Follow-up consultation

At 14-21 days after the intervention, the person will have been taking the antidepressant for up to five weeks, which is a good point to be able to assess whether or not it is working. Bear in mind that the initial starting dose might not be effective for this person and adjustment may be needed.

Two common questions people may ask about antidepressants are how long they will need to take them for and are they addictive?

On average, a person would normally take an antidepressant for between six months and two years. While they are not addictive, people can experience withdrawal effects when stopping antidepressants. Therefore, a step-down approach is recommended. Advise not to stop suddenly.

It is important to remind people that every person is an individual and, ultimately, the length of treatment needed would depend on the individual, the severity of their depression, the risks associated with untreated depression and, of course, their own preferences.