Depression can be a difficult condition to treat. Certain medicines are more successful in treating particular patients than others. Often it is a trial-by-error process to determine the most appropriate drug for a particular person. Care must be employed when changing from one depression medication to another.
Step 1
Give your prescribed medication a fair chance before you consider changing it. It can take four to six weeks before an antidepressant achieves it full effect.
Step 2
Discuss with your physician your reasons for wanting to change medications. Perhaps you are having uncomfortable side effects or it may be that the medication lifts your spirits a little but you suspect an alternative may be more effective.
Step 3
Consider asking the doctor to raise the dosage level of the current medication if you are not having side effects from it. If your prescription is working to some extent you may just need to change to a higher dose rather than a different drug.
Step 4
Research the types of antidepressants available. Discuss these with your physician so you can make a decision together regarding which medication you may want to try. If you have been taking an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), which acts by increasing serotonin in the brain, and it has not been beneficial, you might switch to a tricyclic antidepressant, which is believed to help keep serotonin and other chemicals in the brain longer.
Step 5
Write down the particulars of your struggle with depression. Use this information when discussing changing depression medication with your physician. It may be possible to match up your needs with a certain drug.
Step 6
Taper off of your current medication according to your doctor's instructions. Never quit an antidepressant "cold turkey"--this can have harmful results, as your depression may worsen significantly.
Tips and Warnings
- Be open to other options for treatment, such as therapy. Use natural methods, such as exercising in the fresh air and practicing positive thinking, in addition to medication to alleviate depression.
- Even when you taper off a particular medication you may still suffer some withdrawal symptoms. Contact your physician if your symptoms are severe. Get a second opinion if your doctor will not consider changing your medication.
