An article in the L.A. Times suggests that antidepressants dull the initial rush of falling in love. This is tied to the widely known side effect of lowered sexual desire. Evolutionary anthropologist Helen Fisher has studied the brains of those who are in the first stages of love and have found that the chemicals of dopamine and serotonin, which control happiness, are blunted by the SSRI inhibitors. SSRI’s also lessen fanatical thinking, an important part of falling in love. However, this theory is not accepted by all. The leading causes for those to stop taking antidepressants are the sexual side effects.
I thought I could use a refresher on the three chemicals that are changed by antidepressants. After reading our class book, dopamine helps balance physical action, disposition, and awareness and serotonin effects mood.
I buy this argument that Fisher is selling. Antidepressants dull lots of emotions, including falling in love. I think this becomes a problem when severely depressed people want to get off of their meds for this reason. However, America is far over medicated and maybe hindrance to falling in love and negative sexual side effects may get people off medication that they mildly depressed people do not need to be on.
It was debated in the article if this finding should be mentioned as possible side effects. Also, these findings have been replicated more in animals than humans and there needs to be further testing with humans.
Brink, Susan . "Are antidepressants taking the edge off love?." Los Angeles Times 12 July, 2007 : F8.
Baird, Colin. Chemistry in Your Life, 2nd edition. 396, 305. W.H. Freeman and Company, NY, 2006
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