Medications
Medications are used quite successfully to treat depression, often with psychotherapy. Early intervention with
medications can help prevent a severe depression, and allow people to use talk therapy more efficiently. For
severe depressions, medications may help people get back to regular routines and activities by restoring their
moods to more normal levels.1
The different types of antidepressants are generally categorized by which natural chemicals they affect in your
brain to help change your mood.10 They can also be broken down into categories of older and newer drugs.1 The
following chart provides a very brief overview of several types of antidepressants currently available in Canada:1,10
Medications are often increased gradually to optimize their effects. The first weeks may be more about managing
any side effects rather than real symptom relief, which can take a while to begin for some.1 But don’t be
discouraged, the side effects can be managed, on the way to realizing your symptom relief.1