Antidepressants
Act on brain chemical messengers. They are not sedatives and do not produce a high.
Why it gets prescribed
Used for depression and anxiety, and in some cases for nerve pain or migraine prevention.
What to watch for
The benefit usually takes weeks while side effects can appear sooner — knowing this in advance is why many people get through the early phase. Any unusual change in thoughts or mood in the first weeks must be reported promptly.
Stopping — read this before you stop anything
Do not stop abruptly — many types cause marked discontinuation symptoms. Any tapering follows the prescriber’s plan.
Tell the prescriber and the pharmacist
Declare every other medicine including herbal products and supplements — this group interacts with a fair number of things, some of them sold without prescription.
Worth asking
- How long until I know whether it works
- Which side effects are common in the first weeks
- How long will I take it and how do I come off