selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Quick Summary
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressant drugs used to treat mental disorders like depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. They are often a first-choice medication due to their reliability and fewer side effects compared to other antidepressants.12
SSRIs are thought to work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. They achieve this by blocking the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin by nerve cells, which leads to more serotonin being available in the brain. Common side effects can include decreased sexual drive, diarrhea, insomnia, headache, and nausea.13
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
antidepressantSSRIs were introduced in the 1980s, and shortly thereafter they became some of the most commonly used antidepressants, primarily because they have fewer side effects than tricyclics or MAOIs. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft). SSRIs are also used in the treatment…
Read MoreSSRIs were introduced in the 1980s, and shortly thereafter they became some of the most commonly used antidepressants, primarily because they have fewer side effects than tricyclics or MAOIs. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft). SSRIs are also used in the treatment…
Read More- antidepressant
…selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Other important groups include the norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs), the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and the atypical antidepressants, a disparate group of agents that possess unique structural features and mechanisms of action.
Read More…selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Other important groups include the norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs), the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and the atypical antidepressants, a disparate group of agents that possess unique structural features and mechanisms of action.
Read More
- therapeuticsAntidepressant drugs
…selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and others that are often called heterocyclics (e.g., trazodone, bupropion). The SSRIs, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline, and paroxetine, have no sedating effect, anticholinergic activity, associated weight gain, or cardiac toxicity, but they can cause nervousness.
Read More…selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and others that are often called heterocyclics (e.g., trazodone, bupropion). The SSRIs, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline, and paroxetine, have no sedating effect, anticholinergic activity, associated weight gain, or cardiac toxicity, but they can cause nervousness.
Read More - mental disorderAntidepressant agents
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), are thought to act by inhibiting the reabsorption of the neurotransmitter serotonin. As a result, there is an accumulation of serotonin in the brain, a change that may be important in elevating mood.…
Read MoreSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), are thought to act by inhibiting the reabsorption of the neurotransmitter serotonin. As a result, there is an accumulation of serotonin in the brain, a change that may be important in elevating mood.…
Read More