Home > Encyclopedia of Medicine > Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Definition

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are medicines that relieve symptoms of depression.

Purpose

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are used to treat serious, continuing depression that interferes with a person's ability to function. Like other antidepressant drugs, they help reduce the extreme sadness, hopelessness, and lack of interest in life that are typical in people with depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors also are used to treat panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and have shown promise for treating a variety of other conditions, such as premenstrual syndrome, eating disorders,