How fast do depression meds work?

It depends on what type of medication you are prescribed. There are many different types of depression medications, and they all work differently.

Antidepressants are taken daily and typically take 4 to 6 weeks for people to notice a difference. If you’ve been taking a medication and it doesn’t seem to work, it may take additional time to make adjustments to your medication plan. Some of these adjustments including finding the best dosage of the medication you’re trying, trying other medications, or even trying different combinations of medications.

Other types of drugs sometimes used to treat depression including mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics also take about 4 to 6 weeks for individuals to notice a difference.

If you’ve tried around three different medications without feeling better, you might have treatment-resistant depression. Your doctor might talk to you about trying device-based treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The time frame for these devices varies, from just a few sessions to several sessions a week for several weeks. Ask your doctor for details about the type of treatment you will be receiving.

Drugs like ketamine are showing potential for quicker treatment of depression. These options are shown to have positive effects within one day and are currently being researched.

Whatever medication you are prescribed, medications can take time to work, so it’s important to talk through any changes or questions with your doctor.