Antidepressants generally do not damage the brain, but their effects can vary depending on the type, dose and the person taking them, and have both positive and negative effects. Specifically, antidepressants are medications for mood disorders such as depression, although there is some controversy about whether they can damage the brain.
In this Psychology-Online article, we explain if antidepressants damage the brain. Discover what the physiological process of the most common antidepressants is. We also analyze how they act in the brain, that is, what their positive and negative effects are. Additionally, we will talk about the consequences of taking antidepressants for many years.
How an antidepressant works on the brain
Antidepressants are medications used to treat mood disorders, such as depression. Although there are several types of antidepressants, their main action is based on modulation of the activity of certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. In this article you will find information about.
Next, we will tell you how antidepressants intervene in certain neurotransmitters:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): they act on serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, sleep, appetite and sexuality. SSRIs block the reuptake of serotonin at the synapse, increasing its availability in the brain, thereby improving the transmission of nerve signals between brain cells, improving mood and reducing anxiety.
- Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): They act on norepinephrine, another neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, sleep and attention. SNRIs block the reuptake of norepinephrine at the synapse, increasing its availability in the brain and improving the transmission of nerve signals.
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): This type of antidepressants combine the effects of SSRIs and SNRIs. These medications are especially useful for treating major depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and PTSD.
- Dopamine reuptake inhibitors (DRIs): they act on the dopamine neurotransmitter, involved in the regulation of mood and motivation. IRDs are less common than SSRIs and SNRIs, but are used in some cases of treatment-resistant depression.
Although antidepressants can improve the symptoms of depression, their effect is not immediate, as it may take several weeks to become evident. This is because antidepressants produce gradual changes in signal transmission that depend on the adaptation of brain circuits to the new availability of neurotransmitters. Furthermore, the effects of antidepressants They can vary depending on the person and the type of disorder that is being treated.
How antidepressants affect the brain
Mood disorders are associated with altered levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. In this sense, what do antidepressants do? They are medications that act on altered neurotransmitters. Next, we will see if taking antidepressants is bad, that is, how they affect the brain.
Positive effects of taking antidepressants
Antidepressants can have positive effects on the brain by increasing levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
- Help improve mood: SSRIs increase the availability of serotonin in the brain by preventing nerve cells from reabsorbing it, which improves mood and reduces anxiety.
- Increase neuronal plasticity: Antidepressants increase the brain’s ability to change and adapt to new environments. For example, depression may be associated with a reduction in neuronal plasticity, but antidepressants help reverse this by increasing the production of growth factors, such as derived neurotrophic factor. of the brain (BDNF). This neurotrophin helps brain cells grow and strengthen neural connections, which improves mood and cognition.
- They improve the emotional response of the brain: Mood disorders may be associated with a blunted or inadequate emotional response. This decreases the person’s ability to manage emotions appropriately, both positive and negative. In this sense, antidepressants help restore a healthy emotional response by increasing the availability of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and norepinephrine.
Negative effects of taking antidepressants
The main question that arises is whether antidepressants damage the brain. As with any medication, taking antidepressants can cause certain side effects, which vary depending on the type of antidepressant, the dose, and the characteristics of the person taking it. The most common dangers of antidepressants are:
- Drowsiness.
- Dry mouth.
- Nausea.
- Diarrhea.
- Weight gain.
- Dizziness
- Confusion.
- Memory problems.
- Sexual dysfunction, such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and difficulty achieving orgasm.
Generally, these side effects are mild and disappear after a few weeks of treatment. Still, some patients may experience more serious side effects, such as changes in heart rate either difficulty breathing.
Furthermore, there is a certain controversy over possible increased risk of suicide in children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants. Some studies have suggested that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in these age groups. However, other studies have questioned this association and have suggested that antidepressants may have a protective effect against suicide in some patients.
First of all, it is important to keep in mind that the effects of antidepressants are not immediate, as they can take several weeks to manifest. Some patients may not respond to treatment at all, and others need to take antidepressants long-term to avoid a mood disorder.
Consequences of taking antidepressants for many years
Prolonged use of antidepressants can have different health consequences. Find out what happens if you take antidepressants for a long time:
- Dependence: Taking antidepressants for a long time can create physiological dependence on them, meaning it can be difficult to stop taking them without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
- Tolerance: Long-term use of antidepressants can also cause their effectiveness to decrease, known as tolerance. This may make it necessary to increase the dose of the medication to have the same effect.
- Side effects: Antidepressants can cause a wide variety of side effects, some of which may be more severe or persistent with long-term use. For example, some antidepressants can increase the risk of heart problems, diabetes, or cause sleep disorders.
- Changes in personality: Some studies have suggested that long-term use of antidepressants change a person’s personality, especially in terms of emotions and interpersonal relationships. Find out if in this article.
- Delayed treatment: Taking antidepressants for many years can also delay treatment of the underlying cause of depression, such as stress, lack of sleep, or mental or physical health problems. In this article, we tell you.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Do antidepressants damage the brain?we recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- Baeza, S., Quijada, J., and Santander, J. (2002). Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. Chilean journal of neuro-psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-92272002000100007
- Merino, MJ, and García, M. (1995). Antidepressants and sexual dysfunctions: biology, classification and treatment. Journal of the Spanish Association of Neuropsychiatry., 15(54), 431-442.
- Pérez, R. (2017). Pharmacological treatment of depression: current events and future directions. https://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?pid=S0026-17422017000500007&script=sci_arttext