Depression and Antidepressants

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Depression and Antidepressants Specifically the serotonergic hypothesis and the action of Prozac The cause of Clinical depression has long been a mystery to physicians and researchers. Many different theories have been proposed, but no conclusive evidence has been put forth. However, most of what we know about depression stems from the results of certain drugs which have been successful in treating the clinically depressed. These anti--depressants have led to the assumption that depression is most likely due to a chemical imbalance (of neurotransmitters) which somehow leads to the symptoms of depression. To try and write a paper on all the theories of depression would be endless, as would be a study on all the different types of anti-depressants. Therefore I have tried to focus my paper on the serotonin hypothesis for depression, and more specifically how the serotonergic anti-depressants have backed up this theory. Of course, Any paper on serotonin-based anti-depressants must include the popular Prozac. Because of the excitement And controversy surrounding Prozac, I decided to channel most of my paper into the action of this so-called "wonder drug". Fluoxetine is a second-generation anti-depressant which was developed and marketed as PROZAC by the drug company Eli Lilly. This drug is increasingly being prescribed by physicians as the primary anti-depressant when a patient requires pharmacotherapy. This is mainly due to fluexotine’s reduced side affects as compared with the older tricyclic anti-depressants. Fluoxetine is known to act as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in brain synapses where serotonin is the neurotransmitter. However, an exact mechanism has not born elucidated. Information about serotonin synaps... ... middle of paper ... ..., June 1992, 89(6):445-446. (cited as 9) Hyman, S. E. & Nestler, E. J. The Molecular Foundations of Psychiatry. Washington Amer. Psych., 1993. (cited as 7 & 8) Nathan, R. S., Perel, J. H., Pollock, B. G. & Kupfer, D. J. The role of neuropharmacologic selectivity in antidepressant action. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Sept. 1990, 51(9): 367-372. Price, L. O., Charney, D. S., Goodman, W. K., Krystal, J. H., Woods, A. N. & Heninger, G. R. Clinical data on the role of serotonin in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs. Journal Clinical Psychiatry, April 1990, 51: 44-50. (cited as 5) Richelson, E. Antidepressant and brain neurochemistry. Mayo Clinic Proc., Sept. 1990, 65(9): 227-236. Somni, R. W., Crismon, M. L. & Bowden, C. L. Fluoxetine: a serotonin-specific, second-generation antidepressant, Pharmacotherapy, Jan.-Feb. 1987, 7(1): 1-15.

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