7 Signs That You Might Need to Switch Medications Here are seven signs that the time may be right to try a new depression treatment: Ongoing symptoms. Antidepressants can take as long as two months to reach their peak effectiveness, but if symptoms such as agitation or hopelessness get worse within a few weeks of starting treatment or you still have depression symptoms after two months of treatment, tell your doctor. According to research in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in 2013, it’s essential to address all symptoms of depression because not doing so can lead to impairment at work or in your personal life as well as a possible relapse. Decreased medication effectiveness. If you’ve been taking a prescribed depression treatment for several months or more but symptoms that subsided are now returning, let your doctor know. New symptoms. Always let your doctor know if you experience new symptoms after starting treatment. These could be typical depression symptoms, such as fatigue or lack of motivation, or they could be symptoms such as agitation or high energy that aren’t usually associated with depression. Change in health status. Any change, from becoming pregnant to being diagnosed with another illness, could be a reason to switch to a new medication. Always tell your doctor when you face a significant change in your health. Restarting treatment. If you’ve taken a break from antidepressant treatment but need to start again, don’t feel obligated to take the original medication. New drugs come to market all the time. Ask your doctor if there might be a better fit for you. Medication that doesn’t fit your lifestyle. Even the most effective medications work only if you take them as prescribed. If you can’t afford the medication or you can’t remember to take it when you’re supposed to, ask your doctor if there’s another option that’s better for you. Before Changing Your Antidepressant Medication As part of the conversation with your doctor before you make a medication switch, check to make sure you’re taking your antidepressants correctly and have waited long enough for them to take effect. For many people with major depression, waiting two months for an improvement in symptoms can feel like an eternity understandably. However, not waiting might mean you’re asking for a switch or for more medication when you don’t actually need it. You also want to make sure you’re taking your depression medication exactly as prescribed. “People might not get to a proper dose,” says David Baron, DO, MSEd, a psychiatrist, professor, and the vice chairman of the psychiatry department at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, adding that some people skip doses, sometimes because they just don’t remember to take them. Talk With Your Doctor About Your Depression Symptoms Sometimes people are embarrassed because they think they’ve “failed” a treatment or feel that their side effects aren’t bothersome enough to address, Dr. Baron says. However, remember that you and your doctor have the same goal: to resolve your depression so you can feel better and improve your quality of life. “Because professional guidelines for doctors recognize the value of switching antidepressants or adding another medication as needed to achieve that goal, you can be assured that this is a common conversation to have,” Baron says. If some part of your prescribed depression treatment isn’t working well for you or is interfering with your quality of life rather than improving it, talk to your doctor promptly and schedule an appointment. Write down the symptoms that are causing you problems as well as questions for your doctor to be sure all important points are discussed and addressed.
