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Antidepressants

Definition

Antidepressants are medications used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, some pain syndromes, and also to manage some addictions. They work by balancing chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters that affect mood and emotions.

Analogy

Think of antidepressants as a team of gardeners tending to a flower garden (your brain). If certain flowers (neurotransmitters) aren't blooming enough, causing the garden to look gloomy (depression), these gardeners can help nurture those specific flowers back to health, restoring balance and beauty in the garden.

Related terms

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): These are a type of antidepressant that work by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): These are another type of antidepressant that works by blocking the action of a certain enzyme in the nervous system.

Tricyclic Antidepressants: These are an older type of antidepressant. They're thought to work by increasing levels of norepinephrine and serotonin, while blocking acetylcholine.