How does a doctor decide which antidepressant to prescribe?
Mood and anxiety disorders often respond to antidepressant medication. These disorders cover a wide spectrum of symptoms. A good assessment includes both listening and questioning about symptoms, functioning and stressors. Knowledge of the different nervous system targets and the side effect profiles of each antidepressant, along with an individual’s medical history, family history and concurrent medications are then used to make the best clinical choice of medication. Each medication has a unique chemical shape, along with its known mechanism of actions in the body, leading to a great deal of variability in individual response and tolerance of any one antidepressant. It is important to have regular follow-up when starting an antidepressant and good communication with your prescriber. It is not uncommon to add a second medication with a different mechanism of action or to switch medications, depending on how well the person is doing and/or if side effects are a problem.
