Medication is a common treatment option for depression and there are different types of medicines that can be helpful. While they can be highly effective, they do not work for everyone and not every medicine works for every person.There are also different types of medications that can work for depression and some of the medications can work for other mental health issues like anxiety or bipolar disorder as well. If you are interested in learning more about different medications, possible side effects, or advice from mental health professionals, then you can find many helpful resources at https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/medication/Additionally, sometimes it may seem like a medication isn't working, but that doesn't necessarily mean it isn't working at all. Plus, there are other considerations as well. Knowing how to determine if the medication is working or not can be beneficial for anyone starting antidepressant medications or even anybody who has been on them for a while.How to Tell if Antidepressant Medication Isn't WorkingIt is important to understand that antidepressant medicines can take a while to work effectively, so if you have only been on them a few days or even a couple weeks, you may not notice a difference, but the medicine could start to work better.If you are feeling more symptoms or identical symptoms as before and you have been on the medicine for weeks or months, that may be a sign that it is not working, and you should talk to your doctor.If you feel like the medicine is working but is also causing side effects that make it harder to function, then you should also speak with your doctor to determine if the medication is causing those symptoms or if the dosage needs adjustment.Finally, speak with your doctor if you experience severe side effects or have thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Antidepressant medications can sometime cause these types of side effects and when that happens, it is important to address those symptoms immediately.Why Doesn't the Medication Work?There are several reasons why your medicine may not be working properly. Sometimes the medicine is just not the right option, and your doctor may prescribe a different medication. There are also other common reasons why it may not be completely effective.One of the most common reasons that a medication may not be effective is that the person does not take it as prescribed. Antidepressant medications need to be taken in a certain way, otherwise they are more likely to be ineffective or to cause side effects. The instructions for the medication will mention how often to take it and can even say when during the day you should take it as well as whether it should be taken with food or not. There may be additional instructions as well.Mixing medicines with other drugs or substances can also impact the antidepressant's ability to work. In addition, some antidepressants can interact with other medications causing other side effects that can be distressing. Even drinking low amounts alcohol can influence the effectiveness of a medicine.It is also possible to develop a tolerance for the medication. If you have been taking the medicine for a long time, then it may lose effectiveness over time because your body gets used to the effects. Sometimes, this means that you may have to increase dose or switch to a new medicine.Finally, if your current circumstances are more stressful or distressing, then the medicine may not do as much. If you are dealing with grief, trauma, stress, or other stressful situations, then it can be more difficult to cope and may make the medication less likely to work. The same is true if you are making unhealthy lifestyle choices that impact sleep, nutrition, and other necessities.What to Do if the Medication Isn't WorkingIf your medication is not working, then it is important to speak with your doctor. Sometimes a doctor will adjust the dosage or change medications when it is not working. There are also some cases when a prescriber may add an additional antidepressant or other medicine.Another option is to combine the medication with therapy. Therapy can be an effective treatment option for depression and research shows that the combination of therapy and medication can be more effective than solely taking medicine.The most important thing is to continue taking the medication as prescribed until you speak with your doctor. Discontinuing medicine without the advice of a doctor can sometimes be dangerous or lead to other negative effects. Your doctor may also want you to keep taking the medication for other reasons.ConclusionMedication can be an effective treatment option for depression and other mental health conditions. However, sometimes the medicine does not work as well as you had hoped. It is important to keep in mind that many factors can cause a medication to be less effective, but that you should not abandon the medicine without speaking to your doctor. They may have other avenues that can help you get the most out of your treatment like therapy or additional medications.