Depression is on the rise among teenagers and young adults. Therefore, it is crucial to stay alert if that prescription antidepressant is working. Antidepressant medications usually take two to 12 weeks to start making some effect, with an apex of around six to eight weeks.
Stay alert for those five signs. Don’t panic. Stay cautious that these signs can be risky for your child’s safety.
1. No relief from your depressive symptoms. Suppose your child is going on six weeks and sees no effect or only a minimal impact when it comes to helping those symptoms. In that case, that’s usually a sign that switching to a different antidepressant might be necessary.
2. Depression gets worse. Sometimes, it’s not a matter of little or no relief. Sometimes, antidepressant medications can make a depressive episode even worse. In addition, some antidepressants don’t fit the patient’s biology. Genetic testing can be an option can be a choice to determine which medicines might respond better to your child’s metabolism.
3. Experience a sudden surge of energy while battling the blues. Some have speculated that this new-found energy, often experienced when starting on an antidepressant and while still suffering from depressive symptoms, can cause patients to behave in dangerous ways. Therefore, it represents a significant concern to avoid impulsive and risky behavior. Speak immediately to your child’s physician if you notice this symptom.
4. Overwhelmed by the drug’s side effects. Unfortunately, side effects are relatively common—which is why it’s so crucial that clinicians try to educate patients about what to expect before starting a new medication. But if those side effects include wild mood swings, sleeping, deprivation, or other unpredictable side effects, those are indicators the physician needs to be aware of right away.
5. Suffering from violent mood swings. Again, this is a significant red flag. Depression and bipolar disorder are not the same condition. Sometimes people with bipolar disorder come in, reporting considerable depression. But antidepressant medications are much riskier for these patients. If your child is experiencing excess feelings of restlessness, silly giggling, seething irritability or anger—out of character behaviors—you need to go back to your doctor.
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