Why do SSRI supposedly take a few weeks to work? why is the effect not immediate like with other drugs?

Question

Why do SSRI supposedly take a few weeks to work? why is the effect not immediate like with other drugs?

Answer 1

They work to shut down your brain's receptors, so that takes time. They close off the little transmitters and fry the connection. They don't make your body produce more serotonin.  They fry the receptors so the "old" serotonin is left floating around.

Hence the name:

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

It inhibits the uptake of serotonin

Answer 2

Selective Serotonergic Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) will take time because of the nature of what they do... any inhibitors will take time to completely shut off what they are trying to turn off.

Think of it like squeezing a garden hose... the water doesn't stop pouring out immediately, but whatever water was in the hose has to finish pouring out before it will stop, plus it would take time to dry up, too.

Of course, in this case, it's basically inhibiting the Serotonin from being absorbed, so it takes some time for the "reuptake" (your body absorbing it back in, basically) to be stopped enough to feel the backup of Serotonin.

However, one thing to note is that the safety and effectiveness of this abundance of Serotonin has been in question for at least the last couple decades, especially because of the increased suicide rate of those taking antidepressant drugs. I would do more research before deciding whether to take them or not. Good luck!

Answer 3

Zoloft is water-based (I'm sure I have the term wrong, someone please correct this) so it takes 24 hours to take effect and 24 hours to get out of your system.

Paxil is fat-based so it takes about a week to take effect and about a week to get out of your system.

Answer 4

I would say that these meds like prozac cause your brain to produce more seratonin, and that it just takes a while to build up enough seratonin to actually tell a difference in your mood.