By restoring the brain's chemical balance, antidepressants help relieve the symptoms of depression. They are not addictive. Antidepressants can provide relief of symptoms within one to two months. However, treatment is often continued for six months to a year, to help avoid relapse. Antidepressants can have side effects, although not all people experience all side effects.
Some people experience no side effects at all.
Often, side effects are most severe at first, but disappear after a few days or a few weeks of treatment. Do not drink alcohol. Do not stop taking an antidepressant abruptly. Antidepressants should be tapered gradually, to help avoid relapse. The material in this article is provided for informational purposes only.