{"id":19106,"date":"2023-05-18T01:35:40","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T06:35:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=19106"},"modified":"2023-05-18T09:46:48","modified_gmt":"2023-05-18T14:46:48","slug":"how-can-i-tell-if-my-antidepressants-are-working","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/how-can-i-tell-if-my-antidepressants-are-working\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can I Tell If My Antidepressants Are Working?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prescription drugs used to treat mental health conditions are called psychotropic drugs; about 16 percent of American adults have taken them, according to a 2020 report from the<\/span> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two mental health conditions most commonly treated with medication are depression and anxiety, says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, founder of<\/span> Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine<\/span><\/a>. Some people receive prescriptions for mental health medications through a psychiatrist, but primary care providers can also prescribe antidepressants, which are<\/span> one of the five main categories of psychotropic drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Antidepressants are a first-line treatment for both depression and anxiety. \u201cAntidepressants don\u2019t make problems disappear,\u201d says Dimitriu, \u201cBut they can make things hurt a little less so people can do the work in therapy.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The efficacy of antidepressants is mixed. In one<\/span> 2020 report<\/span><\/a>, 40 to 60 percent of people said they benefited from taking them. On the flip side, that means antidepressants didn\u2019t work for about half of respondents, a finding that\u2019s consistent with<\/span> one 2012 review<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even when antidepressants are effective, they can take a while to kick in. While the precise timeline depends on the medication, it can take up to eight weeks for an antidepressant to work. But what does \u201cworking\u201d even mean? Carmen Kosicek, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of<\/span> Alay Health Team<\/span><\/a>, says the answer varies, and that it\u2019s important for patients and providers to establish a shared definition of success.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a guide to help you understand when an antidepressant is (or isn\u2019t) doing its job and how to discuss your progress with your provider.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why medications work for some people and not others<\/h3>\n

Chemistry. <\/b>There are several types of antidepressants, and they target a few different neurotransmitters, says Dr. Holly MacKenna, an integrative psychiatrist and founder of<\/span> Dara Wellness in New Orleans.<\/span><\/a> Three of the most common types are:<\/span><\/p>\n