Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)SSRIs are a type of antidepressant that can relieve the symptoms of depression, such as sadness and irritability. Learn how they work and what side effects they can cause.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a newer class of antidepressant medications. The first drug in this class was fluoxetine (Prozac), which hit the U.S. market in 1987.
How SSRIs work
It's not clear precisely how SSRIs affect depression. Certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters are associated with depression, including the neurotransmitter serotonin (ser-oh-TOE-nin). Some research suggests that abnormalities in neurotransmitter activity affect mood and behavior. SSRIs seem to relieve symptoms of depression by blocking the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin by certain nerve cells in the brain. This leaves more serotonin available in the brain. As a result, this enhances neurotransmission — the sending of nerve impulses — and improves mood. SSRIs are called selective because they seem to affect only serotonin, not other neurotransmitters.
Personality Structure and Out of Character Behavior
The neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine (adrenalin) and nor-epinephrine (nor-adrenalin) are called "catecholamine's" and they control the adrenergic systems in the central nervous system (CNS). They account for staying awake, mood, fight or flight response, etc... Serotonin is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter modulating the excitatory catecholamine systems in the CNS.
Serotonin neurons control memory, mood, sex drive, etc... Serotonin, dopamine and nor-epinephrine (nor-adrenalin) are the key-neurotransmitters involved with the construction of your personality structure. Every drug that acts on the serotonergic system will affect (indirectly) the other neurotransmitter systems (dopaminergic, nor-adrenergic) in the brain (and visa-versa), thereby affecting your personality structure, your temperament, your character.
http://www.juvenilejusticefoundation.com/SSRI
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ssris/MH00066
http://www.modernpsychiatry.org/sexual_sideeffects_of_ssris.htm
