Choosing an antidepressant medication is not something to be done lightly.
While many people are able to offer up their own, highly personal experiences with antidepressant medication, it is important to remember that these experiences are just that - personal. They are, therefore, simply opinions and should not necessarily be used as a basis for requesting a specific medication from your general practitioner or other medical specialist.
Different people can have very distinct reactions to and experiences with different antidepressant medications, and so it is important to take the time to find the one that is right for you. It is unlikely that the medication that works for the person ahead of you in the waiting room will work just the same for you.
The reason for this is that there are different groups of antidepressant medication which work in different ways to alleviate the symptoms and internal causes of depression. Within each group there several distinct medications which can help in a number of ways.
Similarly, medication that may have worked for you in the past may not have the same effect in the case of a future relapse.
As such, it is of the utmost importance that you give your doctor a full, no-holds-barred account of your condition. How you are feeling, the things that make you feel that way, how often, and any other relevant information. You are unlikely to shock a medical professional, so let loose and get it all out in the open.
Only by having a full and frank account of all of your symptoms can an informed decision be made as to the type of medication that will best suit. If depression is accompanied by, or manifests itself if the form of, anxiety (panic) attacks then there are specific medications that can help with this. If insomnia or lethargy are a problem, then there are antidepressants which could ease these symptoms.
It is important to have regular appointments with your doctor to keep track of your progress, and you should also have realistic expectations regarding your medication. It can take around four to six weeks for antidepressants to take full effect, so they should not be stopped during this period, even though it may feel like they are taking forever to start working.
You must also be honest regarding the effect any antidepressants are having. If they are making you feel better, great! If you feel a little better, but the side-effects are terrible, tell your doctor. If they are not having any effect, tell your doctor. If you are feeling worse, apparently as a result of the medication or because they are not having any effect, tell your doctor.
There is no reason to continue to suffer - it can take several attempts to get just the right medication at just the right dosage, but persevere. It really, really is worth it when it does work.
Finally, it is worth considering that while antidepressants can alleviate symptoms and some causes of depression, there may be other treatments which could be of benefit to someone suffering from depression. Talking therapies, such as counselling, and cognitive behavioural therapy are certainly treatments which are worth discussing with your doctor.