by Dolly DeVonderland

Created on: February 16, 2009   Last Updated: March 03, 2009

Antidepressants do not work overnight. It can take up to several weeks for the medicine to reach therapeutic levels' in your system, meaning that there's enough of the medicine in your system for it to be making a difference in your depression. Following the directions of your doctor who prescribes it for you, take the medicine at the same time every day to ensure that you remember to take it. Be it a morning or evening pill, taking it every day is important. Making sure you follow the instructions of your prescription can include limiting one's alcoholic beverage intake, diet, or activities like driving until you know the drug's effects.

While you await the effects of a new medicine, you may experience side effects, such as stomach upset or dry mouth, which generally lessen and go away as your body adjusts to the new medicine. Should these side effects be severe, like a terrible headache or numb feeling in certain body parts, talk to your doctor immediately. If you have any questions about a new medicine, never be afraid to ask your pharmacist or doctor, it's what they're there for. Pharmacies include side effect information with your first time prescriptions, you can ask the pharmacist questions about your new medicine as well. Reading over these guides will let you know what to expect to a certain extent. Everyone metabolizes these drugs slightly differently, so be aware of what problematic side effects have been linked to your medicine before you start taking it. Over-the-counter treatments may be used help certain side effects like constipation or diarrhea, but always check with your doctor first.

If you're also treating your depression with counseling, your counselor should be able to note any changes brought about by the medicines. They can be very quick to notice the small changes that add up to feeling better. That's is how I've experienced antidepressants starting to work, small change after small change until I'm feeling much better. Should you not notice any of these small changes, like you still feel like staying in bed when you wake or feel glum most of the time, it's time to talk to your doctor again and see if either an increased dosage or trying a new medicine is an option.

Sometimes another medicine can be added to the initial one to give it a helping hand, currently I find myself taking two different medications for my depression, and the combination of the two is just what I needed. Communication with your treatment team is the most important

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