Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
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Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of compounds typically used as antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders.
SSRIs are believed to increase the extracellular level of the neurotransmitter serotonin by inhibiting its reuptake into the presynaptic cell, increasing the level of serotonin in the synaptic cleft available to bind to the postsynaptic receptor. They have varying degrees of selectivity for the other monoamine transporters, with pure SSRIs having only weak affinity for the norepinephrine and dopamine transporter.
SSRIs are the most widely prescribed antidepressants in many countries. The efficacy of SSRIs in mild or moderate cases of depression has been disputed.
See also
- Dopamine reuptake inhibitor (DRI)
- Noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA)
- Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI)
- Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI)
- Serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (SNDRI)
- Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)
- Serotonin releasing agent (SRA)
- Serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI)
- Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1)