Chemistry For Your Life

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

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#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!

     

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