Question

Antidepressant drugs like Prozac are often used to treat mood disorders. According to what you know about their functions, which neurotransmitter do these types of drugs try to affect?

A) Dopamine.
B) Serotonin.
C) Acetylcholine.
D) GABA.

Answer 1

Prozac affects the neurotransmitter serotonin, is an agonist for serotonin, and is considered a psychoactive drug because it alters brain function and mood.

Step-by-step explanation:

Antidepressant drugs like Prozac predominantly try to affect serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter associated with mood, emotion, and sleep. Prozac, known generically as fluoxetine, is part of a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

These drugs work by preventing the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic neuron, leading to an increased concentration of serotonin in the synaptic cleft. As a result, Prozac can help elevate mood and is commonly used to treat conditions like major depressive disorder.

Answering part A of the question, Prozac is an agonist for serotonin because it increases the effect of serotonin by preventing its reuptake, thereby allowing more serotonin to bind to postsynaptic receptors.

Answering part B, Prozac is indeed a psychoactive drug since it affects brain function and results in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior.

Therefore answer is B) Serotonin.