Helpful Insights forPatients and Caregivers

What to Expect From Your Medications

 

Key Factors

  • Antidepressant and antipsychotic medications may take 6 weeks or more to fully work.
  • Discuss all side effects with a doctor or pharmacist. Some side effects may get better as the body gets used to the medicine.
  • Some people need medications for a short time and others need it long-term.

 

References

  1. American Psychiatric Association (APA). Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder, Third Edition (2010).https://psychiatryonline.org/pb/assets/raw/sitewide/practice_guidelines/guidelines/mdd.pdf
  2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management. (2011).
  3. Machado-Vieira R, Baumann J, Wheeler-Castillo C, Latov D, Henter ID, Salvadore G, et al. The Timing of Antidepressant Effects: A Comparison of Diverse Pharmacological and Somatic Treatments. Pharmaceuticals. 2010;3(1):19-41. DOI: 10.3390/ph3010019. PubMed PMID: 27713241; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3991019.
  4. Ehawam EA, Laurencic G, Malone DA. Side effects of antidepressants: An overview. Cleve Clin J Med. 2006; 73(4): 351-361. http://docshare01.docshare.tips/files/6681/66816455.pdf Accessed August 21, 2018.
  5. American Psychiatric Association (APA). Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia, Third Edition (2020). https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.books.9780890424841
  6. Correll CU, Malhotra AK, Kaushik S, McMeniman M, Kane JM. Early prediction of antipsychotic response in schizophrenia. AJP. 2003;160(11):2063-5. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.11.2063. PubMed PMID: 14594760.