Antidepressants work by increasing the levels of chemicals called neurotransmitters in the brain.
Neurotransmitters are ‘messenger chemicals’ that are used to transmit signals between brain cells. They are also thought to have an important effect on your mood.
Examples of ‘mood enhancing’ neurotransmitters include:
- serotonin
- norepinephrine
- dopamine
The role neurotransmitters play in the causes of depression (and other mental health conditions) is still poorly understood. However, most experts agree that depression is not simply the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Depression is a complex condition with many contributing factors. While antidepressants can treat the symptoms of depression, they do not necessarily address its causes. This is why antidepressants are usually used in combination with therapy to treat moderate to severe depression or other mental health conditions, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Increasing levels of neurotransmitters is a gradual process, so most people will need to take antidepressants for two to four weeks before noticing any improvement in their symptoms.
Increasing the levels of neurotransmitters can disrupt the pain signals sent by the nerves, which may be why some antidepressants can also help relieve symptoms of chronic (long-term) pain.
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How antidepressants work
