What Do Antidepressants Do To The Brain?

Posted on Fri, 26 Jul 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 Answered on

Tue, 20 Aug 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : what do antipressants do to the brain

Answered by Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (25 minutes later)

Hi,

Thanks for your query.

Antidepressants activate the brain and alleviate depression by numerous mechanisms some amongst them are as follows:

1) Neurogenesis- formation of new nerves. Depression leads to nerve inactivity, hence new nerves take charge and alleviate the effects of depression

2) Increase Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) which is a activating chemical mediator.

3) Increase cortisol production which imp[rove the brain functioning.

Hope, I answered your query.

Please let me know if there are any other concerns.

Regards,

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar