What is the purpose of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors?
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, obesity, self-mutilation, and migraine headache. As of late 2003, SSRIs have been found to have other off-label applications, including treatment of premature ejaculation and diabetic neuropathy. Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
