How do antidepressant medications help?
The main medical treatment for depression is antidepressant medications. Antidepressant medications help reduce the symptoms of depression, such as: feeling extremely sad for no clear reason; loss of interest or pleasure in things you usually enjoy; sleeping too much or too little; feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt or worry, and difficulty in thinking, making decisions or concentration. Antidepressants may also be helpful in the treatment of anxiety-related disorders, such as generalised anxiety disorder and eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
How do antidepressant medications work?
People with depression and anxiety disorders often have an imbalance in certain natural chemicals in the brain. Antidepressant medications help the brain to restore its usual chemical balance and so reduce symptoms.
What antidepressant medications are there?
There are many different kinds of antidepressants, including:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Tricyclic antidepressants (tricyclics)
- Novel antidepressants and others
Like most medicines, antidepressant drugs can cause side effects. Not all people get these side effects. Any side effects you have will depend on the medicine your doctor has chosen for you. Your doctor should talk to you about your medicine.
How long do they take to work?
Antidepressants are usually taken in tablet form. When they are prescribed, you will start on the lowest possible dose thought necessary to improve your symptoms. Like any medication, the length of time a person needs to take antidepressants for depends on how severe the illness is and how they respond to treatment. Some people only need to take them for a short time (usually 6–12 months), while others may need to take them over the long term. Stopping antidepressant medication should only be done gradually, on a doctor's recommendation and under supervision. Antidepressant medication is generally very effective. Around 70% of people with major depression start to feel better with the first type of antidepressant they are prescribed.
What are the possible side effects of antidepressants?
Different antidepressants can have a range of different side effects. Common side effects of antidepressants in general are usually mild and can include: diarrhoea or constipation; nausea; headaches; sleep disturbance; lower sexual responsiveness; dizziness or blurred vision; weight gain; dry mouth; sweating. Side effects should improve within a few days or weeks of treatment as the body gets used to the medication.
How do I know which one is right for me?
Choosing the best medication to prescribe is not always straightforward because the way people respond to medication is different. This means that finding the right one for you may involve trying one or more. However, there are some things you and your doctor can consider to work out what type of antidepressant medication is most likely to be right for you, including whether you have had any physical health problems and what symptoms you are having trouble with.