25 Jul Why Aren’t My Antidepressants Working Anymore?

Antidepressants are medications prescribed to individuals who experience symptoms of depression. Have you been taking an antidepressant and noticed that your meds are not adequately addressing your symptoms? Did your meds used to work but are not working anymore? It is important to know the reasons why an antidepressant may fail to show an  effect.

• Genetics
  The effectiveness of an antidepressant is very likely linked to your body’s genetic makeup. In other words, your DNA may make your system resistant to your current medication but responsive to a different medication.  

• New stressors in life
  Depression can be triggered by immense, prolonged stress. Therefore, new stressors introduced in your life can worsen depression and lead to the impression that your antidepressants no longer work. Stresses could include a death in the family, job loss, poor financial situation, divorce or even change in environment. To determine whether your feelings of depression are biological or environmental, you should see your doctor.

• New medication (including herbals and supplements)
  New medications and herbals may cause your antidepressant levels to rise or fall due to effects on your liver and kidneys. Medications such as steroids or antibiotics can interact with and blunt the effect of an antidepressant. If you have noticed a change in your mood and have recently started a new medication, contact your physician for a prompt medication review.

• Other medical conditions
  Some individuals experience other medical illnesses which may have an effect on mood. One may think that his/hers antidepressant is not working because they see a change for the worse in some of their symptoms. For example, chronic pain can impact mood and pull a person down making his/her depression worse. It can be difficult then to differentiate between their pain and their depressive symptoms.

• Taking medication consistently
  Have you stopped taking an antidepressant because you forgot so many times you might as well just skip it completely? Have you skipped or missed doses here and there, or took medications at irregular intervals? Such an inconsistency can prevent the achievement of adequate blood levels and therefore have an impact on the effectiveness of your antidepressant. If your dosing regimen is too difficult to follow, see a physician to determine if there are other treatment options with dosing schedules that are better for your schedule and needs.

Now that you know some reasons why your antidepressants may not be working, you may want to consider a clinical evaluation. If you need more information about antidepressants or depression, please call the Institute for Advanced Medical Research at 770-817-9200 today.