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SSRI Uses

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drugs commonly used to treat mental health disorders such as depression. Sometimes they are used to combat other health issues, such as fibromyalgia and hot flashes. SSRIs increase the amount of serotonin in the brain by inhibiting its reuptake, or reabsorption. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, that relays signals throughout the brain and is responsible for mood, appetite and sleep.

  1. Depression

    • Symptoms of depression usually include sadness and low energy. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that 9.5 percent of the U.S. adult population has a mood disorder such as depression during a 12-month period. A study published in a 2000 "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" article found that the SSRI drug citalopram is superior to a placebo for the treatment of depression.

    Anxiety Disorders

    • People with an anxiety disorder typically show signs of generalized worry and fear. Anxiety is prevalent in about 18 percent of the U.S. population, according to NIMH. A study conducted published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in 1998 found that the SSRI drug paroxetine may help treat anxiety disorders.

    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects people after they experience a major traumatic event. Some PTSD symptoms include sleep disturbances, altered mood, including sadness, and flashbacks of the traumatic event. PTSD is prevalent in 3.5 percent of the US population annually, according to NIMH. A 2001 article in the "American Journal of Psychiatry" states that paroxetine is an effective treatment for PTSD.

    Other Uses

    • Newer uses of SSRI include treatment for fibromyalgia, which causes muscle pain, fatigue and tender points in the afflicted person. Fluoxetine, an SSRI, helps to decrease tenderness caused by fibromayalgia, according to a 2001 "American Journal of Medicine" article. Hot flashes, which can occur when women reach menopause, have been treated with SSRIs, too. A 2006 article in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" states that SSRIs were useful in the treatment of hot flashes for women not wanting to take estrogen supplements.

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