This entry in the Shrink Network

Practical (DepressionResource) PsychiatryRx (medication) · Library (Shrinkopedia) · shrinkMD (care)

Treatment terms

Antidepressant

Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA·Updated March 15, 2026·About 3 minutes

Canonical definition at Shrinktionary. This entry adds the depression-specific angle.

Sources

American Psychiatric Association. Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder.
NICE Guideline NG222.
Cipriani A, et al. Comparative efficacy and acceptability of 21 antidepressant drugs for the acute treatment of adults with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet. 2018.

Primary source: MedlinePlus: Antidepressants (U.S. National Library of Medicine).

Frequently asked questions

How long do antidepressants take to work?

Most people start to notice changes in two to six weeks, with sleep, appetite, and energy often shifting before mood does. Full effects often take eight to twelve weeks. The first medication tried isn't always the right one.

What's the success rate of the first antidepressant?

About one in three people reach remission on the first medication tried, and roughly half show a meaningful response (STAR*D). Most patients need a change in dose, a switch, or an addition. That's normal and built into how we plan treatment.

Are antidepressants addictive?

Antidepressants aren't addictive in the way that opioids or benzodiazepines are. They don't produce a high, and people don't develop cravings. Stopping abruptly can cause discontinuation symptoms (flu-like feelings, brain zaps, mood changes), which is why a taper supervised by a prescriber is the standard approach.

Will antidepressants change who I am?

When they work, antidepressants reduce the symptoms that have been pushing on you. Most people describe themselves as more like themselves, not less. If you feel emotionally flat or unlike yourself on a medication, that's a reason to talk to the prescriber about the dose or a different medication.

Do I have to take an antidepressant forever?

After a first episode, most clinicians continue antidepressants for six to twelve months after symptoms resolve, then reassess. After multiple episodes, longer maintenance is often recommended. The decision is individual and is made with a prescriber.

What's the FDA boxed warning?

All antidepressants carry an FDA boxed warning for increased risk of suicidal thoughts in children, adolescents, and young adults up to age 25, especially in the first weeks of starting or changing a medication. Any new or worsening suicidal thoughts during this period are a reason to call a prescriber the same day.

See where this fits in the Depression Hub on Shrinkopedia →

Related on the network

Last reviewed March 15, 2026.

The Knowledge Path

Walk this topic outward.

The Knowledge Path is a curated walk. Every step is one decision away from the next.

See where this fits in the Depression Hub on Shrinkopedia →

Continue learning across the network

Where to go next.

DepressionResource is part of a larger network. These are the places to keep going.

MEDICATION

Antidepressants, explained

SSRIs, SNRIs, atypicals: what they do, what they don't do, and what to expect.

Open PsychiatryRx →

LIBRARY

Depression, the encyclopedia view

The full clinical picture: the major depressive disorders, the related conditions, and the symptoms inside each.

Read on Shrinkopedia →

CARE

Depression care at shrinkMD

Telepsychiatry with board-certified clinicians experienced in depression.

Get care at shrinkMD →

READING

Essays on depression

Long-form essays from Shariq Refai on living with depression and recovery.

Read essays →

Your next step in The Shrink Network

You are here: DepressionResource, the depression-specific layer of The Shrink Network.

Each site in the network has one job. No matter where you enter, we help you find the next step that makes sense.

Consider medication management with a psychiatrist at shrinkMD

Want to understand more first?