Half-Life and Withdrawal Symptoms of Antidepressants
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Although their exact mechanisms are not fully understood, many of them target certain neurotransmitters in the brain and increase their levels in the brain to help improve mood and reduce feelings of anxiety or stress.
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that send signals across neuronal synapses (a part of the central nervous system that allows neurons to pass electrical and chemical signals to other neurons) and antidepressants often target serotonin and noradrenaline, which is also called norepinephrine.
Some antidepressants also work by increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain, a neurotransmitter that is well known for lifting low moods.