If you're suffering from major depression, antidepressant medication may relieve some of your symptoms.
Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. They can improve your mood, sleep, appetite and concentration. It may take several weeks for them to start working.
Depression is classified as mild, moderate or severe depending on your symptoms and how much they interfere with your everyday life. You don't usually need antidepressants for mild depression.
Antidepressants can also be used in the treatment of other conditions, such as chronic (long-lasting) pain, anxiety and panic attacks, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Antidepressant treatment continues even after one begins to feel normal since its benefits consolidate with time.
Antidepressants can't protect you against the ups and downs of life. By relieving your depressive signs and symptoms, they just bring you back to where you were before the onset of depression.
If you have severe depression that's interfering with your ability to function, medication may be right for you.