Antidepressants: How do They Work?

Across the world, millions of people suffer from mental health issues, one of the most common being depression and anxiety. Struggles with mental health have been a widespread epidemic since the beginning of time, but only recently have we begun to address it and normalize having these issues. Likewise, society has made strides towards prioritizing mental health, whether it be more open and honest discussions about these struggles or the development of antidepressants—medication that can help mitigate and lessen the symptoms of medically diagnosed depression. However, many skeptics questioned the effectiveness of this newly developed medication when it first came out. So, how do antidepressants work anyway?

To understand the way antidepressants work their magic, we must first understand the biological basis behind depression. The human brain is filled with billions of cells known as neurons. These neurons are connected in a tip-to-tail fashion, creating long chains that extend all throughout the body, which is known as the nervous system. The neurons in our brain are receptors of neurotransmitters—small chemical messengers that bind to the synapse of a neuron, causing a chain of electrical impulses that travel throughout the body. These neurotransmitters can be responsible for a variety of different things, but two specific molecules, serotonin, and norepinephrine, are directly correlated to the onset of depression.

More specifically, an undersupply of serotonin and norepinephrine—where not enough of these neurotransmitters bind to neuronal synapses—biologically characterizes clinical depression. To remedy this, most antidepressants attempt to act as Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and Selective Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). Usually, the brain produces a certain amount of neurotransmitters, most of which bind to neuronal synapses, while the remaining are recollected by the brain. However, when not enough neurotransmitters are binding to the synapse, SSRIs and SNRIs can act to block the reuptake site and prevent leftover molecules from being recollected, allowing for maximum neurotransmitter binding potential. This class of drug is primarily what makes up antidepressants and makes them effective.

So, next time a new drug is released, take the time to learn how it works to carry out its purpose. Understanding the science behind the drugs you take can play a significant role in trusting the medicine you put in your mouth.