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The question was submitted 20/03/2008

Subject: anitdepressants

I've been on antipressants for a few years now but I'm finding they're not working like they use to. I've even gone to the docs and had them up the dose but they dont seem to be working. Is it that my body has got use to them and should I change them? I know I forget to take them at times but I do remeber to take them most of the time. Should I go back to the docs and try a different brand as i find the ones im on now arnt working and I feel myself going down. Hear from you soon. Is it possible the human body can get use to the tablets after a while and stop working or dont work like they use to?

Answer from DepNet

Hello and thankyou for taking the time to write to us.


In general terms, people may require antidepressant medication for different lengths of time. This varies depending on the severity of the depressive illness, and the contributing factors. Sometimes, different medications need to be tried, or dosages adjusted, to provide the benefits of treatment,and minimal side effects.


Where people have second and third episodes of depression, there is a tendency to extend the period of time over which the treatment is used.


Importantly, it is not so much the duration of treatment, or the dose per se that is significant, but whether the patient is feeling well. Adjusting, ceasing or changing medication should always be supervised by an experienced medical practitioner.

The answer was published on DepNet 25/03/2008