take to kick in? A couple months??
2007-03-18 07:53:17 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Some people notice improvement in the first couple of weeks; but usually the medication must be taken regularly for at least 6 weeks and, in some cases, as many as 8 weeks before the full therapeutic effect occurs. If there is little or no change in symptoms after 6 or 8 weeks, the doctor may prescribe a different medication or add a second medication such as lithium, to augment the action of the original antidepressant. Because there is no way of knowing beforehand which medication will be effective, the doctor may have to prescribe first one and then another. To give a medication time to be effective and to prevent a relapse of the depression once the patient is responding to an antidepressant, the medication should be continued for 6 to 12 months, or in some cases longer, carefully following the doctor's instructions.
2007-03-18 07:56:36 · answer #1 · answered by Cinta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the medication. Some kick in within 3 days, like Cymbalta. Others, like Zoloft, can take two or three weeks.
Some medications start out at a lower dosage and the dr. gradually increases the dosage to get the full effect. It could take up to a month to get the full effect if the dosage is being gradually increased.
If you feel like the medication isn't doing enough, call the drs. office and let them know. Drs. are like detectives in that they are trying to figure things out by the clues they're give; if they don't have all the clues, they can't figure it out. The person taking the meds needs to keep the dr. aware of it if it's not doing what they need.
Depression is a very uncomfortable feeling. Don't just accept it.
2007-03-18 15:01:04 · answer #2 · answered by Annie D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A couple of weeks, like 2-4 weeks I think. Antidepressant meds actually work by making neuological changes (rather then just neurotransmitter changes) particularly in an area known as the hypocamppus (latin for seahorse) which is involved with the integration of new memories. I you really want the technical information, look on the internet for the drug's monograph. This will have the specific information for that drug (beware, it is quite a technical read).
2007-03-18 14:58:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They all work a little differently. Some can day 2-3 weeks and some can take up to 6 weeks to work fully. But they must be taken exactly as directed. If you are supposed to take one a day the make sure YOU DO NOT SKIP A DAY. Very important to do so.
2007-03-18 19:49:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It takes about 7 days to kick in. You could also ask your pharmacist. They should have given you a paper telling you about the side effects, how to take the medication. If they didn't ask for the information.
Taken right the medicine will help you immensely. I take Prozac and it really help.
2007-03-18 15:03:43 · answer #5 · answered by witchypoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 weeks i believe and might change the dosing after 3 or 4 weeks
2007-03-18 15:00:30 · answer #6 · answered by S666666666666 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
usually it takes 6 weeks to kick to fully.. it can start before that
2007-03-18 14:56:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should only take a couple of weeks.
2007-03-18 14:56:44 · answer #8 · answered by T_Ann 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋