How Does Antidepressant Medication Affect the Body?
When prescribed, antidepressants are expected to affect the body in a certain way. For instance, SSRIs work by making the brain maintain higher levels of serotonin, which provides an overall good feeling. Tricyclics, on the other hand, are a bit broader in their effects, by increasing the amount of serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain. Lastly, MAOIs, though rarely prescribed nowadays, work by blocking monoamine oxidase so more noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin are left in the brain. The whole idea behind antidepressants is to improve one’s mood and to allow them to live a fuller, happier life. But these drugs carry with them the potential for serious side effects. For instance, MAOIs have been known to cause death when mixed with foods that contain Tyramine. Meanwhile, Tricyclics can cause uncomfortable problems like constipation, dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness and potentially dangerous ones like increased heart rate, confusion, arrhythmia and toxicity. Finally, SSRIs are probab
