Medication may be a short-term or long-term treatment option, depending on severity of symptoms, other medical conditions, and other individual circumstances. However, it often takes time and patience to find the drug that works best for you. If you're breastfeeding, talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of taking an antidepressant.

Antidepressants are a very commonly used prescription medication. Antidepressants work by reducing depression symptoms such as exhaustion, low mood, loss of interest, restlessness, anxiety, and problems sleeping. They also help prevent you from having suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Your doctor will likely recommend SSRIs, SNRIs, serotonin modulators, or other first-treatment options for depression.

When drug companies develop a new medicine, they are required to prove to the FDA that it is safe and effective for treating a specific problem in a specific group of patients — say, depression in adults. Once the drug is approved, it can also be prescribed "off label," for a different use and/or a different age group — say, anxiety in children. While they can treat the symptoms of depression, they don’t always address its causes. This is why healthcare providers often recommend psychotherapy (talk therapy) in addition to depression medication. If you think you might be dealing with depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition, talk to your doctor to see if medication, such as an SSRI, might be helpful for you. Being patient with your treatment is an important part of taking SSRIs because they may take weeks to work and come with a range of potential side effects.

However, TCAs are sometimes used for people with severe depression who fail to respond to other treatments. TCAs may also be recommended for other mental health conditions, such as OCD, bipolar disorder, and fluzone high dose quadrivalent vaccine nerve pain. Because of this, healthcare providers typically select an antidepressant based on its possible side effects or its abilities to treat other health conditions you have.

There is also an increased risk of suicidal ideation with SSRIs in young people up to age 25. Many kinds of antidepressants are available, and chances are you'll be able to find one that works well for you. Benzodiazepine medications are habit-forming medications, and people should carefully follow their doctor’s advice in taking them. A doctor will generally prescribe them at the lowest possible dosage and only as necessary. Depression occurs when an individual experiences symptoms of low mood and changes in motivation, sleeping, eating, working, and habits for at least 2 weeks.