WHY IS THERE A DELAYED ONSET
OF ACTION of ANTIDEPRESSANTS
• SSRIs cause gradual desensitization of 5-HT1A
autoreceptors without change in 5-HT1A
postsynaptic terminal field receptors, gradually
amplifying the serotonin signal.
• ECS causes progressive postsynaptic 5-HT1A
receptor upregulation, without effect on
autoreceptors.