Overview Of Antidepressants

Getting The Best Results

There are a few key elements that help patients with getting the best results from their antidepressants. The most important element is that patients must always listen to the doctor who wrote their prescription and the instructions they gave them for the dose, how often to take the medication, when to take it, as well as whether or not to take the antidepressant with food. The doctor knows how the medication should work and, thus, how to give patients their best chance of success.

However, there is more to getting the best results. Patients should also know that it takes some time for antidepressants to start being effective at the level intended. This timeline can vary depending on the specific medication, as well as the dose and dosage frequency. It is common for antidepressants to take at least three weeks to begin being effective. Of course, patients should also regularly communicate with their doctor, particularly about concerning side effects or a lack of results. Some patients will need to try more than one antidepressant before they see the results that they need.

Combination Treatments

Some depression patients may need what some doctors refer to as combination treatments. In certain cases, patients may need more than one medication for depression. This is often to combat side effects from the first antidepressant. One such combination is adding trazodone to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The reason is that trazodone helps reduce insomnia, which is a side effect of SSRIs.

Of course, combination treatments for depression may also include additional strategies, such as mindfulness, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Adding these strategies alongside antidepressants is quite common. In addition to being common, studies show that combining medication with these therapies increases the overall effectiveness of a patient’s depression treatment.