Chemistry For Your Life

How do anti-depressants work? (featuring Claire Caballero)

Listen Later

#192

In this episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life,' hosts Melissa and Jam introduce special guest Claire Caballero, a pharmacology and neuroscience PhD student, to discuss how antidepressants work. Claire explains the role of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA in mental health, the mechanisms of various antidepressants such as SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and touches on the effects and side effects of drugs like Wellbutrin. The episode provides an insightful look at the chemistry and neuroscience behind how these medications help manage depression and anxiety.

00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement

00:52 Meet Claire: Our Expert in Pharmacology and Neuroscience
01:32 Understanding Pharmacology and Neurotransmission
05:16 The Role of Neurotransmitters in Anxiety and Depression
14:16 Deep Dive into Neurotransmitters: GABA, Dopamine, and Serotonin
17:10 Exploring the Mechanisms of Depression and Anxiety
22:21 Ready to Learn About Antidepressant Drugs?
33:20 Understanding SSRIs and Their Uses
34:14 How SSRIs Work in the Brain
36:23 Challenges and Side Effects of SSRIs
43:08 Exploring Tricyclic Antidepressants
48:35 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: The First Antidepressants
54:59 Benzodiazepines: Uses and Risks
01:00:01 Other Notable Drugs: Bupropion and Beta Blockers
01:05:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

 

References from this episode:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554406/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557791/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539848/
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470159/#:~:text=Benzodiazepines%20are%20effective%20for%20sedation,potential%20to%20develop%20physical%20dependence.
  5. https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-conditions/anxiety-disorders/#:~:text=Anxiety%20disorders%20are%20the%20most,develop%20symptoms%20before%20age%2021.
  6. https://mhanational.org/conditions/depression#:~:text=Major%20depression%20is%20one%20of,are%20affected%20by%20major%20depression.
  7. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db377.htm
  8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470212/
  9. https://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/28/7040
  10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4303399/
  11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551683/#:~:text=Anxiety%20disorders%20such%20as%20panic,with%20decreased%20levels%20of%20GABA.
  12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3684250/#:~:text=Neuroendocrine%20and%20Neurotransmitter%20Pathways&text=Well%2Ddocumented%20anxiolytic%20and%20antidepressant,of%20mood%20and%20anxiety%20disorders.
  13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2950973/#:~:text=The%20monoamine%2Ddeficiency%20theory%20posits,in%20the%20central%20nervous%20system.
  14. https://www.health.harvard.edu/depression/depression-chemicals-and-communication
  15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539894/
  16. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1476179306700246?via%3Dihub
  17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4610616/

    18. We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter!

     

    Thanks to our monthly supporters

    • Scott B
    • Jessie Reder
    • Ciara Linville
    • J0HNTR0Y
    • Jeannette Napoleon
    • Cullyn R
    • Erica Bee
    • Elizabeth P
    • Sarah Moar
    • Rachel Reina
    • Letila
    • Katrina Barnum-Huckins
    • Suzanne Phillips
    • Venus Rebholz
    • Lyn Stubblefield
    • Jacob Taber
    • Brian Kimball
    • Emerson Woodhall
    • Kristina Gotfredsen
    • Timothy Parker
    • Steven Boyles
    • Chris Skupien
    • Chelsea B
    • Bri McAllister
    • Avishai Barnoy
    • Hunter Reardon
      • ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
      ★ Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel ★

      Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

      Watch our episodes on YouTube

      Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      Chemistry For Your LifeBy Melissa and Jam, Bleav
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7

      4.7

      283 ratings

      More shows like Chemistry For Your Life

      View all
      Big Picture Science by Big Picture Science

      Big Picture Science

      938 Listeners

      The Science of Everything Podcast by James Fodor

      The Science of Everything Podcast

      618 Listeners

      Universe Today Podcast by Fraser Cain

      Universe Today Podcast

      535 Listeners

      Ask a Spaceman! by Paul M. Sutter

      Ask a Spaceman!

      804 Listeners

      Quanta Science Podcast by Quanta Magazine

      Quanta Science Podcast

      450 Listeners

      Science Vs by Spotify Studios

      Science Vs

      11,937 Listeners

      SpaceTime: Your Guide to Space & Astronomy by Stuart Gary

      SpaceTime: Your Guide to Space & Astronomy

      314 Listeners

      Ologies with Alie Ward by Alie Ward

      Ologies with Alie Ward

      23,423 Listeners

      The Episodic Table of Elements by T. R. Appleton

      The Episodic Table of Elements

      292 Listeners

      Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe by iHeartPodcasts

      Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

      2,280 Listeners

      SciShow Tangents by Complexly

      SciShow Tangents

      1,502 Listeners

      The Supermassive Podcast by The Royal Astronomical Society

      The Supermassive Podcast

      285 Listeners

      Unexplainable by Vox

      Unexplainable

      2,146 Listeners

      The Joy of Why by Steven Strogatz, Janna Levin and Quanta Magazine

      The Joy of Why

      481 Listeners

      Crash Course Pods: The Universe by Crash Course Pods, Complexly

      Crash Course Pods: The Universe

      293 Listeners