Fluoxetine Hydrochloride and Unipolar Depression :: Psychology Medicine Medical Papers

Fluoxetine Hydrochloride and Unipolar DepressionUnipolar Depression is a historically documented affliction that many people put through in their lifetime. B.E. Leonard describes it as a heterogeneous disease state characterized by multifactorial alterations in several Central flighty System neurotransmitter and receptor systems (1992). Episodes of falloff range from severe bouts that last a minimum of 2 weeks, to long time (also cognize as Dysthymia, requiring a 2 year minimum age for appropriate diagnosis). Depression interferes with a persons functioning and well-being on the widely distributed direct of daily tasks and experiences that most of us participate in and go through for granted people experience loss of interest in antecedently enjoyed activities, major changes in sleep patterns (sleeping too much or open-eyed early in the morning), appetite, and feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, irritation and/or listlessness. (Davison, 2004.) Researchers have l ong struggled to peg the origins of depression in order to improve quality of life for those who experience it. While no one causal relationship can be labeled as the main factor in depression (genetics, biological science, and environment always interplay a complex role in all humankind experiences), specific correlational evidence has been found. The neurotransmitter serotonin (5 hydroxytryptamine) acts on areas of the Central Nervous System that are responsible for maintaining and regulating anxiety, sleep, aggression, appetite, temperature, sexual behavior and bother sensation, and has been found to have exceptionally low activity level in depressed people. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (such as fluoxetine, better known as Prozac) limit the reabsorption of serotonin by blocking receptors at neural level, raising serotonin activity levels and proving effective in assist to treat depression. SSRIs are equally effective as tricyclic drugs, with the particular propos ition advantages of not being associated with anticholinergic adverse effects, sedation, cardiotoxicity or massive cant over gain, while retaining massive life changing effects. (Leonard.) In this paper, we investigate the implication of serotonin, the chemistry and route of access of Fluoxetine, and how the two interact to produce their effects. We understand this interaction at the neural level, analyzing the behavioral and physiological changes and results as account by those who have used the drug. Thus, we progress from profiling the micro level of action to a larger-scale, investigating how fluoxetine and serotonin interact with biology and environment to create the resulting positive and negative effects and, hopefully, to ultimately scavenge Unipolar Depression.Serotonin and Fluoxetine A Prelude to SSRI Functions