How an antidepressant works on the brain

An antidepressant in the brain generates physiological changes that result in improved mood. These changes are induced by the chemical action of the drugs and have a limited duration. They also generate a series of side effects that have not yet been fully understood.

The Depression It is almost an epidemic in the world. Reported cases increase year after year and it is known that there is under-registration. That is: not all those who suffer from this condition come to a consultation. What is known is that pill consumption has increased throughout the world. Hence the importance of knowing what the action of an antidepressant is on the brain.

It is important to note that pills They are not the only way to treat the problem. An antidepressant in the brain moderates the symptoms of the disorder, but does not eliminate them. In other words, it causes it to go into a dormant state, but it does not end it. That is why there are treatments exclusively focused on the psychological. Also alternative interventions such as those offered by psychoanalysis or meditation.

The action of an antidepressant on the brain

To talk about antidepressants is to talk about a wide range of medications. Basically we find the classic tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NSRIs).

Let’s look at each of them in more detail:

Classic tricyclics. They are the most traditional and are composed of a ring with seven elements and a terminal nitrogen with three elements. They stimulate the production of serotonin, but do not inhibit its reuptake. They have many side effects.SSRI. They increase serotonin levels and prevent them from being reuptaken or reabsorbed by the body. Apparently they are safer, although Prozac, their emblematic brand, has been strongly questioned by some scientists.ISRNS. They are considered the most effective. They have the advantage that they do not produce sedation states. However, the effect of this antidepressant on the brain sometimes leads to experiencing tremors, changes in appetite, and other symptoms.

According to most scientists, antidepressants do not cause addiction physical, although they can generate psychological addiction. There are several studies in which a very harmful effect of these pills has been verified, particularly when consumed for more than five years. A responsible psychiatrist views drugs as a temporary help, not as a condition on which a patient must depend for life.

Other ways to deal with depression

Although an antidepressant in the brain helps to generate and maintain a relatively stable good mood, in the end it does not solve the central problem. Yes, it is possible to overcome depression, but this cannot be achieved with pills alone. Conventional treatment for this type of disorder requires that psychotherapy be added to pharmacological intervention. It is these two factors that together open a way out.

The drug is a temporary help. It serves to moderate symptoms and make psychotherapeutic work possible.. Human beings are not only a biological body, but also symbolic beings.

This means that neurotransmitters condition our mood, but they also do the way we interpret and make sense of experiences. No pill gives meaning to our lives. This is achieved only through processes that allow reinterpreting and constructing new meanings.

Alternative approaches

Now, from a psychoanalytic point of view, depression is not a clinical entity in itself. It has rather to do with a way of facing reality. Jacques Lacan spoke of depression as a manifestation of “moral cowardice.” It would be the effect of “giving in to desire”, that is, of not reaffirming the being. The person does not assume full responsibility for his or her own life and his actions. Failure to do so leads to depression.

From the point of view of Eastern philosophies, depression is the fruit of excessive attachments.. The emphasis is on something external; the same thing that is depended on. That dependence, in turn, leads to fear and denial of impermanence. This is one of the possible explanations for depression.

Some studies tell us that psychotherapies, psychoanalysis and meditation can have effects similar to those of a drug. The action of an antidepressant on the brain is almost immediate and short in time. Psychotherapy requires greater effort on the part of the patient and is slower. In return, it has no side effects, gives the patient back control of their life and addresses the root of the problem.

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