What types of neurotransmitters do antidepressants target?

Answer 1

There are three very important neurotransmitters in the brain that antidepressant medications focus on. Firstly, let me briefly review antidepressant medications. Antidepressants are medications that work by increasing the amounts of chemicals or neuro-transmitters in the brain. A very common antidepressant of today is known as Prozac or Fluoxetine (the trade name). Prozac works by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain.

Now, the three neurotransmitters in the brain are:

1.) Serotonin

2.) Norepinephrine

3.) Dopamine

All three of these chemicals have some influence on depression. As a result, medications have been designed to work on increasing the above neurotransmitters. For example, Prozac works on serotonin and Cymbolta works on both serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin is the most researched neurotransmitter so far, but research is looking into how norepinephine and dopamine also influence depression. Another neurotransmitter in the brain that has an influence over depression is aceytlcholine.

Answer 2

Which neurotransmitters are most important in the development of depression?

Answer GABA and serotonin

acetylcholine and GABA

dopamine and epinephrine

norepinephrine and serotonin

Answer 3

Depression has been linked to problems or imbalances in the brain with regard to the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Recently, another neurotransmitter, glutamate, has been implicated in depression as well.