The Infamous SSRIs

Antidepressants, and in particular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), hold an important role in our current society. 13.2% of the population in the United States of America are estimated to have used antidepressants between 2015-2018, and the usage is rising. Antidepressants were developed with the goal of improving people’s mental wellbeing, in particular during periods of depression. In addition to depression, antidepressants are also commonly used for treatments of anxiety, OCD, and eating disorders. Of these antidepressants, SSRIs are some of the most prescribed medications. Yet, although SSRIs now reach a broad segment of our population that struggle with mental health challenges, researchers still do not know how SSRIs work. Of greater concern, the jury is still out as to whether SSRIs have a significant impact on people’s mood and wellbeing. In this article, I dive into the research testing which effects SSRIs are documented to have in the short and long-term. I also conduct a review of the side effects associated with SSRI usage, to address some of the most common concerns expressed by people considering using SSRIs. This article was first published in Subkit on August 15, 2022 (https://www.subkit.com/pernillebuelow/posts/the-infamous-ssris).