SNRI vs. SSRI: Understanding the Difference
Mental health issues are becoming rampant nowadays. It does not choose who to take hold of. Whether you are young, old, poor, or rich, a mental health issue can lurk in your life and hit you hard without any warning. The good news is that there are medicines that can help you prevent any occurence of depression. However, you must first familiarize yourself and understand the medicine before taking any medications, even if your physician prescribes it. This article will discuss two antidepressants: the SNRI (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor) and SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor), and discuss its difference and their functions to know which one is better for you.
The Difference Between SNRI and SSRI
If you are clinically diagnosed with depression, your psychiatrist might have prescribed you snri or ssri. Both medications are great for depression. However, they have differences that make them unique. SNRI, for instance, is better for increasing both serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain, while SSRI, on the other hand, increases only the level of serotonin in your brain. Though both act as a neurotransmitter that helps with the transmission of nerve signals between neurons, you can still notice the differences in their name alone.
The Functions of SNRI and SSRI
Mental health conditions are a result of imbalanced serotonin levels. Serotonin is a hormone that helps make us feel happy and stabilizes our mood. Low serotonin will lead you to stress, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and depression. SNRI and SSRI can help you increase your serotonin levels and avoid the mentioned psychological health issues. Meanwhile, norepinephrine is an important chemical in our brain that is responsible for our fight-or-flight response. If you feel threatened, the norepinephrine in the brain will increase
as a natural response. This chemical also plays a significant role in our day-to-day lives. It helps us with our attention, sleep, regulate our mood, and improve memory. People with low norepinephrine will experience difficulty concentrating, develop symptoms of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and worst of all, depression. SNRI’s function is to boost serotonin and the norepinephrine in your brain to avoid these mental health conditions, especially depression. If you are diagnosed with an imbalance on both chemicals, expect to be prescribed an SNRI. However, if you only need to manage your serotonin and have adequate norepinephrine, you will likely be prescribed SSRI.
Precautions in Taking These Medications
You have to note that a high dose of norepinephrine can result in euphoria, which means that too much of it can also be a bad thing. It can make you hyperactive, have panic attacks, and have high blood pressure. That is why people who are hyperactive, experience panic attacks, and have heart problems cannot be prescribed this medication. It is why you must disclose your complete health conditions to your psychiatrist so that they can prescribe a safe and suitable medicine for you. You must note any adverse effects of your medication and tell your doctor about it. This information will help your physician assess what medicine will work best for you. Every individual has various reactions to medicines. You might be different from the others, so it is important to contact your medical provider immediately once side effects are encountered.
Some of the most common SSRI side effects are as follows:
- Sexual dysfunction, such as arousal difficulty, libido fluctuations, and difficultyreaching orgasm
- Hot flashes
- Anxiety
- Rashes
- fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Sweating
Sore throat All of the same side effects can occur with SNRIs as with SSRIs plus the following mentioned below:
- Panic Attacks
- Dry Mouth
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Appetite loss
- Unusual dreams
Which is Better For You?
Physicians will sometimes prescribe both SNRI and SSRI to their patients. However, this scenario happens seldomly and only occurs when a single medication won’t improve your condition. Thus, your doctor will prescribe you a combination prescription to ensure that your condition is well-addressed. Whatever your doctor gives you is the best for you. The best you can do to ensure that you will be prescribed the best medication is, to be honest with your doctor. Doctors are educated and trained to diagnose, treat or prevent any health conditions.
It is why you should trust your psychiatrist and rest assured that whatever is given to you is the best for you according to your diagnosis. The benefits of taking the right medication to address your mental health are unparalleled. It is why you must ensure that you will be able to take these medications on time. You might want to check out the BuzzRX prescription discount App for you to avail a discount when purchasing any types of depression medicines, especially SNRI and SSRI. Never ignore any symptoms you might already notice within yourself and seek medical help. You can help prevent so many ways, including taking both or either of the SNRI and SSRI medication.
In Conclusion
Both SNRI and SSRI are good medications for many mental health conditions. Understanding their difference is an excellent way to understand your condition and help yourself take the right path of recovery. So, whichever is given to you by your doctor is the best for you.
