The amazing seratonin reuptake ENHANCERQ

Something else, related to the previous entry I find fascinating, more so than the entry before is an anti-depressant drug exists called Tianeptine.

Invented by a large French pharmaceutical company, it is not currently sold in North America because of an expired patent.(not the interesting part)

This drug is shown to be as or more effective than current SSRI's (like prozac and most other current anti-depressants.)

What SSRI stands for is selective serotonin re uptake inhibitor.

Serotonin is a chemical in the brain which relates to our mood, probably the most popularly well known. Serotonin is released by neurons in the brain the picked back up again. SSRI drugs work by inhibiting the re uptake of serotonin in the brain, allowing there to be more free serotonin. Drugs like Ecstasy work by triggering the brain to release large amounts of serotonin, as well as to some degree inhibiting it's re uptake, causing the brain to be flooded with this chemical. (and to a lesser extent some other pleasure causing chemicals.)
Tianeptine on the other hand is a SSRE! That stands for selective serotonin re uptake ENHANCER! Rather than inhibiting the re uptake of serotonin creating more free floating serotonin in the brain, it Enhances the re uptake of serotonin, causing there to be less free serotonin. Yet this also creates a mood brightening effect. Not only that, whereas SSRI's can be known to have a certain emotionally numbing effect, SSRE's, (Tianeptine is the only one) have a certain emotional enhancing effect. Not only relieving sad feelings but heightening ones ability to feel emotions.
This to me illustrates how far we have to go in understanding the brain. Where a drug that does the exact opposite of what many think to be necessary to improve happiness, does so equally or more effectively.
Also, it is things like this which cause me to hope there is life after death to learn an answer to these questions and others to likely arise during my life when others are answered.
Also, it is such a bummer that this drug is not currently available in North America. I would really like to try it.