Understanding Antidepressants

Learning how antidepressants work is an important step towards taking control of mental health conditions and finding the right treatment for unique needs.

Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are not one-size-fits-all conditions. Symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness or loss, lack of interest, sleep changes, difficulty thinking, and more. Symptoms of anxiety include worrying, difficulty focusing, feeling tense or restless, feeling irritable, panicking, and more. Both depression and anxiety can cause sleep changes and stomach issues.

If you are currently taking prescribed antidepressants, your doctor may recommend therapy or support groups to help improve your quality of life.

What are Antidepressants?

Antidepressants help regulate your mood and behavior. They're commonly used to treat depression and anxiety in adults.

Some commonly prescribed medications to treat depression include amitriptyline, bupropion, citalopram, doxepin, escitalopram, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, nortriptyline, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone, and venlafaxine, while duloxetine and venlafaxine treat anxiety. Mirtazapine and trazodone are also commonly prescribed for sleep.

Common Antidepressant Side Effects

Common side effects include:

• Stomach upset
• Weight gain
• Worrying
• Sleep problems
• Sexual problems

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor for tips on taking your medication effectively to reduce the risk of unwanted effects. If you have tried ways to prevent side effects and are still experiencing them, another medication may be better for you with less reactions.

Taking Antidepressants

Antidepressants can take 8-12 weeks to start working before you see improvement in your symptoms. Continue taking the prescribed dose as instructed by your doctor. If a medication doesn't work for you, do not suddenly stop taking it. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about slowly reducing your medication dose and choosing other treatment options that may work better for you.

Medication Tips for Antidepressants

To get the most out of your medication, you should:

• Continue taking it as prescribed
• Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about side effects or changes
• Ask your pharmacist about automatic refills so that your medication will be ready without having to call ahead or wait at the pharmacy
• Ask your pharmacist about medication synchronization to reduce your trips to the pharmacy by allowing you to pick up your medications on the same day
• Consider a 90-day supply after the first month if the medication is working for you

Transportation Help

If you are unable to pick up your medications due to transportation challenges, ask your local pharmacy if it offers delivery. If you would rather receive your medications in the mail, you can switch your medications to mail-order by logging in to Blueprint Portal, clicking pharmacy, and selecting pharmacy center to choose which medications you want delivered by mail. You can also call 800-969-3983 to begin receiving mail-order prescriptions.

Get rewarded for healthy behaviors, including using these tips for remembering to take your mental health medications.