Reuptake inhibitors are a jot down of drug used to treat depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions.
This, in turn, helps alter mood.
One long-held explanation suggested that chemical imbalances in the brain were responsible for depression.
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Recent evidence, however, disputes this idea and indicates that low neurotransmitter levels do not cause depression.
Depression is a complex condition, and many factors are believed to affect its onset.
What Reuptake Inhibitors Do
Reuptake means reabsorption.
It is a normal mechanism by which the body controls how long a nerve signal lasts.
The drugs do this by binding with proteins, called transporters; these carry the chemical between cells.
Some are classified as selective because they bind only to certain proteins.
Others are nonspecific, binding to a broad range of proteins.
The Alphabet Soup of Reuptake Inhibitors
Acronyms that describe the neurotransmitter targeted include.
They are typically used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders.
Symbyax is specially approved for use in treating bipolar depression.
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
SNRIs block both the serotonin transporter and norepinephrine transporter.
However, they are commonly used for short-term therapy, as prolonged use may trigger amanic or hypomanic episode.
Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (NRIs)
NRIs work by blocking the action of the norepinephrine transporter.
These are commonly used to treat MDD, anxiety, panic disorder, narcolepsy, and ADHD.
NDRIs are used for clinical depression, ADHD,and narcolepsy.
SNDRI medications approved for use in the U.S. include:
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