So, if one medicine bothers you or doesn't work for you, another may be helpful. You may notice some effects of the antidepressant as soon as one week after you start taking it. But you probably won't see the full effects for about six to eight weeks. Your doctor may want you to take medicine for four months or much longer. Left untreated, most depressions go away in about six months to a year.
Treatment can make depression better in three weeks or less.
Suicide is a danger if you are depressed. It may become more of a danger just as you start to get better, because your energy level may get better before your mood does. So you may have the energy to carry out thoughts of suicide. This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this handout applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor.