Depression can be treated with other forms of therapy.It's hard to know if your antidepressants are working because they may take a while to start functioning properly.They usually take four to six weeks to start working.Some of the side effects of your medication may start to show up once you start using it.If your medication doesn't work for you or results in too many side effects, you may need to switch.Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, also known as NDRIs, as well as older drugs like tricyclics are common antidepressants.Depending on your condition, your doctor will give you advice on whether your antidepressants are working or not.
Step 1: Practice being patient.
It may take a few tries to find the right medication for you, so you need to be patient.Give your medication four to six weeks to start working.The long timelines need to be recognized.It takes different amounts of time to start working for different people.After a day or two, you may notice some benefit from a medication.It may take up to six weeks for the drug to kick in.You should speak to your doctor if you haven't started using your antidepressants after six weeks.
Step 2: You should watch for an improvement in your symptoms.
Track your symptoms in a diary.You might want to consider how you feel about your future after taking the medication for a couple of weeks.If you have a hard time concentrating and feel like you are slow, you should see if the symptoms have changed while on the medication.You can use a depression screening test.Depression screening scales can be found online.You can see if your results change over time by completing the symptom questionnaire.Track your symptoms with health diaries or mobile applications.
Step 3: See if you feel better.
If you start to have more energy and feel less depressed, this is a sign that your medication is working.This can be a good sign if you feel better after two to six weeks.
Step 4: There are side effects.
The drug may be helping with some of your symptoms, but it may also be causing side effects.You should pay attention to both the improvements and the side effects.Although the new wave of antidepressants have less side effects than their older counterparts, they still have many effects.These side effects include a lower sex drive, a dry mouth, nausea, insomnia, anxiousness and restless legs.Side effects will emerge prior to the treatment.If you are experiencing side effects, you should tell your doctor.You should talk to your doctor if your side effects don't go away.If your symptoms are getting better but you are experiencing side effects, you should talk to your doctor.
Step 5: There are warning signs that the drug isn't working.
It's important to look for signs that your medication isn't working.Mood swings, suicidal thoughts and increased energy accompanied by the blues are some of the warning signs.If you feel like you have more energy but still feel down, this may be a bad sign.Some drugs start working but don't work for your condition.You will feel blue if this is the case.If this is the case, you should talk to your doctor.It may be a sign that the medication is not appropriate for you if you feel better immediately after starting it.It can take a while for antidepressants to change your brain chemistry.You may be experiencing a placebo effect if you feel immediate improvement.Talk to your doctor in either case.If your depression gets worse or you start to experience horrible mood swings, this is a sign that your antidepressants isn't working well.You should talk to your doctor.The risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 is increased by the use of antidepressants.If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, you should contact a doctor.Unless your doctor tells you to stop, take your medication.
Step 6: Purchase an application for mental health.
You can track your depression with a variety of mobile applications.You can use these applications to monitor your depression, learn new activities and communicate your experience to a medical professional.
Step 7: You can download the Start application.
The Start application is part of Apple's Care Kit and helps you track depression.You can share your data with a medical professional.The Patient Health Questionnaire is a short questionnaire you take for two weeks.If you take the questionnaire, you can determine if your symptoms have improved.You can use the application for six weeks to determine if the medication is working for you.
Step 8: The CBT Self-Help Guide can help you track your mood.
You can use this smart phone diary application to track how you respond to events throughout the day.You write about events in your life.You can use this to track your depression.The diary application can be used to determine if your mood has improved after you start an antidepressant.
Step 9: You can download MoodKit.
You can monitor your mood with this application.It is not useful for people with moderate or severe depression.It is possible to use it to help you track your mood while taking antidepressants.
Step 10: The T2 Mood Tracker can be used.
You can monitor your emotional states with this application.If you monitor your depression, you can more accurately report it to a mental health professional.Tracking and reporting the medication to a mental health professional will give you a better idea of whether or not it's working.What is My M3?The M3 score is a number that your doctor can use to determine if or not you have a mood disorder.Tracking your M3 while on antidepressants will allow you to communicate your score to your doctor.
Step 11: Tell us your experience of the drug.
Tell your mental health professional how you're feeling.If you have been using a mental health application, you should use the data you gathered from monitoring your response to the antidepressant.Before visiting your mental health doctor, review your diary.You will have a better sense of your moods, emotions, and responses to the medication if you review your diary.If you have been using the same drug for a long time, you should tell your doctor.Your body may develop a tolerance to your medication over time.This can cause your depression to return.Talk to your doctor if you think this is happening.They may change your medication.
Step 12: Ask your mental health professional questions.
Your doctor should be able to determine whether or not your antidepressants is working by using the information you gather from monitoring your mood.Inform your doctor about any benefits you have and any side effects you are having.If you skipped a dose, tell your doctor.Skipping doses can be a cause of a faulty antidepressant, so you need to tell your doctor about it.You need to tell your doctor if you are taking other drugs while on medication.This can be a reason for the medication to stop working.You may need to switch medications if you are experiencing side effects.Do not stop taking your antidepressants without consulting your doctor.If you suddenly stop taking the medication, you could experience withdrawal symptoms.If you need your doctor to decrease the dose, he or she can.
Step 13: Inquire about alternative drugs.
Only 37% of people got better after just one antidepressant.Your doctor should be able to tell you if your current medication is working or if you need to try a different type of medication.The most popular drugs are SSRIs and SNRIs.Bupropion is a medication that belongs to the class of antidepressants known as NDRIs.Depression, seasonal affective disorder, and quitting smoking are some of the conditions Bupropion is used for.There are also older types of depression medications.You need to work out a treatment plan with your doctor for your specific condition if you respond differently to depression medication.If your current antidepressant isn't working, you may need to try a different type.
Step 14: Consider treatment.
Taking the drug alone is usually less effective than combining it with mental health counseling.Multiple forms of therapy can help.This form of therapy helps you change your way of thinking by identifying how you currently perceive the world and yourself.The therapist can help you with your thinking.Depression can be caused by family conflict, loss, relationship problems, social isolation, and major life events such as giving birth.The therapist can help you resolve unconscious conflicts.