WHAT HAPPENS WHEN You take medication for depression

From side effects to feeling the benefits, here's what to expect

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As awareness of mental health improves and we better understand depression as an illness, an increasing number of women are taking medication to support their recovery - antidepressant use in England has risen by 22% in the past five years, according to NHS figures. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the class of drugs most commonly prescribed to treat moderate to severe depression - here's what you should know before starting treatment.

1 YOUR GP WILL AND DURATION 

You will typically be prescribed the lowest dose necessary to improve your symptoms. SSRIs are usually taken daily in tablet form and it's important not to miss a dose for them to work effectively. 'Most GPs advise a course of treatment for at least six months from when you start feeling better,' says Dr Brian Fisher, GP and medical director of Evergreen Life app.* Recurrent depression may need to be treated for longer.