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Effects of SSRI on Dopamine

Depression is a serious, potentially disabling mood disorder that affects up to 9.5 percent of U.S. adults each year, according to Partners in Behavioral Health Sciences. Treatment often includes antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Antidepressants affect the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine.

  1. Biology

    • Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that allow brain cells to communicate with one another. According to MentalHelp.net, an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters, especially serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, has been linked to depression. =

    Treatments

    • If you have depression, your doctor may recommend one of the newer antidepressants to help restore your mood. These include SSRIs like fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft).

    SSRIs

    • When the first SSRI, fluoxetine, was introduced in 1987, and for many years afterward, SSRIs were thought to act only on serotonin, without influencing the levels of other neurotransmitters. This is why their name includes the word "selective."

    Dopamine

    • Serotonin is not the only neurotransmitter involved in depression. Others play a role, including dopamine, which influences the ability to feel pleasure.

    Research

    • Recent studies, including a 2005 article by Fu-Ming Zhou and colleagues, indicate that SSRIs do not act solely on serotonin; they also act on dopamine. SSRIs seem to "trick" dopamine transporters into producing serotonin signals, resulting in higher levels of both neurotransmitters.

    Warnings

    • Antidepressants can significantly improve depression, but you may need to try more than one before you start to feel an improvement. Depression can cause suicidal thoughts and actions. If you find yourself thinking of suicide, call your doctor immediately.

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