Key facts

• There are many different symptoms of depression other than just low mood
• Antidepressants can take two to four weeks to have an effect
• Most side-effects are often temporary and experienced in the early stages of treatment
• When starting a new antidepressant, there is a risk in the short-term that suicidal ideation may be increased
• Every antidepressant medication has a different minimum effective dose
• The starting dose of an antidepressant is not necessarily the same as its minimum effective dose
• Antidepressants are not addictive, but they can have withdrawal effects if they are stopped suddenly
• Non-medication interventions alongside antidepressant treatment can support a patient’s wellbeing and recovery.