Depression Medication: What Works, What to Watch For, and How to Choose

When you’re struggling with depression medication, prescribed drugs used to relieve symptoms of clinical depression by balancing brain chemicals. Also known as antidepressants, these aren’t quick fixes—they’re tools that help your brain regain its natural rhythm over weeks, not days. Millions use them every year, but most people don’t know how different types actually work—or why one might be right for them and another could cause more trouble than relief.

SSRIs, a common class of depression medication that increases serotonin levels in the brain. Also known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, they include drugs like sertraline and escitalopram. They’re often the first choice because they’re generally well-tolerated. But they’re not magic: some people feel worse before they feel better, and side effects like nausea, sleep changes, or lowered libido can be real. Then there’s SNRIs, another major class of antidepressants that target both serotonin and norepinephrine. Also known as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, they include venlafaxine and duloxetine. These can help if SSRIs don’t cut it—or if fatigue and low energy are big parts of your depression. And then there’s the tougher case: treatment-resistant depression, when standard antidepressants fail to improve symptoms after two or more trials. Also known as refractory depression, this isn’t a dead end—it just means you need a different strategy, maybe combining meds, adding therapy, or trying something like MAOIs, which are effective but come with strict diet rules to avoid dangerous interactions. You’ll find posts here that explain exactly what those rules are, why fermented foods like kimchi or soy sauce can trigger dangerous spikes in blood pressure when mixed with certain antidepressants, and how to spot early signs that a medication isn’t working—or is causing harm.

Some of the posts below dive into real-world trade-offs: how one person’s relief from sadness comes with weight gain, or how another avoided insomnia by switching from an SSRI to an SNRI. You’ll see how drugs like bupropion can help with low energy without causing sexual side effects, or why some people need to combine meds with therapy instead of relying on pills alone. There’s also practical advice on what to ask your doctor, how to track your symptoms over time, and when it’s time to try something new. No fluff. No marketing. Just what you need to know before you start, switch, or stop.