If you have recently been prescribed SSRIs by your mental health professional, or if a person you know has been prescribed a medication from that group, then you probably want to get a better understanding about them. But then, you could just simply be curious about these for other reasons, perhaps because you are in a profession that requires you to learn a bit more about them, or because you are simply curious by nature and this topic has grabbed your interest. In any case, getting a better idea about these is definitely a good move.
To put things differently, it is a good thing that you want to do some learning. Understanding the effects of SSRIs is undeniably a smart move, whether you have been prescribed these or not, but especially so if you have, and you now want to figure out what to expect when you start taking them. So, there is absolutely no doubt that you have a lot of questions on your mind about these.
For one thing, you want to understand what SSRIs actually are. Then, you want to know what it is that they are used for, which is undeniably an important question as well. And, of course, as we have hinted at already, if you have been prescribed these, or someone you love has been prescribed these, then you want to know what to expect once you or those other people start taking them. So, without any more ado, let us now start answering those questions for you.
What Are SSRIs?
Unsurprisingly, we are going to begin with the very basics here. So, what exactly are SSRIs? In short, we are talking about a class of antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. As you may have guessed it by the name, these work by preventing the reuptake of serotonin, which means that more of it remains in the synaptic cleft, thus being active. And, over time, this increased availability of serotonin can help improve people’s mood and emotional regulation.
Perhaps one of the most common misconceptions about these medications is that they actually create serotonin. If you have been reading carefully, though, you have understood that this is not the case, and that the idea is for these medications to actually make use of the serotonin that your body naturally produces. Go here to read some more about these medications and about how they work.
Now, you have most likely already heard about some of these medications, as there are some well-known names out there. Including Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro and similar. Compared to older antidepressants, these are much better tolerated, which is why they are nowadays considered first-line treatments for various mental health conditions.
What Are They Used for?
What is it exactly that these are prescribed and used for, though? Well, since they belong to the class of antidepressants, I suppose you understand already that depression is one of those conditions that they are used to help treat. But, it doesn’t stop there, because these can be rather useful for other mental health conditions as well. Including conditions like anxiety and panic disorders, PTSD, and even some cases of OCD.
Read More: 6 Signs Of High Functioning PTSD: The Silent Battle Within
What can they actually help with, though? Well, to cut right to the chase, they can be rather helpful for many people when it comes to decreasing certain symptoms, especially when they can be classified as moderate to severe. They can reduce feelings of hopelessness and sadness, as well as panic and anxiety, while improving emotional stability, regulating your sleep, and increasing your general ability to engage in daily activities, as well as psychotherapy, if you have decided to try this type of help for your mental health issues.
Here is more about them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_serotonin_reuptake_inhibitor
What to Expect When You Start Taking Them?
Now that you understand what these are and what they are used for, what you want to do next is actually figure out what it is that you can expect when you start taking these medications. And, while you can expect the reduction of those symptoms that we have mentioned above, you should understand that this won’t happen instantly. In other words, SSRIs take some time to work.
It can take several weeks for you to start noticing improvements. This is because your brain needs time to adjust its receptors and its communication pathways to the new situation. So, while this delay may be frustrating in the beginning, you should know that it is completely normal.
Another thing you should be aware of is that the same medication won’t affect all people the same way. There are individual differences to consider, which is why it can often take time for your doctor to find the perfect medication for you. This is also why a lot of professionals now rely on genetic testing, in order to help them get a better idea about how you would react to specific SSRIs, and thus increase their chances of prescribing you the perfect option right away.
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