how long does it take for prozac to work

Rasenick long suspected that the delayed drug response involved certain signaling molecules in nerve-cell membranes called G proteins. SSRIs block the transporter from ferrying serotonin that has been released into the space between neurons - the synapse - back into the neurons, keeping more of the neurotransmitter available in the synapse, amplifying its effects and reducing symptoms of depression. SSRIs bind to serotonin transporters - structures embedded within nerve-cell membranes that allow serotonin to pass in and out of the nerve cells as they communicate with one another. Serotonin is thought to be in short supply in people with depression. 'We thought that maybe these drugs have an alternate binding site that is important in the action of the drugs to reduce depressive symptoms.' 'It's been a puzzle for quite a long time why SSRI antidepressants can take up to two months to start reducing symptoms, especially because we know that they bind to their targets within minutes,' said Rasenick, distinguished professor of physiology and biophysics and psychiatry at UIC. Long thought to work by preventing the reabsorption of serotonin back into nerve cells, SSRIs also accumulate in patches of the cell membrane called lipid rafts, Rasenick observed, and the buildup was associated with diminished levels of an important signal molecule in the rafts. Neuroscientist Mark Rasenick of the UIC College of Medicine and colleagues identified a previously unknown mechanism of action for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant.

The research was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have discovered one reason the drugs take so long to work, and their finding could help scientists develop faster-acting drugs in the future.

How long does it take for prozac to work