How Prozac Can Help

How it Works



Depression is not fully understood, but a growing amount of evidence supports the view that people with depression have an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters, the chemicals that allow nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other. Many scientists believe that an imbalance in serotonin, one of these neurotransmitters, may be an important factor in the development and severity of depression.

PROZAC may help to correct this imbalance by increasing the brain's own supply of serotonin.

Some other antidepressant medicines appear to affect several neurotransmitters in addition to serotonin. PROZAC selectively affects only serotonin.

While PROZAC cannot be said to "cure" depression, it does help to control the symptoms of depression, allowing many people with depression to feel better and return to normal functioning.

Below you will find links to animations of the serotonin system within the brain.