Why is My Depression Medicine No Longer Working?
Despite widespread efforts to remove stigma, depression is still one of the most misunderstood sources of disability in the world. Even with more than 260 million people across the globe dealing with depression, it can still feel difficult to get help.
The good news is that modern treatment options have been shown to be effective. But everyone is different, and finding the right medication and treatments can sometimes require a little trial and error. Even more challenging is the fact that a medicine might work at first and then stop working later. If that’s happening, it’s time to look a little closer. Here are some of the common reasons why your depression medicine may no longer be effective.
You Have a Change in Other Medications
This is one of the most common causes. Adding new medications to your daily regimen can change how your antidepressants work. Your doctor should help you understand what medicines might cause an adverse reaction with your antidepressants.
Pregnancy
This certainly does not apply to everyone, but pregnancy can change everything. Pregnancy causes major alterations to body chemistry, and that can easily redefine your relationship with depression medication.
Drugs or Alcohol
If prescription medications can change the efficacy of depression meds, then drugs and alcohol can certainly do the same. Your doctor will tell you not to mix these things with antidepressants. Regardless of warnings, it is important to understand that drinking or doing drugs will greatly impact your general mood and how your antidepressants work.
Social Changes
Major events in your life can introduce new stressors. With new stressors, the conditions of your depression can shift, which in turn can change which medications will be most effective for you. If you notice that a change in your life accompanies a change in your depression, there are chances that your meds are losing their effectiveness.
Mental Development
As a person ages, their brain undergoes major changes. Certain periods are especially tumultuous for a person’s brain chemistry. It’s common for a large shift to occur in people’s brains around the age of 20. If you were taking medication that worked for you before you turned 20, it’s very likely that you’ll start needing a completely new regimen around the time that you turn 20. Other changes, such as when a woman starts menopause, may also lead to a need for new medication.
They Just Stop
The hardest part of this situation is that sometimes, depression medications just stop working. Researchers don’t fully understand why, but if your medicine does stop working, and you see some of the warning signs, it is important to involve your doctor right away.
Depression is a difficult obstacle to overcome, but there is help available. If you have a medication or treatment that isn’t working or want to know more about treatments available, Prime Behavioral Health is here to help. We offer psychiatric services where we can explore your current medication regimen and discuss whether or not TMS therapy is a good addition to your treatment. Call us at 817-405-6258 or contact us online to set up an appointment.