If you have recently been prescribed SSRIs for a certain issue you have been facing, then you most probably want to understand the impact of these drugs on, well, your mental health. After all, you want to know what to expect when you start taking them, and you want to, thus, get better prepared for the journey. Of course, you trust that your doctor has made the right choice and the right decision for you, but that still isn’t stopping you from having questions and wanting to get answers.
And, in this case, you have quite some questions. What Are SSRIs is the first of them. But then, you want to know what conditions they are usually prescribed for, how effective they are, what kinds of side-effects you may expect, and why it is that the same drug won’t have the same effect on two different people. In short, you want to understand the impact on SSRIs on mental health, and you’ll understand it better by getting answers to those important questions we have mentioned.
Well, if you are ready to get the answers, then you have undeniably come to the right place. Below we are going to answer them for you, providing you with the information you need to know if you have to start taking these medications. Or if you’re simply curious about them for any reason whatsoever. Without any more ado, thus, let us get started.
What Are SSRIs?
Clearly, we have to begin with the very basics here. What are SSRIs in the first place? Well, these are a class of antidepressants that is known for targeting serotonin specifically. To be more precise, an SSRI, which stands for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, prevents the reuptake of serotonin, which is the process of having it taken back to the cell from which it was released with the help of special proteins.
When the reuptake is prevented, it means that more of this neurotransmitter will remain in the synapse. So, the serotonin activity in your brain will be increased. And, I suppose you already know that serotonin is a rather significant neurotransmitter, known for regulating our mood, our sleep, our appetite, our stress-response, as well as all kinds of other processes in our bodies.
Understand this neurotransmitter better: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545168/
What Conditions Are They Prescribed for?
Okay, the next thing you want to know is what conditions these drugs are usually prescribed for. If you’ve been prescribed SSRIs, then your psychiatrist has probably been quite upfront about what they are prescribing it for, so you know why it is that you are taking them. Yet, you want to know what it is that people are commonly taking them for, because you now that these medications can help with various conditions.
As it is easy to guess, these medications, given that they are antidepressants, have first been developed for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Yet, they are nowadays used for a wider range of mental health conditions. For one thing, they can help treat anxiety disorders, which include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorders, as well as social anxiety. For another, they are known to be effective for PTSD, helping reduce flashbacks, hyperarousal, emotional numbness and more. Apart from that, they are also often prescribed for eating disorders, as well as for OCD.
How Effective Are They?
As you can see, SSRIs have quite a wide range of application. But, how effective are they exactly? The short answer is – they can be very effective for treating various mental health conditions. The long answer is that it will depend on different things, such as the type of SSRI you are given, the dosage, and generally individual differences among patients. Plus, it takes time to see improvements, often around 4 weeks.
What you have to know is that different SSRIs and different doses are given not only for different conditions, but also for the same condition, but to different people. And, studies show that they can be extremely effective for the conditions we have mentioned above. Furthermore, another well-known fact is that higher doses are often required for OCD compared to, for example, depression or anxiety disorders, further discussed on this website.
Why Do Individual Differences Matter?
I’ve mentioned a few times that individual differences play a role in the effectiveness of these medications. Why, though? Well, to put it simply, our genetic differences related to those serotonin receptors and transporters will affect how we respond to SSRIs. This is why a lot of professionals order genetic tests to be able to determine more precisely which SSRI could work best for you, and which dose.
What Can You Expect in Terms of Side-Effects?
Finally, you want to know what to expect in terms of the side-effects. Well, they are usually experienced early in the treatment process, often in the first two weeks. They can include symptoms like headaches, nausea, insomnia or sleepiness, jitteriness and anxiety. The good news is that the side-effects are often both mild and temporary.
