Anti-depressants like NDRIs are used to relieve symptoms of depression like sadness. They can boost a person’s mood and generally lift their spirits. There are some chemicals in the brain which are called neurotransmitters and these are associated with depression. Norepinephrine and Dopamine are two such neurotransmitters and researchers suggest that abnormalities in the activities of these chemicals affect a person’s mood.

NDRIs work by increasing the total level of norepinephrine and dopamine by stopping the reuptake by cells. These increased levels of neurotransmitters in the brain help improve neurotransmission and thus make a person’s mood better.

It is conventionally thought that anti-depressants in general work by increasing the effects of brain receptors which make the nerve cells keep the sensitivity to glutamate in control. This ensures that the total level of glutamate sensitivity is low and hence making sure that glutamate does not overwhelm certain key points in the brain which are related to depression and anxiety.

Most adults who suffer from moderate to severe depression choose anti-depression medications as their first mode of treatment while sometimes they also go for psychotherapy.