Antidepressants are medicines that can be prescribed for different reasons, including to help treat some types of anxiety or depression. You might need to try more than one to find one that suits you best. If one doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t mean none will work. Talk to your doctor about what you can do.
Keep track of medicines and access important health info any time and anywhere, especially in emergencies.
Antidepressants are medicines that can be prescribed for different reasons, including to help treat some types of anxiety or depression. You might need to try more than one to find one that suits you best. If one doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t mean none will work. Talk to your doctor about what you can do.
There are many types of antidepressants.
You might need to try more than one to find one that suits you best. If one doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t mean none will work.
Talk to your doctor about what you can do.
Antidepressant medicines work best if you take them every day.
To help you remember:
When you first start taking an antidepressant medicine, you won’t feel better straight away. Most people start to feel better after taking them for 2 to 4 weeks. But it can take up to 6 to 8 weeks for them to really work.
All medicines can cause unwanted effects (side effects). Some people will get some side effects and others won’t.
Some side effects may go away after a few weeks as your body gets used to the medicine. These are things like having trouble sleeping (insomnia), feeling like you might throw up (nausea) and feeling dizzy. Others, like problems having sex, may not.
Talk to your doctor about what you can do if side effects are causing you problems. They may suggest taking a smaller amount (dose) or trying a different medicine.
You may need to see your doctor every few weeks when you first start these medicines. They’ll want to check how you’re feeling and whether you’re having any problems.
Before you leave, ask your doctor when to come back to see them next.
Take the medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
Keep taking it even if you’re feeling better.
Most people will need to take these medicines for at least 6 to 12 months. If you stop taking it too early, your signs of depression or anxiety may come back.
Stopping your medicine suddenly can cause problems. You might feel dizzy, tired, worried, or have trouble sleeping.
Talk to your doctor about the right time to stop taking your medicine. When you’re ready, your doctor will work out a plan with you. They will slowly lower the amount you take over a few weeks until you’re not taking it at all. This lowers the chance of problems as you stop taking it.
Taking these medicines (antidepressants) with some other medicines or drugs can cause problems. Use the Medicine Finder to learn if other things you take can affect how the antidepressant works.
Always tell your doctor about all the medicines you take and be honest about other drugs you might use. Use a medicines list to help you keep track of all your medicines.
There are many things that can help depression and anxiety. You might use one, or a mix, of these things to help you feel better, either with or without medicines.
Our factsheet Anxiety and depression: Find the path that works for you might be helpful to read.
Learn ways to change how you think about and react to things that make you feel anxious or depressed. An example is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT works about as well as a medicine for mild depression or moderate anxiety, and can keep you feeling better for longer. You can do CBT with a psychologist or by doing an online course.
Things you can do in your daily life:
