Finding the right antidepressant

Different people may react differently to the same antidepressant. For example, one medicine may work better — or not as well — for you than for another person. Or you may have more, or fewer, side effects from taking a specific antidepressant than someone else does.

Traits passed down in your family play a role in how antidepressants affect you. If a relative responded well to a particular antidepressant, tell your healthcare professional. This may be a good medicine for you to try first.

In some cases, results of special blood tests, where available, may offer clues about how your body may respond to a particular antidepressant. But other factors can affect your response to medicine. For example, people with a history of bipolar disorder typically aren't given SSRIs for depression. That's because SSRIs may worsen their symptoms.

When choosing an antidepressant, your healthcare professional considers your symptoms, any health conditions you may have, other medicines you take and what has worked for you in the past.

It may take several weeks or more before an antidepressant is fully effective and for early side effects to ease up. Your healthcare professional may recommend some dose changes or different antidepressants. With patience, you and your healthcare professional can find a medicine that works well for you.