Serotonin is the key hormone that stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. This hormone impacts your entire body. It enables brain cells and other nervous system cells to communicate with each other. Serotonin also helps with sleeping, eating, and digestion.

How do serotonergic drugs work?

SSRIs treat depression by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) that carry signals between brain nerve cells (neurons). SSRIs block the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin into neurons.

What is serotonergic system?

The serotonergic system is a collection of neurons and nuclei distributed along the brainstem in two groups sending projections in many directions, the rostral mainly ascending in the forebrain, the caudal with a major projection into the spinal cord.