Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and some personality disorders. They are also typically effective and used in treating premature ejaculation problems as well as some cases of insomnia.

SSRIs increase the extracellular level of the neurotransmitter serotonin by inhibiting its reuptake into the presynaptic cell, increasing the level of serotonin available to bind to the postsynaptic receptor. They have varying degrees of selectivity for the other monoamine transporters, having little binding affinity for the noradrenaline and dopamine transporters.

The first class of psychotropic drugs to be rationally designed, SSRIs are the most widely prescribed antidepressants in many countries.

List of SSRIs

Drugs in this class include (trade names in parentheses):

• citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil, Dalsan, Recital, Emocal, Sepram, Seropram)
• dapoxetine (no trade name yet; not yet approved by the FDA)
• escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex, Esertia)
• fluoxetine (Prozac, Fontex, Seromex, Seronil, Sarafem, Fluctin (EUR), Fluox (NZ), Depress (UZB), Lovan (AUS))
• fluvoxamine (Luvox, Fevarin, Faverin, Dumyrox, Favoxil, Movox)
• paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat, Sereupin, Aropax, Deroxat, Rexetin, Xetanor, Paroxat)
• sertraline (Zoloft, Lustral, Serlain)
• zimelidine (Zelmid, Normud)

Related antidepressants

SSRIs form a subclass of serotonin uptake inhibitors, which includes other non-selective inhibitors as well. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, serotonin-noradrenaline-dopamine reuptake inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake enhancers are also serotonergic antidepressants.

Medical indications

The main indication for SSRIs is clinical depression. SSRIs are frequently prescribed for anxiety disorders like social anxiety, panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, chronic pain, and occasionally for Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Though not specifically indicated by the manufacturers, they are sometimes prescribed to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Lichen simplex chronicus, and premature ejaculation.

All SSRIs are approved in the US for use with psychiatric disorders as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV).

The uses for which SSRIs are approved vary by country and is determined by the overseeing medical branch of government in charge of regulating drugs. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) makes these approvals after trials have been submitted by pharmaceutical companies. In Europe, drugs can be approved either by the European Medicines Agency for human consumption throughout the EU or by the regulatory agencies of individual countries for use within those countries.Fact: date=April 2008. In Canada the drug approval process is carried out by Health Canada.