Common Reasons Antidepressants Stop Working

Depression (major depressive disorder or MDD) is a common but serious mental disorder that negatively impacts how you think, feel, act, and perceive the world.

Twenty-nine percent of adults have been diagnosed with depression at some point during their lives, and about 18% currently live with it, according to a 2023 national survey. It can occur at any time and at any age, but, on average, it shows up during one’s late teens to mid-20s.

Since changes in brain chemistry may contribute to an individual’s depression, those changes also factor into their treatment, so the provider may recommend antidepressants to balance transmitter levels.

At Interventional Psychiatry Group, serving the Cordova community of Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Jim Pang, Jr., and his team diagnose and treat depression in their patients. As such, they offer many medication treatment options.

But what happens if the antidepressants stop working? Where does that leave patients? Keep reading to find out.

An overview of depression

To be diagnosed with depression, your symptoms have to last for most of the day, almost every day; last for more than two weeks; and clearly affect your day-to-day functioning.

Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and present differently in each person. These symptoms can include:

Feeling sad, empty, and/or hopeless
Losing interest or pleasure in things you once enjoyed
Eating too much or too little
Sleeping too little or too much
Decreased energy or increased fatigue
Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., can’t sit still, pace back and forth, wring your hands)
Slowing of movements or speech noticeable by others
Feeling worthless or excessively guilty
Difficulty thinking or concentrating, and/or difficulty making even minor decisions
Thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts

If you or someone you know is suicidal, contact the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline by calling or texting 988 or chatting at 988lifeline.org.

Antidepressant medications

Pharmacotherapy (medication) and psychotherapy are the first-line treatments for depression, and Interventional Psychiatry Group offers many medication treatment options.

To ensure you receive the most effective medication for you, we also offer GeneSight® testing. We analyze material from a simple cheek swab to customize a treatment plan based on how you metabolize different medications.

We know that these medications help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety in up to 70% of people who try them. The rate becomes even higher when people who don’t get relief with one type try a second type.

Common reasons antidepressants stop working

You may have taken an antidepressant for years without problem, only now it doesn’t work. Why? Well, these medications aren’t a miracle cure or even a permanent fix, and they can stop working. In fact, one study from InformedHealth.org found that the depression relapse rate while on an antidepressant is about 23% within two years.

Here are some common reasons why the medications may stop working for you.

You started a new medication

A medication you introduce into your regimen for another reason can interact with your antidepressant and/or cause side effects like irritability or fatigue that make it appear like your antidepressant isn’t working.

In addition, some medications are processed by the body along the same chemical pathways as antidepressants, so they’re able to change how your antidepressant works. Antibiotics, for example, can increase or decrease the amount of antidepressant in your bloodstream, which affects how well it works.

Even over-the-counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and supplements can interact with antidepressants.

You have developed a new medical condition

Depression is common in people living with a wide range of chronic medical conditions and, in some cases, it can even be a sign of them (e.g., thyroid disease).

Underlying health conditions make depression harder to treat. An antidepressant that worked well when you were coping with one chronic illness might not be a good fit when you’re dealing with the physical and emotional reality of another chronic illness.

You’re stressed out

No matter if the stress comes from work, family, relationships, or something else, new or increased stress can alter your brain chemistry enough to counteract the effects of your antidepressant. The National Institute for Mental Health reports you may experience breakthrough depression symptoms during these times and need more, or different, support.

You’re aging

As you get older, your metabolism and body composition change, affecting how well medications are absorbed, metabolized, distributed, and removed from your body. All these factors can change the effectiveness of the medication.

And all these issues can be addressed by speaking with your doctor.

If you’re having problems with your antidepressant, or if you’re treatment-resistant to the medications, Interventional Psychiatry Group can help. Call us at 901-752-4900 to set up an evaluation, or book online with us today.