Study Finds Depression Medicine Has Almost Immediate Effect

Study Finds Depression Medicine Has Almost Immediate Effect

A recent study conducted by the Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences found that certain medication prescribed to treat depression has an almost instant effect on the way the brain works. SSRI’s or serotonin reuptake inhibitors are drugs that work by adjusting the brain’s amount of serotonin, a chemical that helps transmit signals between certain brain cells. The readjusted flow of serotonin is believed to help reconnect parts of the brain and treat certain forms of depression.

Some of the most popular depression drugs on the market like Prozac or Celexa Max Planck are SSRI’s. In the study, researchers found that SSRI’s have an almost immediate effect on our mood by blocking serotonin.

The study reached its conclusion by using brain scans from people who were diagnosed with varying types of depression. Participants were asked to take a 15 minute long 3D scan that showed the make-up and connections of the brain. Following the scan they were asked to take a dose of a popular SSRI called ofescitalopram or Lexapro. A second brain scan was then conducted only to show that the intake of the drug produced near immediate changes in the brain, particularly in the cerebellum and thalamus parts.

Researchers concluded that by using this method they can better identify and understand why some patients that are diagnosed with depression aren’t responding to their SSRI treatment.

Posted by George Daniels on Sunday September 21 2014, 4:42 AM EST. Ref: istreetresearch. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0