain. The reuptake inhibitors used to treat mood disorders are classified by the types of neurotransmitter pathway they block. The drugs are able to do this by binding one or several different proteins, called transporters, which are responsible for carrying the chemical between cells. Some of these reuptake inhibitors are classified as selective because they only bind to certain proteins, while others are nonspecific because they bind to a broad range of proteins.
The choice of reuptake inhibitor depends largely on the condition being treated and the mechanism of action of the drug. SSRIs work by blocking the serotonin transporter in neurons, which results in higher levels and greater activity of the feel-good chemical. They are typically used to treat major depressive disorder MDD and anxiety disorders.
While SSRIs are sometimes used to treat bipolar depression, there is some controversy as to how effective they are given their potential to exacerbate the rapid cycling of moods. SSRI medications approved for use in the U. Symbyax is specially approved for use in treating bipolar depression. SNRIs block both the serotonin transporter and norepinephrine transporter.
However, they are commonly used for short-term therapy, as prolonged use may trigger a manic or hypomanic episode. SNRI medications approved for use in the U. NRIs work by blocking the action of the norepinephrine transporter. NRI medications approved for use in the U. NDRIs block the action of both the norepinephrine transporter and the dopamine transporter. NDRI medications approved for use in the U. SNDRIs, also known as triple reuptake inhibitors, block the action of the serotonin transporter, norepinephrine transporter, and dopamine transporter.
While all these acronyms can be confusing, the good news is that there are many treatment options available for anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. Abstract The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRI are widely considered to be the first choice for antidepressant therapy. Publication types Review.
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