{"id":11425,"date":"2020-05-20T09:00:30","date_gmt":"2020-05-20T13:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=11425"},"modified":"2025-09-03T12:09:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T16:09:23","slug":"switching-antidepressants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/switching-antidepressants\/","title":{"rendered":"What you should know before switching antidepressants"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many, deciding to take an antidepressant medication is a very big deal. You spend a lot of time thinking about it, weighing the pros and cons, and <\/span>talking to your healthcare provider about options<\/span><\/a>, before deciding to try a prescription medication.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding the <\/span>right<\/span><\/i> antidepressant can require some trial and error, some fine-tuning. You may have to change medications at some point to find one that works well for you. If you\u2019re concerned that your current prescription isn\u2019t as effective as it should be, talk to your doctor about switching antidepressants.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>List of antidepressants<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Common reasons for switching antidepressants<\/span><\/h2>\n

How do you know if you need to change your antidepressant? One of the most common reasons that people switch antidepressants is that they feel their current medication isn\u2019t really helping them. Antidepressants can be ineffective in a variety of ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Time<\/span><\/h3>\n

Antidepressants need time to reach their maximum effectiveness. The length of time can vary.<\/span><\/p>\n

Six weeks can usually provide insight, one way or another, suggests <\/span>Gonzalo Laje, MD<\/span><\/a>, MHSc, director at Washington Behavioral Medicine Associates and clinical associate professor at George Washington University.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Dosage<\/span><\/h3>\n

If an antidepressant isn\u2019t working after approximately six weeks, it could be that the dose is too low. Consult your healthcare provider, who can slowly and carefully increase the dose. If you\u2019re not feeling better when taking a higher (or even the maximum) dose, it might be time to discuss trying something else\u2014or adding another medication.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Side effects<\/span><\/h3>\n

Not everyone experiences side effects, and some people are willing to tolerate certain <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a> from medication if it\u2019s helping their depression. But for other people,<\/span> side effects like a<\/span>\u00a0low libido<\/span><\/a>, dry mouth, or nausea are deal breakers. If you\u2019re struggling to cope with the side effects, it may be time to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t try stopping or changing medications on your own.<\/b> You might experience some withdrawal symptoms, especially if you stop abruptly. \u201cIt\u2019s always better to talk to your doctor about (making) these changes,\u201d Dr. Laje says. <\/span>Withdrawal symptoms of antidepressants<\/span><\/a> typically include:<\/span><\/p>\n