Antidepressants are drugs used to manage negative symptoms in the treatment for depression. There are many kinds of antidepressants available, and chances are you’ll be able to find one that works well for you. And sometimes a combination of medicines may be an option. The various types of antidepressants available work in slightly different ways and have different side effects. When choosing an antidepressant that’s likely to work well for you, your health care provider may consider factors usch as possible side effects, particular symptoms, interations with other medicines, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and other health conditions.

The Symptoms of depression can vary, and some may relieve certain symptoms better than another. An example is using an antidepressant that causes some people to be calm for people who have trouble sleeping. It is true that the side effects vary from one medicine to another and from person to person. The most common side effects include dry mouth, nausea, weight gain or sexual side effects. How well a medicine worked for a blood relative can indicate how well it might work for you. Also, if an antidepressant has been effective for your depression in the past, it may work well again. Interaction with other medicines mean that some antidepressants can cause dangerous reactions when taken with other medicines. A decision to use antidepressants during pregnancy and breastfeeding is based on the balance between risks and benefits. Antidepressants such as paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) are discouraged during pregnancy.

Some drugs may cause problems if you have certain mental or physical health conditions. Others may help treat physical or mental health conditions along with depression. An example of such antidepressants is Bupropion, which can help people to stop smoking. Other examples include using duloxetine (Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle) to help with pain symptoms or fibromyalgia, or using amitriptyline to prevent migraines. It is also important to note that some antidepressants can be expensive, so ask if there’s a generic version available and discuss its effectiveness. APA