Serotonin Depletion Due to Long Term Use of SSRI Medication

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Anyone taking medication for depression needs to understand the effects of serotonin depletion due to long term use of SSRI medication. This is an important subject in the overall consideration of the value of SSRI antidepressants, as many in the medical, pharmacological and mental health fields believe this to be one of the primary challenges with SSRI drug treatments.

Problems Appear After Sudden Cessation

This is the reason that physicians caution patients from abruptly stopping their medication, ore even changing the dosage without doctor's approval. Unfortunately, for someone already reeling from the challenges of this life-altering disease the necessity of following a doctor's directions can seem like another pressure and possible failure. Understanding the problems of serotonin depletion may help the sufferer, or those closest to them, to make any changes to depression medications in the best way possible.

Many patients who have suffer from depression and depression-related disorders have reported improvements when taking SSRI mediation; and yet responses on the whole indicate a broad variance of results. Of course, the pharmaceutical industry will be fairly uniform in their presentation of results and will look to the more positive components of the outcomes. This is not a matter of twisting the truth of statistical data, but is more a matter of emphasis. SSRIs have done some good for many people and the companies making the products want you to know about that.

Primary function of SSRI Medications

In simple terms, SSRI medications redistribute neurotransmitters from one place to another in the brain. The basic function of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors is to prolong the incredibly brief window of time where a message passes from one nerve cell to another.

The space between the two cells is called a synaptic gap. The cell sending the information releases neurotransmitters, of which serotonin is one. The neurotransmitters are then recognized by receptors on the surface of the receiving cell which, upon stimulation, relays the signal. The majority of the neurotransmitters (about 90%) are released by the receptors and taken up again into the sending cell. This process is generally known as reuptake.

With SSRI medications the serotonin neurotransmitters are basically tricked into remaining in the synaptic gap a little longer than normal. The hope is that with consistent or repeated messages that sounder thought processes will result and any anxieties will dissipate.

Prolonged Use of SSRI Presents Challenges

Here is the challenge that comes with prolonged use of SSRIs. Because the serotonin has been tricked into hanging around longer than normal, the body registers this as an overabundance of that particular chemical. The Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) system begins breaking the neurotransmitters down to get back to a more balanced or normalized state. Over prolonged periods of time this means more and more medication is required and can lead to a cycle where more medication is introduced with less and less effect.

Fortunately, there are answers available. In many instances it is possible to boost what are known as serotonin precursors - the amino acids, or, building blocks, of the serotonin neurotransmitters. Ordinarily, the benefits of the SSRI medications resume within one to two weeks. This is best handled under the care of a physician extremely familiar with the patient's situation.