Introduction - Mechanism and Efficiency of SSRIs
For the better working of humans, they must have an effective relationship between the brain and behaviour. This is particularly necessary because when there will be a cordial relation between both then the person will be living better. For the successful working of the person it is very essential that the effective working is managed. This is essential for the reason that for a happy and healthy life, it is necessary to have a balance between the brain and behaviour. The present essay will outline the mechanism of SSRI which is Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors over the treatment of depression. In the current competitive environment, most people have some or other tensions and as a result of this, they might suffer depression. Thus, the people must treat the depression well so that they can live a better life. Hence, the present essay will outline the role which SSRI plays in treating depression and the efficiency of SSRI will also be examined.
Main Body
Concept of SSRI
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are a type of antidepressant which is majorly used for treating depression. This is a type of tablet which is used for easing the symptoms of severe depression so that a person can overcome the issue of depression. This is a tablet which is comparatively safe and has very less side effects as compared to other antidepressants. These are generally taken in the form of tablets and there are prescribed by the doctors with the minimum dose. These are generally taken for 2-4 weeks before the benefit is gained. It is also used as a pharmacotherapy which is particularly used for treating different psychiatric disorders (Leshem et al, 2021). This medicine is particularly approved to be used by both paediatric and adult patients. This is particularly because of the reason that in this modern world, children are majorly impacted by depression. This is particularly because the lifestyle of the people has changed and as a result of this, children are highly addicted to the use of mobile phones and other digital gadgets. Thus, it impacts the working of the children and their whole life and they start feeling depressed. Thus, the use of SSRIs will help the children to effectively overcome depression and other related psychiatric issues facing the child.
Mechanism of SSRI
For the effective treatment of depression and other psychiatric issues, the use of SSRIs is very helpful. Thus, for this, the mechanism of the use of SSRIs must be managed properly and effectively. The reason underlying the fact is that when the medicine is used effectively and the mechanism is effective then it will result in better working and treatment. With regards to the mechanism, when the person takes the medicine, it results in increasing the serotonin level within the brain (Lebin and Novick, 2022). This serotonin is a type of neurotransmitter which acts as a messenger chemical which is used to carry the signal between the nerves present within the brain. It is assumed that this chemical tries to have a good influence on the emotions, mood and sleep of the person suffering from depression or related issues. After the message is carried on serotonin is absorbed by the different nerve cells which is known as reuptake. Further, the work of SSRI is to block the reuptake which implies that there is more of the serotonin present for passing the messages to the nerve cells present nearby. With this mechanism, it is clear that the low level of serotonin results in increasing depression and other mental issues. Thus, SSRIs include serotonin as the main component of the medicine and the person must recover from the depression.
Moreover, for the effective use of SSRIs within the person it is combined with the use of other therapy as well. This other therapy includes the use of talking therapy which is cognitive behavioural therapy. It is very necessary for the doctor or the healthcare practitioner who is treating the patient they focus effectively on the way of talking. This is particularly necessary for the reason that when the person will be talking effectively and calmly to the patient then this will improve the working and treatment in a better and more effective manner. This is very necessary for the reason that when the patient talks sweetly and calmly then this makes the patient comfortable with the. Hence, along with the use of SSRIs, it is also very necessary for the healthcare practitioner that they must effectively talk to the patients so that they are comfortable and happy with the work.
Efficiency of SSRI in treating depression
For the effective treatment of depression and other mental disorders, effective treatment must be provided to the patient. The reason underlying the fact is that when effective treatment is provided then automatically this will make the patient better and more effective (Edinoff et al, 2021). Thus, the use of effective SSRIs is very necessary for keeping the patient intact and assisting them in improving their position. Thus, SSRIs have both the benefits and drawbacks of using this treatment for improving the position of the patient. Thus, the benefits and drawbacks of using this antidepressant are as follows-
Benefits of using antidepressant SSRI
- The first and foremost benefit of implementing the use of antidepressants is that these are effective in relieving the different symptoms. This is particularly because of the reason that when the person is suffering from depression then there are many different symptoms which they face (Jannini et al,2022). Hence, when the SSRIs are provided to the patient it results in relieving these symptoms. There are many different types of symptoms which negatively impact the working of the patient and using the SSRI will help in reducing the negative impact and will assist the patient in overcoming the problem.
- Another benefit of making use of SSRIs includes the fact that they are well-studied and safe for the patient. This is particularly necessary for the reason that the components used within the SSRI are well researched and it is beneficial for them to effectively use for providing treatment to the patient (Lochmann and Richardson, 2019). All the components present within the SSRI are used after good research and are also approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This approval implies that the products used within the medicine are effective and safe for the patients.
- In addition to this another benefit by the use of SSRI as an antidepressant is that it will help in succeeding within the other treatments as well. This is particularly for the reason that when the effective use of the SSRI is made then it also assists the person in increasing their motivational level and this helps in improving the other treatment plan as well. The reason underlying the fact is that when the person is mentally stable and effective then they will be supporting the person in order treatment as well. The reduction in the level of stress will help the patient restore the energy and as a result of this, they will be in a position to perform the basic tasks easily.
- Along with this another important benefit of using SSRIs for the treatment of patients suffering from depression is the improved quality of life. This is about the fact that when the treatment of depression is provided to the patient then automatically the quality of life is improved for the person (Pashaei, 2021). After using the antidepressants the person can improve their way of life. This is related to the fact that with help of the antidepressants, a person tends to improve their way of learning and are much happier in their life. Thus, this results in improving the quality of the overall life and it motivates the person to live a better and effective life.
Drawbacks of antidepressants SSRIs
- The first and foremost drawback relating to the use of antidepressants is that there are many types of antidepressants present but selecting the most appropriate is essential. Thus, for this, it is very necessary for the doctor or the healthcare practitioner that they must try to select the appropriate type of medication (Oskotsky et al, 2021). This is necessary because every person is different and it is not necessary that the same kind of medicine will provide similar benefits to every person. Hence, this poses a challenge for the practitioner when selecting the right choice of medicine for providing effective treatment to the patient.
- Along with this another type of drawback which the person can face while using the antidepressant SSRI is that it might be very costly. This is about the fact that when people consume antidepressant pills they are costly and this impacts the working of the person to a great extent.
- Furthermore, another drawback of using SSRIs is that it can also result in impacting the sleep or weight of the person as well. This is about the fact that due to depression the sleep of the person is interrupted and it might affect the working of the person to a great extent. In addition to this, the antidepressants assist the person in normalising the sleep but it eventually might result in misbalancing the sleep and the person might increase the chances of insomnia. Moreover, many times there are chances of weight gain as a side effect of the consumption of antidepressant pills. Hence, the appropriate medicines must be taken and used under the proper guidance of the doctor or healthcare practitioner.
- Moreover, the use of SSRIs results in many different kinds of side effects as well which the person needs to face. These side effects include excessive sweating, headaches, dizziness, indigestions, dry mouth, loss of libido and many other different kinds of negative impacts (Ogata, de Souza Dantas and Crowell-Davis, 2019). All these side effects affect the body of the person and as a result of this, it is harmful to the working and normal life of the person.
- Along with this there is also a negative impact on the body of the person in case they suffer from serotonin syndrome. This is a syndrome which is caused as a side effect which is linked to SSRIs. The serotonin syndrome is the one which occurs in case the level of chemicals is too high within the brain. This situation generally occurs in case the SSRI is taken in combination with some medicines (Side effects - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), 2023). This is not good for the health of the person as it is too dangerous for the person. The major symptoms of serotonin syndrome include agitation, confusion, muscle twitching, shivering, diarrhoea and many other different types of symptoms. These symptoms negatively impact the health of the person as it will negatively impact the whole body and consequently, the person will not be able to live a normal life.
Conclusion
In the end it is concluded that for an effective life the person must live a happy and safe life. This is very necessary for the reason that when the person is happy and effective then this will result in improving of day to day activities. The above study concluded the fact that effective use of antidepressant is very necessary for the person to improve the ability to live the life. There are many situations with help of which the person feels depressed. Hence, it is very necessary for the person to effectively live their life so that they are not depressed. The above essay highlighted that use of SSRI is for curing the depression. The mechanism of SSRI include infusion of serotonin within the brain of the person. This serotonin helps the person in reducing their depression and enhancing their mood and the emotions. In addition to this different benefits of SSRI were evaluated which includes improving quality of life and many others. In addition to this some drawback were also highlighted like increasing cost, not selecting appropriate anti depression and many others.
References
Books and Journals
Edinoff, A. N., Akuly, H. A., Hanna, T. A., Ochoa, C. O., Patti, S. J., Ghaffar, Y. A., ... & Kaye, A. M. (2021). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and adverse effects: a narrative review. Neurology International, 13(3), 387-401.
Jannini, T. B., Lorenzo, G. D., Bianciardi, E., Niolu, C., Toscano, M., Ciocca, G., ... & Siracusano, A. (2022). Off-label uses of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Current Neuropharmacology, 20(4), 693-712.
Lebin, L. G., & Novick, A. M. (2022). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in pregnancy: an updated review on risks to mother, fetus, and child. Current Psychiatry Reports, 24(11), 687-695.
Leshem, R., Bar-Oz, B., Diav-Citrin, O., Gbaly, S., Soliman, J., Renoux, C., & Matok, I. (2021). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) during pregnancy and the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the offspring: a true effect or a bias? A systematic review & meta-analysis. Current Neuropharmacology, 19(6), 896-906.
Lochmann, D., & Richardson, T. (2019). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Antidepressants: From biogenic amines to new mechanisms of action, 135-144.
Ogata, N., de Souza Dantas, L. M., & Crowell-Davis, S. L. (2019). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Veterinary psychopharmacology, 103-128.
Oskotsky, T., Marić, I., Tang, A., Oskotsky, B., Wong, R. J., Aghaeepour, N., ... & Stevenson, D. K. (2021). Mortality risk among patients with COVID-19 prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants. JAMA network open, 4(11), e2133090-e2133090.
Pashaei, Y. (2021). Drug repurposing of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Could these drugs help fight COVID-19 and save lives?. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 88, 163-172.
