Posted by Bill LL on March 22, 2004, at 9:23:35
In reply to So how does Efexor work?, posted by pretty_paints on March 19, 2004, at 9:06:24
Effexor is very safe and is also very effective for both anxiety and depression.
BUT, scientists do not know how antidepressants work. They used to think that they work by increasing the availability of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin). But this theory is losing support.
Imaging studies are now suggesting that depressed people have a smaller hippocampus (a part of the brain) than non-depressed people. The latest theory is that antidepressants work by increasing the hippocampus to a normal level, and that effects on neurotransmitters is just a byproduct.
Scientists don't even know for sure how aspirin works. There are theories involving the inhibition of bradykinins (pain chemicals), making platelets less slippery, and a fever lowering mechanism, but they don't know in too much detail how it works.
poster:Bill LL
thread:325977
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040319/msgs/326963.html