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GoodRx Guide

Depression: Your GoodRx Guide

Comprehensive information for you or a loved one — including treatment options and discounts on popular medications.
Sarah Gupta, MDIndia B. Gomez, PhD
Written by Sarah Gupta, MD | Reviewed by India B. Gomez, PhD
Published on November 8, 2021

It’s normal to feel down from time to time. But sometimes, feeling down can be a sign of a mental health condition called depression, or major depressive disorder (MDD).

01:48
Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD | April 4, 2025

Depression is a common mental illness that affects your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It can make you feel sad, depressed, or disconnected from daily life. It can also cause physical symptoms, like fatigue and problems sleeping. 

Depression symptoms can last for weeks or months. It can also make it hard to function in day-to-day life. In fact, MDD is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, affecting 5% of the global population.

Some people may have depression with additional symptoms. Or, you may only have MDD in certain situations. Some examples are:

What causes clinical depression?

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world. We don’t know exactly what causes it, but it’s likely a combination of: 

Anyone can get depression — including children, teenagers, and older adults. It can happen at  any age, but it often starts in adulthood. You may have a higher risk for MDD if you’ve had clinical depression in the past or have a family member with MDD.

Certain life experiences can also increase your risk for developing MDD, including:

  • Relationship problems

  • Social isolation

  • Trouble finding a job

  • Money issues

  • Childhood abuse

  • Racial trauma

  • Medical problems

  • Substance use problems

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What are the symptoms of depression?

All people with clinical depression have at least one of these two symptoms:

  • Having a depressed mood, where you feel sad, hopeless, or empty most of the time

  • Losing interest or enjoyment in almost all activities

People with MDD also have a combination of the following symptoms:

  • Feeling irritable

  • Feeling guilty or worthless

  • Sleeping less or more than usual

  • Eating less or more than usual

  • Having fatigue or low energy

  • Having trouble concentrating or thinking clearly

  • Feeling like you’re moving very slowly or feeling restless

  • Thinking about death or suicide

In some cultures, depression may show up with more physical symptoms, like pain, headache, or weakness. Children and teens can also have different symptoms from adults, like irritability and emotional outbursts. 

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you’re not alone and help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line

How is clinical depression diagnosed?

To be diagnosed with MDD, you need to have at least five different symptoms of depression. The symptoms must also be:

  • Present on most days, nearly all day, for at least 2 weeks

  • Severe enough to interfere with your daily life

  • Not caused by drugs, alcohol, or medication

  • Not caused by another medical condition

  • Not better explained by another type of mental health condition

If you’re worried about depression, talk to your healthcare provider — especially if you’ve had symptoms for more than a few weeks. You can also use Mental Health America’s free online depression screening tool to help you decide whether to talk to a professional.

When you meet with a provider or mental health professional, they will ask questions about your symptoms. They might also suggest a physical exam or blood tests. These can help rule out any physical causes for your symptoms, like thyroid problems or anemia

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Clinical depression medications

There are many different types of medications used to treat depression. First-choice medications are: 

Antidepressants can take 1 to 2 months of taking them daily to start working. If your symptoms haven’t gotten better by then, your provider might suggest increasing your dose. You might also try other antidepressant medications, since everyone responds differently. 

Depending on your situation, your healthcare provider may suggest adding another medication to make your antidepressant more effective

Examples of add-on medications include: 

Older types of antidepressants — tricyclics (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) — are sometimes used as well if several first-choice medications haven’t worked. 

There’s also a newer medication for depression called ketamine or esketamine (Spravato). You take it in a clinic or hospital with a provider nearby. It can act quickly to relieve MDD symptoms, sometimes within a few hours. Ketamine may be an option if other medications haven’t worked. 

Therapy and other depression treatments

Psychotherapy is a great treatment for clinical depression — either on its own or combined with medications. It can help you understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It can also teach you new life skills and coping strategies for managing your depression. 

Evidence shows that some types of therapy can work just as well as medications for MDD. These therapies include:

There are also complementary and alternative treatments that may help your depression get better — especially when combined with medication and therapy. These include:

Brain stimulation can also be used to treat MDD. It’s typically only used when therapy and medications haven’t worked. Examples include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Living with depression

Depression isn’t something you can just “snap out of.” It’s a health condition with unique symptoms and treatments. And just like any other health condition, you deserve care and support while recovering. 

Here are some ideas for caring for yourself during depression recovery:

  • Talk with friends and family about your experience.

  • Join a support group or peer network.

  • Consider couples or family therapy if your relationships are affected by MDD.

  • Set healthy boundaries for yourself. 

  • Get regular sleep.

  • Exercise and stay active.

  • Avoid alcohol and tobacco.

  • Eat healthy foods.

  • Get involved in activities or hobbies.

  • Continue to educate yourself about depression.

And keep in mind: Depression is treatable. When you are in the middle of an MDD episode, it can be hard to remember that things will get better. But the truth is, up to 90% of people with MDD respond well to treatment — and almost 100% get at least partial relief.

Common concerns

Is clinical depression the same as grief?

No. Grief is a normal response to a loss — like the death of a loved one, losing a job, or ending a relationship. Grief can cause depression-like symptoms, like feeling sad or fatigued. But there are a few key differences:

  • Grief feelings tend to come and go in “grief pangs.”

  • Grief thoughts are usually related to the specific loss.

  • Grief thoughts about death are often about reuniting with a loved one.

Grief usually gets better over time without treatment. But about 4% of people will go on to have a condition called prolonged grief disorder — where grief doesn’t go away. Learn more about this topic in our GoodRx guide to grief.  

Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) the same as MDD?

No, PMDD is a different mental health condition. It causes irritability, mood swings, and other symptoms in the week before your monthly period starts. The symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your day-to-day life and usually go away when your flow begins. 

PMDD can be treated with antidepressants — either during the whole month or just during the week or two before your period. Birth control pills, exercise, and stress reduction can also help. 

Will my depression come back after I’ve recovered?

Some people with MDD will only have one episode and fully recover. But others will have multiple episodes during their lifetime. This is sometimes called “recurrent” MDD. 

You may be more likely to have another episode of MDD if you:

  • Have already had more than one MDD episode 

  • Have a history of childhood trauma

  • Have some depression symptoms that never fully go away

  • Had severe symptoms during your most recent episode of MDD

  • Had your first episode at a young age

  • Have a personality disorder

Can supplements help with depression?

There is some evidence that Omega-3 fatty acids and St. John's wort can help manage MDD. Keep in mind that you should always check with your provider before starting these — especially since St. John’s wort can interfere with many medications (including antidepressants and birth control pills).

References

Aalbers, S., et al. (2017). Music therapy for depression. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 

American Psychiatric Association. (2010). Treating major depressive disorder: A quick reference guide

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American Psychological Association. (ND). Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). APA Dictionary of Psychology

Anxiety & Depression Association of America. (2021). Support groups

Bridges, L., et al. (2019). The efficacy of yoga as a form of treatment for depression. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 

Buckman, J., et al. (2018). Risk factors for relapse and recurrence of depression in adults and how they operate: A four-phase systematic review and meta-synthesis. Clinical Psychology Review. 

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Nelson, J. C., et al. (2009). Atypical antipsychotic augmentation in major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized trials. The American Journal of Psychiatry. 

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Taylor, R. W., et al. (2020). Pharmacological augmentation in unipolar depression: a guide to the guidelines. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology

Tolentino, J., et al. (2018). DSM-5 criteria and depression severity: Implications for clinical practice. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 

Touma, K., et al. (2017). Liothyronine for depression: A review and guidance for safety monitoring. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience. 

World Health Organization. (2021). Depression

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