How long does it take depression treatments to work: antidepressants, SPRAVATO®, TMS therapy

When can you start feeling better?

When you’re starting a treatment for depression, the biggest question on your mind is bound to be when you can expect to start feeling better. While the end goal of any depression treatment is remission, different treatments can vary considerably in how long it’ll take you to get there. Read on to find how long each treatment takes to start working, and what to do if it doesn’t.

Antidepressant medications

When starting a new antidepressant, adjusting up to a therapeutic dose while keeping an eye on side effects is a process that usually takes a few weeks.

When most people start feeling some improvement

When medicines work, people typically notice improvement after 3 or more weeks of taking their medication daily.

When most people will feel the full effect

Antidepressants typically will have their full effect by 12 weeks, if not sooner.

When to try something different

If it’s been longer than 12 weeks and you aren’t satisfied with your improvement, talk to your doctor.

They might recommend that you increase your current medication’s dosage or try a different medication altogether. If you’ve tried several medications and still have depression symptoms, schedule your no-cost consult for TMS therapy or nasal esketamine with our Care Team- we’ll answer your questions and help you take the next step to feeling better.

TMS therapy

TMS therapy delivers gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate specific targeted areas of the brain, in a way that relieves depression. TMS therapy consists of 30-36 treatment sessions over the course of 6-9 weeks.

When most people start feeling some improvement

When medicines work, people typically notice improvement after 3 or more weeks of taking their medication daily.

When most people will feel the full effect

By the time treatment is over, most people will have gotten most of the benefits of TMS. However, many of our patients do report that they continue to feel improvements in the weeks and months following treatment. 

When to try something different

Be open with your treatment team throughout the course of your treatment. At Greenbrook, we measure your symptom progress weekly to make sure you’re on track. If you’ve reached week four with absolutely no reduction in depression symptoms, our Care Team will reevaluate your treatment course and consider what adjustments could be made.

Nasal esketamine

Nasal esketamine primarily targets the glutamate system, which is thought to boost neuroplasticity and provide rapid depression relief. It’s taken alongside an oral antidepressant, typically twice per week for four weeks, then once per week for four weeks. After that, continued treatment depends on how the patient is doing.

When most people start feeling some improvement

Unlike antidepressants or even TMS therapy, nasal esketamine works very quickly against depression symptoms, sometimes within just hours of their first dose.

When most people will feel the full effect

People often feel better within days of starting treatment, but sometimes it takes longer.

When to try something different

If you’ve gone through a full round of treatment and you still haven’t gotten much relief from your depression symptoms, speak with your provider. They may suggest an alternative treatment schedule or a different treatment altogether, such as TMS therapy.

The bottom line

When you’re starting a new depression treatment, remember to set realistic expectations and be honest with your provider about how you’re feeling.

If it’s been several weeks and you still aren’t seeing the improvement you hoped for, don’t give up or settle for just a partial improvement.

Relief from depression is possible, whether you choose an antidepressant, TMS therapy, or nasal esketamine. If you’re interested in learning more about TMS therapy or nasal esketamine, schedule your no-cost consultation today.