Usual onset of appreciable clinical effect upon taking antidepressant drugs (ADs)

Range ≥3-4 weeks
Organism Unspecified
Reference Santarelli L et al., Requirement of hippocampal neurogenesis for the behavioral effects of antidepressants. Science. 2003 Aug 8 301(5634):805-9 DOI: 10.1126/science.1083328 p.805 left column top paragraphPubMed ID12907793
Primary Source [1] Wong ML, Licinio J. Research and treatment approaches to depression. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2001 May2(5):343-51 DOI: 10.1038/35072566PubMed ID11331918
Comments P.805 left column top paragraph: "But although ADs produce a rapid increase in extracellular levels of 5-HT [serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)]] and NA [noradrenaline], the onset of an appreciable clinical effect usually takes at least 3 to 4 weeks (primary source). This delay suggests that slow neurochemical and structural changes take place within the limbic target areas of monoaminergic projections."
Entered by Uri M
ID 117235