Although antidepressants appear to be equally effective, SSRI antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are frequently the drugs of choice because of their safety profile and less troublesome side effects.

SSRI Antidepressants are used to treat serious, continuing depression that hinders the person's ability to function normally.

Like other antidepressant drugs, SSRI antidepressants help reduce the hopelessness, sadness and lack of interest in life that are typical in people with depression. SSRI antidepressants also are used to treat panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and have shown promise for treating a variety of other conditions, such as PMS syndrome, eating disorders, fleshiness, self-injury, and migraine headache.

SSRI antidepressants work by correcting chemical imbalances in the brain (bumping up the serotonin level).

Neurotransmitters (chemical substances in the brain) carry signals from one nerve cell to another. These chemicals are constantly being released and taken back up at the ends of nerve cells (called synapses). SSRI antidepressants regulate one specific neurotransmitter, serotonin, slowing and stopping its re-entry into nerve cells and hence allowing to keep serotonin present in high concentrations. This in turn relieves the depression because brain serotonin levels are low in depression.

SSRI antidepressants are sold in tablet, capsule, and liquid forms. Commonly used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are:
Prozac (fluoxetine)
Paxil (paroxetine)
Zoloft (sertraline)
Luvox (fluvoxamine)

 

Click further to learn more about the antidepressants.