Common Questions About Treatment
Starting treatment can be an important first step for the person with depression. Treatment can be either medication, therapy, or both. But treatment can raise a number of questions for everyone involved.
How soon will my friend or family member start to feel better?
Getting better doesn't happen overnight. It happens gradually. With some medications, many people may begin to see improvement of their symptoms of depression within one to four weeks. With most antidepressants, it can take up to four to six weeks of consistent treatment to feel the full benefit of the medication. Of course, the timing can vary depending on the antidepressant and the individual. Your friend or family member should continue to take his or her medication according to the doctor's instructions.
Will there be any side effects to Cymbalta?
All medications have side effects, but everyone responds differently to medications. Talk to your physician about any concerns you may have about your medication. The three most commonly reported side effects of Cymbalta include:
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
These side effects were reported during clinical trials of depression. This is not a complete list of side effects. For complete safety information, please read the full Safety Information and Boxed Warning.
Will being on an antidepressant change my loved one's personality?
No. What medication will do is help improve the symptoms of depression that your loved one may be experiencing. It won't change who that person is.
Who will be in charge of monitoring my friend or family member's progress?
If the person is taking an antidepressant, he or she should be checking in with a healthcare professional to assess how the medication is working and discuss any side effects. That may be the person's primary care physician, or it may be a specialist, such as a psychiatrist. In addition, your loved one may be undergoing psychotherapy with a different healthcare professional, such as a psychologist or licensed clinical social worker.
What if the medication isn't working or my loved one doesn't take it as prescribed?
To feel the full benefits of an antidepressant, it must be taken as prescribed for an adequate length of time. Many people don't give their antidepressant medication enough time to do its job properly. Encourage your loved one to talk to the doctor before they stop taking the medication.
If the doctor does recommend taking your loved one off medication, he or she will probably advise decreasing the dose slowly. Some antidepressants can cause uncomfortable side effects if stopped abruptly, which is why he or she should not stop taking medication without talking to the doctor.
However, it is vital to first give the medication enough time to work. People are often tempted to stop taking their medication as soon as they start to feel better. Or they think they can take days off. But antidepressants aren't like aspirin—they shouldn't be taken sporadically. Studies suggest that treatment with antidepressants can reduce the risk that the depression will return. Treatment guidelines recommend continuing treatment for at least a further 6 months to minimize the risk of relapse. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggests that some patients, such as those with chronic depression or those who have experienced multiple episodes of depression, may need to stay on antidepressant medication indefinitely. People may need to be periodically assessed by their doctor to determine their need for longer term treatment.
