Major depression is a health condition where you feel sad and hopeless, or uninterested in your daily activities. Depression can cause other symptoms, too, like fatigue, problems sleeping, and appetite changes.
Antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac), bupropion (Wellbutrin), or venlafaxine (Effexor) are great options for treating major depression. But it can often be hard to tell if they’re making a difference, especially since the changes are gradual. Also, antidepressants can take a month or longer before they really start to kick in. This can leave you wondering: Is my medication actually working?
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Written by:
Sarah Gupta, MDSarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Edited by:
Sophie Vergnaud, MDSophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.
