It can take at least a couple of weeks for depression medicine to kick in — and up to 12 weeks for you to tell if it’s really working. You and your doctor may have to experiment to find the right dose, the right drug, or even the right combination of medicines. Don’t give up. Studies show that many adults with depression are likely to find medicine that helps.
You can’t get addicted to antidepressants, but you may have withdrawal-like symptoms if you stop taking some antidepressants too quickly. Quitting suddenly could give you headaches, muscle aches, an upset stomach, or other problems. Don’t stop unless your doctor tells you to. And they’ll give you a schedule of how to taper off slowly.
