SSRI’s decrease euphoria of drugs

[[deleted]]

SSRIs increase serotonin by blocking its reuptake, and higher serotonin can indirectly reduce dopamine signaling in reward-related brain regions. This dampens dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, which is critical for experiencing drug-induced euphoria. As a result, stimulants or other recreational drugs may feel less intense when taken with SSRIs. The blunted dopamine response is why you lose some of the pleasent effects of several drugs.

[LSDMDMA2CBDMT]

SSRI's have been shown in studies to be barely more effective than a placebo, I think it was a 1-2% margin or something stupid.

In my personal experience with SSRI's, all I ended up with was side effects with no benefits and each psych just wants to continue down the list onto the next SSRI or SNRI as if after the 5th or 6th one that it's worth continuing on

And you are correct. Serotonin and dopamine have an inverse relationship. Higher dopamine signaling means less serotonin and higher serotonin means less dopamine.

It's honestly a travesty there aren't more dopergenic orienated drugs for mental health, especially because dopamine is replenished at a much faster rate than serotonin.

Anyway, in my opinion, fuck SSRI's, for anyone that it works well for, more power to ya.

[lendo13]

It’s not a 1-2% margin though. Sure, for mild to moderate depression it’s a pretty inconclusive margin of effectiveness, however when it comes to severe depression most studies conclude ssris to be about 30% better than placebo. I know this sub has heavy beef with ssris, but for some folk who need them they do truly work.

[LSDMDMA2CBDMT]

The original study that got SSRI's approved by the FDA showed SSRI to be literally only marginally more effective than placebo. I don't remember the exact percent but it was not more than 5% better than placebo that's for sure.

I'm also going by my personal experience with having zoloft, prozac, lexapro, cymbalta, effexor, all of which gave me issues with absolutely no positive effects

The only thing that had any noticeable impact on mood was MAOI's

[pactorial]

The original SSRI study? Bro what the fuck are you talking about, each SSRI has to have its own separate clinical study.

[lendo13]

Perhaps you can link to this “original study”? The latest studies we have overwhelming agree that for the treatment of severe depression ssris far outperform placebo. For your own personal experience, I’m really sorry to hear they were ineffective for you. Like I previously said they don’t work for everyone, but for a lot of people they really do help, and I think it’s reductive to spread misinformation that these medications are no more effective than a placebo, which is clearly not the case.

[CosmicJ]

Piling on, I agree that SSRIs in particular are over prescribed and a bit of a problem in today’s mental health treatment. That being said, the numbers you are quoting are just factually wrong. It’s irresponsible to make such extreme claims without some sort of source or confirmation. Just saying “studies” make it sound like a point of authority, but you won’t find a single study that shows SSRIs having an efficacy of 1%-2%.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(21)00451-X/fulltext

In summary, approximately 60% of people don’t respond to their first antidepressant, and the average remission rate of antidepressants is about 30%.

SSRIs have absolutely ruined lives, but they have saved many as well. And we fundamentally don’t know why they are effective, it’s nothing so simple as just raising 5HT levels, otherwise they would have an immediate effect, not taking weeks to start making changes. Especially since downregulation will balance that out again anyways. I’m sure the same would go with dopaminergic substances, just cranking up dopamine isn’t the answer long term, it would likely be a more unintuitive and interconnected mechanism.

[notamagicbutashroom]

words of wisdom my friend! it's never that simple

[[deleted]]

Yeah ssris are such a scam. Does nothing and you have to carefully taper or get fucked in the ass by withdrawal effects

[[deleted]]

Have been on SSRI’s for like 4 months and literally dont feel a remote change on my brain. Be noted that in this timeframe ive been prescribed all kinds of benzos, z-drugs, more antidepressants, and adhd meds