Antidepressants help millions each year manage the debilitating symptoms of depression; it's no understatement to say that many 'survivors' of depression would consider them to be lifesavers. So are these drugs a panacea for the 21st century? And how do they work?

Antidepressants act by altering the way certain chemicals work in our brains. Unfortunately many people who have taken antidepressants experience a range of unpleasant side effects and some even feel that the drugs have changed their personalities. Nonetheless, the number of people given prescriptions for antidepressants over the last ten years has steadily increased.

This short animation describes one woman's experience on the antidepressant drug Mellaril. The words are taken from Elizabeth Wurtzel's bestseller, Prozac Nation. Animation by DFG Ltd.

If you do not have QuickTime, download it free from www.apple.com/quicktime.