Since SSRI raise serotonin levels almost immediately , why isnt there an immediate effect if depressed people lack serotonin ?

Question

Since SSRI raise serotonin levels almost immediately , why isnt there an immediate effect if depressed people lack serotonin ?

In: 57

Answer 1

It’s not actually well understood. Presumably the drugs create some immediate new conditions in the brain, which causes gradual adaptive changes in the brain, and it is this slower brain reaction to the drugs that may lead to symptom improvement, rather than some immediate direct effect of the drugs on depression.