Antidepressants: Overview
Whether you need to take medicine depends on your symptoms. You and your doctor can decide if you need medicine and which medicine is right for you.
Antidepressant medicines may improve the symptoms of depression. But they work in different ways. No antidepressant works better than another. But different ones work better or worse for different people.
The side effects of these medicines are different and may lead you to choose one instead of another.
You may have to try different medicines or take more than one to help your symptoms. Many people find a medicine that works within a few tries. Other people take longer to find the right one. They may need to take the antidepressant and another type of medicine, such as an antiseizure, mood stabilizer, antipsychotic, or antianxiety medicine.
What are some examples of antidepressants?
There are many types of antidepressants. They include:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
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Some examples are:
- Citalopram.
- Fluoxetine.
- Sertraline.
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
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Some examples are:
- Duloxetine.
- Venlafaxine.
- Atypical antidepressants.
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These include:
- Bupropion.
- Mirtazapine.
- Trazodone.
- Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants.
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These include:
- Amitriptyline.
- Nortriptyline.
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
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An example is selegiline.
Caring for your child who is starting antidepressants
If your child has a mental health condition like depression or anxiety, the doctor may prescribe antidepressant medicines to help. These may help affect your child's moods. Here are some ways to care for your child who is starting antidepressants.
- Have your child take the medicine exactly as prescribed.
For example, doctors often prescribe a low dose of antidepressant medicines at first. This is to help manage side effects. The doctor may have you slowly increase the dose until your child's symptoms are managed. The doctor will tell you how to do this.
- Watch for side effects.
Most side effects will go away after your child takes the medicine for a few weeks. If any bother your child, talk with the doctor. The doctor may be able to lower the dose or change the medicine. Common side effects include:
- An upset stomach or nausea.
- Diarrhea.
- Headaches.
- Trouble sleeping, or being sleepy during the day.
- A change in appetite.
- Feeling nervous or on edge.
- Sexual problems in teens. (These may include erection problems or loss of desire.)
- Help your child manage mild side effects.
For example, if your child has trouble sleeping, have them take their medicine in the morning. Or if your child has an upset stomach, they may need to take the medicine with food. Ask your child's doctor for more ways to manage mild side effects.
- Call your child's doctor or seek care right away for serious side effects.
These don't happen often, but you should be aware of them. Watch for:
- Chest pain or the heart beating fast or irregularly (palpitations).
- Allergic reactions such as a rash, hives, or itching.
- Manic behavior. This may include having very high energy, sleeping less than normal, being more impulsive than normal, or being grouchy or restless.
- Signs of suicide. There is an increased risk that a child will think about or try suicide, especially in the first few weeks of starting an antidepressant. Some warning signs of suicide include talking about feeling hopeless or wanting to die. Withdrawing from friends and family is also a warning sign.
- Serotonin syndrome. This can happen if your child takes too much antidepressant medicine or takes more than one type of medicine that affects serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that affects mood. Signs of this syndrome may include fever, sweating, tremors, feeling tense and edgy, and not thinking clearly.
- Look for signs that the medicine is working.
Children respond to the medicines in different ways. It may take several weeks before you see any changes in your child. Your child may:
- Be in better moods.
- Sleep and eat better.
- Start to enjoy activities and time with friends.
- Do better at school.
- Have more energy.
- Worry less.
- Feel better about themself.
- Don't stop giving your child the medicine.
Make sure your child takes the medicine every day, even if they're feeling better. Suddenly stopping can cause side effects. And if you stop the medicine too soon, the symptoms may return. When it's time for your child to stop taking the medicine, work with your child's doctor to do it safely.
- Let the doctor know if your child's symptoms aren't getting better.
Your child may need a different dose. Or your child may need to try several different medicines. It can take a while to find the medicine and dosage that works best.
- Find a counselor for your child.
Seeing a counselor along with taking the medicine can help your child. You also may want to do family therapy. Ask your child's doctor for a referral.
Where to get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
If your child talks about suicide, self-harm, a mental health crisis, a substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, get help right away. You can:
- Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
- Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
- Text HOME to 741741 to access the Crisis Text Line.
Consider saving these numbers in your phone.
Go to 988lifeline.org for more information or to chat online.
How long will you need to take antidepressants?
You may start to feel better within a few weeks after you start taking antidepressant medicine. But it can take up to 2 to 3 months. And even then, they don't work for everyone. If you have questions or concerns about your medicines, or if you aren't feeling better as expected, talk to your doctor.
If antidepressants work well for you, your doctor may suggest taking them for at least 6 months after you feel better. This can help prevent you from feeling depressed again (relapse). If this isn't the first time you have been depressed, your doctor may want you to take these medicines even longer.
Some people need to take medicine for several months to years. Others will need medicine long-term. Long-term use is more likely if you have had several bouts of depression that seriously affected your home life, work life, or both.
Depression Medicines
Antidepressants: Keeping Your Life in Balance
Depression Medicine: Deciding to Quit
How can you help your child take antidepressants safely?
Antidepressant medicines may work well for children who are depressed. But there are some important things you should know about these medicines.
- Children who take antidepressants should be watched closely.
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These medicines may increase the risk that a child will think about or try suicide, especially in the first few weeks of use. If your child takes an antidepressant, learn the warning signs of suicide, and get help right away if you see any of the signs.
- Antidepressants may take time to work.
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Your child may start to feel better within a few weeks after starting antidepressant medicines. But it can take up to 2 to 3 months. And even then, antidepressants don't work for everyone. Make sure your child takes antidepressants as prescribed and keeps taking them so they have time to work.
- It may take time to find the right medicine.
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A child may need to try several different antidepressants to find one that works. If you notice any warning signs or have concerns about the medicine, or if you do not notice any improvement as expected, talk to your child's doctor.
- Stopping treatment too soon can lead to relapse.
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After the right medicine and dosage is found, your child may need to continue taking the medicine for several months or longer after the symptoms of depression have subsided. This may help prevent depression from occurring again.
What are antidepressants?
Antidepressants are medicines that are often prescribed to help treat depression. They may help affect moods. There are different types. And they are sometimes used to help treat other conditions. These include anxiety, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain.
What are some cautions about antidepressants?
Cautions for antidepressants include the following:
- If you plan to stop taking antidepressants, talk with your doctor first about how to do it safely. Your doctor may want you to slowly decrease how much you take. Suddenly stopping can cause side effects. It may also cause your depression to come back or get worse.
- If antidepressants work well for you, talk with your doctor about how long you should take them. Your doctor may suggest taking them for at least 6 months after you feel better. This may help keep you from getting depressed again.
- Take your medicine exactly as prescribed. And talk to your doctor before starting any new medicines. Taking too much antidepressant medicine or taking more than one type of medicine that affects serotonin can lead to a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
What are the side effects of antidepressants in children and teens?
Serious side effects don't happen often. But you should be aware of them if your child takes an antidepressant. Watch for chest pain, signs of a serious allergic reaction, manic behavior, or warning signs of suicide (such as giving away belongings).
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