Finding the right antidepressant

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 may play a role in how antidepressants affect you. In some cases, where available, results of special blood tests may offer clues about how your body may respond to a specific antidepressant. Pharmacogenomics — the study of how drugs work coupled with information about human genes — is sometimes available to tailor medications and their doses for people based on their genetic makeup. But other things besides genetics can affect your response to medicine.

When choosing an antidepressant, your healthcare professional considers your symptoms, any health problems, other medicines you take, and what's worked for you in the past.

Typically, it may take several weeks or longer before an antidepressant fully works 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.