In addition to treating depression, duloxetine may also relieve pain. This is important because chronic pain can lead to depression or make it worse. In some cases, people with depression become more aware of aches and pains. A drug that treats both depression and pain, such as duloxetine, can be helpful to these people. Depression affects your brain, so drugs that work in your brain may prove beneficial. Common antidepressants may help ease your symptoms, but there are many other options as well.

Some people switch to another antidepressant with a longer half-life to gradually lower the dosage before stopping medication completely. While this works for some, it’s important to note that only certain practitioners, like psychiatrists and primary care physicians, can prescribe medication. Coming off antidepressant medication can cause antidepressant withdrawal and can set you up for a relapse of depression. However, there is a difference between withdrawal (also called antidepressant discontinuation syndrome) and depression relapse.

Gradually tapering off the drug will help minimize the withdrawal reaction. In fact, there are many questions about their long-term effectiveness. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, benzodiazepines lose their therapeutic anti-anxiety effect after 4 to 6 months of regular use. And a recent analysis reported in JAMA Psychiatry found that the effectiveness of SSRIs in treating anxiety has been overestimated, and in some cases is no better than placebo.

Although physical dependence is not as quick to develop with antidepressants, withdrawal can still be an issue. If discontinued too quickly, antidepressant withdrawal can trigger symptoms such as extreme depression and fatigue, irritability, anxiety, flu-like symptoms, and insomnia. While benzodiazepines are relatively safe when taken only occasionally and in small doses, they can be dangerous and even deadly when combined with other central nervous system depressants. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before combining medications. When taken regularly, benzodiazepines lead to physical dependence and tolerance, with increasingly larger doses needed to get the same anxiety relief as before.

It is used off-label for depression that doesn’t cause weight gain. Luvox CR is used for children with OCD and can be used for depression if other antidepressants are causing unwanted side effects. SNRIs, or Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors, effectively change the brain chemicals like other antidepressants. Some of the most common SNRIs include Pristiq, Cymbalta, Fetzima, Effexor maxdotyl sulpiride 50 mg XR, and more. Common side effects of these medications include nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, and excessive sweating.

Different antidepressants can have a range of different side effects. Always check the information leaflet that comes with your medicine to see what the possible side effects are. When they're prescribed, you'll start on the lowest possible dose thought necessary to improve your symptoms.