When Antidepressants Aren't Enough: Understanding Your Next Options
If you've tried medication and are still experiencing depression, you are not out of options. This page explains what may come next and why a different approach might be worth exploring.
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Depression Treatment Can Take Trial and Adjustment
Finding the right treatment for depression often involves trial and adjustment. A medication that helps one person may not help another. Doses may need to change. Sometimes a medication works for a while and then seems to stop. This is common, and it doesn't mean treatment has failed you.
Why One Antidepressant May Work Differently From Another
Different antidepressants act on different chemical systems in the brain. What works for one person may not work for another, and side effects vary from person to person. This is why prescribers may try several medications, adjust doses, or combine treatments before considering other approaches.
What Treatment-Resistant Depression Means
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a clinical term for depression that hasn't responded adequately to one or more antidepressant trials at adequate doses and duration. It isn't a judgment — it's a category that exists because this situation is common enough to need one, and because treatments were developed specifically for it.
When Doctors May Discuss Additional Treatment Options
When standard treatments haven't provided enough relief, a clinician may discuss interventional approaches — treatments that work through different mechanisms than oral medication. These are not replacements for medication; they may be used alongside it or considered when medication alone hasn't been sufficient.
Curious whether you'd qualify?
If you've tried medication and you're still not yourself, you may be a candidate for SAINT®. Our team will give you a straight answer.
TMS
Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive, FDA-cleared treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain associated with mood. It does not require anesthesia and is performed in an outpatient setting.
Accelerated TMS & SAINT®
Accelerated TMS protocols compress treatment into a shorter timeframe. SAINT® is an FDA-cleared accelerated protocol that uses functional MRI to individually map the treatment target. Whether either is appropriate is a clinical determination.
SPRAVATO®
SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is an FDA-approved prescription nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression, administered under supervision at a certified center. It works through a different mechanism than oral antidepressants.
What If You're Currently Starting a New Medication?
Do not stop or change prescribed medication without discussing it with your prescribing healthcare provider. If you are starting a new antidepressant, it's often worth allowing adequate time to assess its effect before considering other options. Your prescriber can help you think through the timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many antidepressants do I need to try before other options?
Can I try TMS while still taking antidepressants?
Does trying other options mean giving up on medication?
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Explore Your Next Treatment Options
If antidepressants haven't provided enough relief, there are other approaches worth understanding. Speak with our team about your history and what may be appropriate.