Antidepressant or Happy Pills

Are Antidepressant just "happy pills?

They are not happy pills; they don't artificially induce a feeling of bliss or unrealistic well-being. No medication can do that, except for alcohol and some illegal drugs, and their effects don't last. Nor do antidepressants insulate you from life, make you not care about important things, or insensitive to pain or loss. Tranquilizers can do that, for a while, but antidepressants can't. Also, antidepressants aren't addictive, nor does their effect diminish so that you will have to increase your dosage later on.

All anti-depressant medications work by influencing the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that cross the space between one brain cell (neuron) and the next to enable communication between them. Common neurotransmitters are serotonin, norepinepherine, and dopamine. During an episode of depression, brain levels of these neurotransmitters are lower than usual. Antidepressant medications work by slowing the breakdown of neurotransmitters and enhancing the sensitivity of receptors on the receiving neurons.

How long will I need to use antidepressant?

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Site last updated: March 4, 2008