Do antidepressants create new neurons?

In prior groundbreaking research Duman found that antidepressants increase the expression of growth factors in the hippocampus and other regions of the brain. Duman also found that antidepressants increase the birth of new neurons in the hippocampus.

What happens when I stop taking antidepressants?

It might seem like you don’t need the medication anymore, but if you stop taking it, the medicine will leave your body and your symptoms might return. Quitting without consulting your doctor can be life-threatening. Suicide is a serious concern. It can also trigger withdrawal symptoms and relapse of your depression.

How long does it take antidepressant medications to return the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain?

It takes approximately four to six weeks for antidepressant medications to reach their full therapeutic effect. Many people try several medications before finding one that helps.

What is antidepressant relapse?

Harvard Health describes the key differences between discontinuation symptoms and depression relapse as: “Discontinuation symptoms emerge within days to weeks of stopping the medication or lowering the dose, whereas relapse symptoms develop later and more gradually.

Do antidepressants increase hippocampus?

Several studies have shown that antidepressants increase hippocampal neurogenesis in both animals and humans,1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and whether this increase in neurogenesis is necessary to overcome behavioral deficits in animal models of depression is being intensely debated.

How do antidepressants affect neurotransmitters?

Antidepressants have various effects on the body, including action at the neuronal synapses of the brain; the two most important of these effects are blockade of the reuptake of neurotransmitters, including NE, 5-HT, and dopamine, and blockade of certain neurotransmitter receptors.

How do SSRIs affect neurotransmitters?

SSRIs treat depression by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) that carry signals between brain nerve cells (neurons). SSRIs block the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin into neurons.