What Are Antidepressants?
The medications in each class are similar, but not identical.
Most are available in tablet form.
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Emsam is absorbed through a skin patch.
Biomarkers may lag behind these more subjective responses.
What Is a Biomarker?
When your antidepressant does start helping, don’t stop taking it because you feel better.
Stopping it suddenly might mean the return of your symptomsalong with some unpleasant, possibly dangerous, side effects.
You may experience one or more of these or none at all.
Talk with your healthcare provider about any symptoms that are concerning.
To ease the transition, you might be prescribed a very low dose at first that is gradually increased.
These side effects typically subside and become much more manageable over time.
Benzodiazepines allow for a faster sense of symptom alleviation.
Beware of Discontinuation Syndrome
Never stop taking your antidepressant without consulting your healthcare provider.
In such cases, you should work with your doctor to determine which steps to take next.
Don’t undertake a medication change without your doctor’s supervision.
It may take a few weeks for your antidepressant to affect your symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many antidepressants, such as SSRIs, are dual-acting.
Antidepressants affect the levels of chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters.
If you’ve missed your dose by just a few hours, take it as soon as you remember.
If it’s closer to the time you’d take it tomorrow, take it then instead.
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