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Sen. Tina Smith called for the removal of Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over comments linking antidepressants to violence.
Antidepressants can be a powerful tool in dealing with symptoms of depression, medical experts say.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), depression, also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a condition that can cause severe symptoms that are related to how you feel, think, and go about your daily life.
Common symptoms include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, social withdrawal, and physical symptoms such as unexplained headaches, digestive problems, and other aches and pains, psychiatrist Dr. Judith Joseph previously told USA TODAY.
An estimated 11.4% of adult Americans were using some form of antidepressant medication to relieve symptoms in 2023, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here’s what experts want you to know about antidepressants.
What types of antidepressants are there?
According to NYU Langone Health, depending on your individual situation, your health care provider may suggest a variety of antidepressants, including:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline and citalopram
- Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine and duloxetine
- Atypical antidepressants such as bupropion and mirtazapine
What do antidepressants do? What are SSRIs?
Different types of antidepressants work differently to reduce symptoms of depression.
According to NYU Langone, SSRIs increase the levels of serotonin in the brain, which improves communication between nerve cells and helps boost mood. “They regulate serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, which can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression,” Joseph added.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved SSRIs to treat many other problems, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), bulimia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Health professionals may also prescribe SSRIs for off-label use, such as for bulimia, fibromyalgia, premature ejaculation, and vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause.
According to NYU Langone, SNRIs are often seen as a second line of defense when SSRI treatments are ineffective. They also aim to improve communication between nerve cells by producing more norepinephrine in addition to serotonin in the brain. This improves mood and may also help people dealing with fatigue and pain due to depression.
Atypical antidepressants are often prescribed as an alternative or in addition to patients who have not responded to the other types of antidepressants mentioned above, or when health care providers believe that other types of antidepressants may leave the patient with side effects that make symptoms worse.
Joseph said antidepressants commonly can cause side effects such as gastrointestinal upset, decreased sex drive, weight gain, headaches, insomnia, shivering, and changes in body temperature. However, medical professionals typically prescribe SSRIs along with other approved antidepressants because they believe the benefits outweigh the side effects.
