Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Financial side of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Pfizer, Glaxo SmithKline and Lilly collectively make over Six Billion Dollars ($6,000,000,000) per year from SSRIs.

What is serotonin? Serotonin is one of the fundamental neurotransmitters associated with the feeling of depression. Serotonin, like many other neurotransmitters is constantly being created and destroyed by the human mind. The active serotonin in the synapse is regulated to effect our mood and many other vital functions.

How do selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors work? Serotonin reuptake transporters work to keep the level of serotonin in the synapse at a suitable level by removing some of the serotonin to the brain cell. In 1987 a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was launched when Prozac was released. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors work by preventing serotonin that is in the synapse from being reintroduced to the brain cell. Over time the effect of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors is to elevate serotonin levels by keeping that reaches the synapse in the synapse. Over the course of about a month these SSRIs cause serotonin levels to reach a new plateau.

The most popular drugs in the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitory class are:

Paxil   Prozac    Zoloft

a few newer SSRIs include

Celexa    Lexapro    Luvox (Columbine)

SSRI Cautions: Although each SSRI manufacture admit they do not know how their respective drugs work, each claim that they help to correct a “chemical imbalance of the brain.” SSRIs are not correcting a biochemical imbalance, these drugs create severe imbalances in the brain.

Please note: many top doctors question the ability of these drugs compared to other natural options. Read an article from a prominent doctor about Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.

Natural alternatives to SSRI's: While these drugs may be effective at achieving their goal some of the times, there are cheaper natural alternative antidepressants available that many people do not know about. These drug companies make billions of dollars which fuels their advertising. While I would be a fool to say that all of these SSRI drug companies are ill motivated, I would equally be a fool to say that none of them are, with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors costing over 500% of what some natural alternative antidepressants which frequently work better cost. Natural alternatives lack the synthetic side effects of synthetic prescription antidepressants such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.