Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that provide a pathway for transmitting signals released by nerve cells (neurons) across synapses (the spaces between cells) from one nerve cell to another.
Why Is Reuptake Important in Treatment for BPD Depression?
Depression in BPD and other mental health disorders are associated with low levels of certain brain chemicals, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. If you have BPD and are taking medication to treat depression (in other words, an antidepressant), you may be taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI. The most commonly prescribed antidepressants, SSRIs are often used to treat people with BPD by reducing the symptoms of moderate to severe depression. SSRIs increase the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain by, as you’re now aware, slowing its reuptake into the cells that transmitted it. As a result, higher-than-normal levels of serotonin are left to circulate in the brain. As you can see, SSRIs don’t help the body to produce more serotonin. Instead, they help the body circulate more of the serotonin it has.
Examples of SSRIs
Here are the names of the SSRIs available for your doctor to prescribe:
Citalopram (Celexa)Escitalopram (Lexapro)Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)Fluvoxamine (Luvox)Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil XR, Pexeva)Sertraline (Zoloft)
A Word of Warning of Serotonin Syndrome
The process of reuptake also plays a role in this rare but dangerous condition, which generally occurs when a person takes more than one medication that increases the level of serotonin in the body. This can result in dangerously high serotonin levels in the brain. Medications that should be taken with caution if at all with SSRIs include:
Certain pain or headache medications The herbal supplement St. John’s Wort Certain OTC cold and flu medications
Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:
Rapid heart rateAgitationLack of coordinationConfusionSweatingTremorsRestlessnessHigh fever
If you have any of these signs or symptoms, get medical help immediately. Serotonin syndrome is rare, largely because doctors are very careful about prescribing medications that could cause it. Nevertheless, because this syndrome is so dangerous, the FDA has asked the makers of these types of medications to put warning labels on them that can alert you to this risk.
