Don’t feel like your antidepressants are working effectively? Experiencing annoying, persistent side effects? You’re not alone. The truth is, sometimes, antidepressants don’t work the first time. In fact, it’s not uncommon for people to try multiple antidepressants before finding one that works best for them.
If you’re prescribed an antidepressant medication and don’t feel that it’s working as effectively as expected, or if you have unpleasant or persistent side effects, you should think about talking to your healthcare provider about switching to a new type of medication.
There’s often a certain degree of trial and error involved in finding the right antidepressant. For many people, switching medications several times is an important step in identifying the specific antidepressant that best suits their symptoms and needs.
Below, we’ve listed common reasons for switching antidepressants, as well as the medications you may be prescribed by your healthcare provider. We’ve also explained key information, from side effects to methods of switching, that you should be aware.
There are several reasons why you may want to switch antidepressants, from side effects to a lack of effectiveness. Some of the most common reasons to change antidepressants include:
Research shows that approximately one third of people with depression have treatment resistant depression (TRD) — a type of depression that doesn’t always improve through standard treatments such as antidepressants or psychotherapy.
If you have treatment resistant depression, or your depression does not respond to the anti-depressant you’re currently taking, you may need to try several antidepressants before finding one that’s effective.
If you think that switching to a new antidepressant could be a good idea, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider.
If you have been using your current antidepressant for several months and haven’t experienced improvements, or have unpleasant side effects, your healthcare provider may recommend using one of the following types of antidepressants:
In some cases, such as when your current medication isn’t effectively treating your depression, your healthcare provider may suggest changing to a different medication within the same class of antidepressants, such as from one SSRI to another.
Depending on the type of antidepressant you’re currently using and the medication to which you switch, you’ll need to follow one of four different techniques to switch medications.
The first technique is switching directly. If it’s safe to switch from one antidepressant to another immediately, you may be able to stop taking your current antidepressant and immediately start using the new one from the next day.
Switching directly is usually only a safe option for switching between SSRIs and SNRIs with short half-lives, as these medications are less likely to cause interactions or unwanted side effects.
The second technique is cross tapering. To do this, you’ll need to gradually reduce the dosage of your old antidepressant while gradually increasing the dosage of your new medication at the same time.
This technique may be used if your medication puts you at risk of withdrawal symptoms, which may occur when some antidepressants are stopped without a gradual taper.
The third technique is tapering down your dosage to a complete stop and waiting for it to clear your body before starting the newer antidepressant.
You may need to use this technique if you’re using an antidepressant that can interact with the other medication. Some tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs can cause harmful interactions if they’re used within 14 days of starting treatment with other antidepressants.
For medications with a shorter half-life, you may only need to wait for two to four days before you begin using the new antidepressant at a low dose.
There’s no one-size-fits-all process for switching from one antidepressant to another. To avoid drug interactions, your healthcare provider will inform you about which process to use and how to switch from one antidepressant to another safely based on your medications and health.
Switching antidepressants isn’t uncommon — in fact, many people prescribed antidepressants try several medications before finding the one that works best for them.
If you’re prescribed an antidepressant and don’t feel that it’s working, it’s essential that you talk to your healthcare provider before you make any changes.
Make sure that you don’t stop your current antidepressant or adjust your dosage, as this could cause you to experience antidepressant withdrawal symptoms or a relapse of your depression symptoms.
Based on your symptoms, the medication you’re currently using and your overall health, your healthcare provider will work with you to find an antidepressant that’s safe for you to switch to, effective and suitable for your needs.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.