How To Get Antidepressants

When you’re depressed, seemingly small tasks or activities like brushing your teeth or grabbing after-work drinks can feel like an enormous hurdle. And mustering the strength — and vulnerability — to ask for help can feel nearly impossible. 

Whether you’ve new to these feelings or have been struggling with severe depression for years, you are not alone. Worldwide, nearly 300 million adults suffer from this mental health disorder.

Fortunately, there are coping strategies and treatment plans that can help make living with depression less debilitating. Along with mental health resources like talk therapy, antidepressant medication is one of the most effective treatments healthcare providers recommend.

So if you’re wondering how to get depression medication, how exactly these medications work, or which kind of antidepressant could be right for you, keep reading.

While not as quick as adding a pair of shoes to your online shopping cart, getting prescribed antidepressants isn’t as difficult as it may seem. You will need to get a prescription from a healthcare provider, though.

If you’re wondering where to get antidepressants, here are a few things you can do:

• Talk to your primary care provider. Based on your symptoms (and any coexisting medical conditions you might have), a primary care provider (PCP) can direct you to the right kind of medication. In addition to medication, your PCP may also recommend other forms of treatment, like group therapy or psychotherapy.

• Get a referral from a therapist. A therapist cannot prescribe depression medication in most states, but a psychiatrist or a nurse practitioner can. Making an appointment with a therapist is a good starting point because they can provide coping strategies based on your symptoms of depression and connect you with a professional who can write you a prescription.

• Utilize online telehealth platforms. If you don’t feel like making the trip to the doctor’s office, you can also get antidepressants online.

Lastly, over-the-counter alternatives might offer some benefits while you figure out if prescription medication is the right approach for you. A handful of the most popular ones include: 

• St. John’s wort

• Omega-3 fatty acids

• 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan)

• SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine)

While some research supports the effectiveness of the above supplements, it’s important to note that there is still uncertainty about how effective they are as well as factors like dosage and drug interactions.

If you decide to dip your feet into the over-the-counter antidepressant pond, keep in mind: OTC antidepressants aren’t technically antidepressants, and they’re not a replacement for seeking professional help. Also, active ingredients in OTC supplements vary by brand and individual batches, delivering unpredictable results.

When in doubt, always talk to a healthcare provider.

It’s totally normal to feel down sometimes, especially when you’re going through a rough patch, like a breakup or a job loss. But when those feelings become more intense and prolonged, you might start to wonder if you need antidepressants.

Antidepressants are most commonly prescribed for people who have major depressive disorder (MDD). MDD is described as an inability to experience pleasure or feeling depressed, moody, or sad every day for at least two weeks accompanied by other symptoms such as low motivation and energy. They can also be used to treat anxiety disorders and chronic pain, in some cases.

For many, the first step in talking about mental health struggles begins with a primary care provider. While you might associate your PCP as that person who gives you your annual physical or writes you a prescription when you get a sinus infection, they can actually be a great first stop on the train toward treatment. 

To make a diagnosis, a healthcare professional may ask if you’re experiencing symptoms of MDD, such as:

• Sleep disruption

• Weight gain or weight loss

• Trouble making decisions

• Feelings of worthlessness

• Suicidal thoughts or frequent thoughts about death

• Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling “slowed down”

Depression enters some people’s lives in waves, depending on life circumstances. For others, the mental health condition might feel more like a permanent fixture — like a bad roommate who just won’t move out.

Your healthcare provider will likely want to know how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms, their severity, and how your symptoms are presented before making an official diagnosis.

Not sure how to start the conversation with your healthcare provider? Our guide on how to ask your doctor for antidepressants has some pointers to help you feel more confident in talking about your symptoms.

When people talk about antidepressants, it may seem like they’re referring to one kind of pill that magically works for everyone. The reality is there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment.

There are multiple types of antidepressants, and each person responds to them differently.

How long a person takes an antidepressant also varies. Some people may need antidepressants for a relatively short period (like while grieving the loss of a loved one), while those with chronic depression might need to stay on medication long-term. 

These are the most common antidepressants prescribed to patients:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

• Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

• Bupropion (NDRI)

Let’s get to know each one better. 

SSRIs

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors target your serotonin levels. Many healthcare professionals consider them a first line of treatment for major depressive disorder as well as anxiety disorders.

The most commonly prescribed SSRIs include: 

• Escitalopram (Lexapro®)

• Fluoxetine (Prozac®)

• Sertraline (Zoloft®)

• Paroxetine (Paxil®) 

• Citalopram (Celexa®)

SNRIs

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors can also optimize serotonin activity, but they also target another neurotransmitter called norepinephrine.

Norepinephrine, among other things, helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, stimulates the cardiovascular system, and is involved in the body’s fight-or-flight response.

Low levels of norepinephrine are linked to symptoms like lethargy and poor concentration. By targeting both serotonin and norepinephrine, SNRI medication can be effective in treating anxiety and depression.

The most commonly prescribed SNRIs are: 

• Venlafaxine (Effexor XR®)

• Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq®)

• Duloxetine (Cymbalta®)

• Milnacipran (Savella®)

• Levomilnacipran (Fetzima®)

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are a type of antidepressant developed in the 20th century. They’re among some of the first prescription medications to be approved by the FDA.

Lots of people still use TCAs, though generally for issues unrelated to depression, because they’ve largely been replaced with other medications, like SSRIs and SNRIs. However, if you’re experiencing depression and those aforementioned meds aren’t cutting it, your healthcare provider might recommend TCAs as an alternative.

Bupropion

Bupropion is another antidepressant used for the treatment of depression as well as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

It’s an atypical antidepressant and belongs to a group of medications known as aminoketones. It impacts the way your body uses neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine to help regulate your moods. People with depression may have lower dopamine and norepinephrine levels, and bupropion works by increasing them.

Bupropion is sold under the brand names:

• Wellbutrin®

• Wellbutrin SR®

• Wellbutrin XL® 

• Aplenzin®

• Forfivo® XL (for major depressive disorder)

You might be surprised to learn that bupropion is also commonly used as a smoking cessation medication (sold under the brand name Zyban®). Research shows it can help reduce tobacco cravings and withdrawal symptoms in ex-smokers. So, if you hear someone say they’re taking Wellbutrin® to kick their smoking habit, this is probably what they’re referring to.

Unlike other antidepressants, bupropion is known to cause fewer and less severe adverse symptoms, like drowsiness, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction. 

It’s worth noting that these antidepressants don’t work instantly, and it may take some time for your body to adjust. Our full antidepressant list goes over additional medication options, as well as more in-depth explanations on how they work.

Everyone’s mental health journey looks different. Your personal road to recovery may include antidepressants, and that’s perfectly normal.

Here are a few key things to remember about depression medication:

• A healthcare provider can help. In order to get antidepressants, you first need a prescription. A healthcare professional can ask you about your symptoms and determine which antidepressant is right for you.

• There are many different types of antidepressants. There’s no one-size-fits-all option when it comes to medication. What works for someone else may not work for you, and vice versa. Some common options include SSRIs, SNRIs, atypical antidepressants, and bupropion.

• You have other support. Support can include leaning on loved ones, connecting with friends, or spending time with a pet. It can also include psychiatry services or trying psychotherapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The important thing is finding a system that works for you. 

Seeking help for your depression can be overwhelming, but you’ve already taken the first step towards feeling better.

Ready for the next step? You can use our online psychiatry platform to connect with a licensed psychiatrist who can talk to you about your symptoms and even get you a prescription for antidepressants if you’re a fit.