Antidepressants are not a quick fix to bringing symptom relief from mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and OCD. It can take several weeks before subtle changes are even noticed. In some cases, it could take months before medications start working. For some people, they take a medication for months, and then find out it does nothing to bring symptom relief. Learning more about how long antidepressants take to work and alternative options can help you determine which options are best for you and your mental well-being.
Why Many Clients Turn to Conscious Health After Long Medication Journeys
Many people turn to Conscious Health after long medication journeys for various reasons. Some want to quit taking their medications because they do not like the side effects. Others want to try newer, non-invasive, and medication-free treatments. Some people may find that their medications are no longer effective in alleviating all of their symptoms. Yet, others want to wean off one medication and switch to a different one. Then we have clients who do not want to wait weeks or months to see if a medication will even work and need immediate relief from their symptoms.
Medication Onset Timeline
How long antidepressants take to work varies from one person to the next. The typical timeframe for most antidepressants is between one and two weeks before subtle improvements are noticed. However, it can take between four and eight weeks for some people. Usually, by the end of the second month, most people are noticing the full therapeutic effects of their medications.
- SSRIs: The effects of SSRIs can vary between one and six weeks for most people before subtle improvements start occurring, and between six and eight weeks to reach full effectiveness.
- SNRIs: SNRIs take a little longer before their effects are noticeable and range between six and eight weeks, and up to two months before their full effects are noticed.
- MAIOs: These types of medications could start working within two to three weeks. However, it can take up to six months before the full therapeutic effects are realized.
What to Do If You’re Not Feeling Better
If you have been taking your antidepressant medication as prescribed, and it has been more than four weeks without any improvement, you need to let your psychiatrist know. You should discuss your different options and determine which ones could bring the symptom relief you seek, including:
- Adjusting the dosage of the current medication
- Changing antidepressants
- Considering alternative treatments like TMS or ketamine therapy
Additionally, incorporating more evidence-based and holistic therapies could be another option, especially when making changes to your dosage or transitioning to another medication. Some people also find that a combination of holistic and alternative treatments is effective for symptom relief, so they do not require medication.
When the Timeline Becomes a Red Flag
You will know if your antidepressant is not working because you will not notice any improvements in your symptoms or physical well-being. Some red flags to look for if you have been taking your medication as prescribed for two months are:
- Your feelings and thoughts remain unchanged.
- Your symptoms have not improved at all, and they continue to impact your daily life.
- You have noticed no physical improvements, such as improved sleep or more energy.
- You are experiencing side effects of the medication that are causing your symptoms to worsen.
If you find that the medication is not providing any benefits, it is time to consider alternatives and explore other treatment options. However, you should never stop taking your antidepressant “cold turkey.”
Safely discontinuing antidepressants often involves weaning to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms or the sudden onset of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome can be a serious and life-threatening condition as your brain chemicals change too quickly.
Beyond the Pill Bottle
Even if antidepressants are working for you, it is vital to remember they are not a cure-all for your mental health condition. Many people also benefit from psychotherapy, group therapy, holistic therapy, and alternative therapies such as ketamine therapy and TMS therapy.
How Ketamine Therapy Works in Just Hours
Keatmine therapy works quickly to help alleviate symptoms associated with several mental health disorders. Its rapid effects are due to its unique mechanisms of targeting the glutamate system, one of the excitatory neurotransmitters responsible for memory, learning, and mood regulation.
Ketamine therapy causes rapid changes in neuropathy and the formation of new neural networks, which can help improve mood and reduce symptoms. Most people report noticeable improvements within hours of their first treatment.
TMS Therapy as a Non-Drug, Evidence-Based Alternative
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy utilizes magnetic waves to stimulate specific areas of the brain responsible for regulating mood. The magnetic waves help stimulate nerve cells in the targeted regions, increasing activity, improving mood, and alleviating symptoms. TMS is FDA-approved and offers a drug-free option even for those taking antidepressants. TMS is also recommended for individuals who have experienced side effects from antidepressants or who have not experienced any improvements from antidepressants.
Moving Toward Medication Freedom at Conscious Health Center in Los Angeles, CA
At Conscious Health Center, we offer patient-centered medication management services. We offer a range of evidence-based and holistic therapies, as well as alternative therapies tailored to each of our clients’ specific needs. Our objective is to help patients alleviate their symptoms while accounting for the whole person, including their emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Our medication management philosophy is to use medications when they can benefit the individual, but also not rely on them long-term. By helping our clients address the root causes of their symptoms and incorporating the appropriate therapies, we can help our clients live active and productive lives while effectively managing their mental health conditions, often without medications.
We also help individuals safely taper off their medications when they are no longer working, are not effective, or they dislike the side effects. For further information about our medication management services, ketamine therapy, TMS therapy, or our personalized mental health treatment programs, contact us today.
Published: 8/4/2025
