1, antidepressants / anti-anxiety drugs are through the regulation of the brain 5-HT, NE and other chemicals that affect mood and sleep to play a role, antidepressants also have anti-anxiety effect. Some drugs also have an anti-compulsive anti- panic effect, all drugs generally take 1-4 weeks to take effect, the average in about 2 weeks, and for OCD often take longer to take effect, needing 4-8 weeks or even 12 weeks of time. While depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive can often be understood as 5-HT or NE deficiency syndrome, belonging to a real disease, rather than a character defect, these diseases can be cured by drugs. 2, If the symptoms do not improve, first consider whether the duration of treatment is sufficient and whether the dose of medication is adequate. The main reason why doctors ask patients to review regularly is to consider that each patient does not need the same time to take medication and drug dose, and it is difficult for patients to make their own judgment, and often give up treatment because the symptoms do not improve after a period of treatment, especially at the beginning of treatment, it is easier to interrupt treatment, these should be avoided. 3, each kind of antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs are effective at about 70%, if the treatment time and drug dose (dose range is indicated in the manual) have been sufficient, there is no significant effect, you should find a doctor to try to replace other drugs. Do not jump to the conclusion that you can’t get better with medication. Generally speaking, a drug is not effective, often another drug will be effective. 4. If depression (depressive disorder) is diagnosed, generally speaking, if the medication is effective, it takes 2-8 weeks to completely relieve the symptoms, and then the original dose should be maintained for consolidation therapy to prevent relapse, and the total duration of medication should be more than 9 months. In the case of relapsing depression, the treatment should be longer to prevent a relapse. 5.If the diagnosis of panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, the total duration of medication should be more than 1 year as appropriate. Among them, it usually takes 2-8 weeks to see the effect, and 4-12 weeks for complete remission, among which the treatment of OCD has the slowest effect, taking 4-12 weeks to see the effect, and cannot be rushed. After recovery, but also need several months or a year for the maintenance treatment of a full dose of drugs, do not arbitrarily reduce the dose. 6, antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, in addition to the Valium class of drugs, are not addictive. It will rarely affect liver and kidney function. Many people think that these drugs have addictive and neurostimulating effects, I guess it is deeply influenced by the TV series “Manhunt” in the eighties, Yokrojinji really looks like a fool after taking the drugs, and that is the extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotics, and antidepressants and anxiety drugs have nothing to do with. The other is the influence of some “online” claims, which are baseless or made up to sell their own “effective medicine”. Friends and relatives sometimes tell patients out of good will that these drugs have toxic side effects and are harmful to the body, etc. If you ask them why, they can’t tell you, and these opinions are unproven. On the contrary, the safety of such drugs has been confirmed by a large number of studies around the world. 7, do not increase or decrease the amount of medication on their own, or give up treatment, should be regular follow-up or keep in touch with the doctor, so as to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment. Withdrawing from treatment midway will increase the likelihood of relapse. Many people are used to reducing or stopping medication after their symptoms have improved because they are worried about side effects, which is incorrect. 8, about drug side effects: generally appear in the early stage of taking drugs, common nausea, dizziness, drowsiness or insomnia, etc., about 1/3 of people appear these reactions, most people do not appear, even if the appearance of general 1-2 weeks can completely disappear. There is a relatively rare case of weight gain, which is not the hormones contained in the drug that many people think, but actually belongs to two situations: First, after taking the drug, sleep and appetite improve, depression-induced insomnia and weight loss are improved, and weight returns to normal. Secondly, if the weight exceeds the original normal weight by more than 5 pounds, it is brought about by the antihistamine effect of the drug. If such problems occur, please inform your doctor and at the same time reduce your diet and increase your exercise. 9, cold and flu can take normal medicine, and cold medicine and anti-inflammatory drugs taken at the same time does not matter. During the medication period, avoid drinking alcohol, try to eat a light diet, such as taking drugs with sedative effect the next day driving or precision operations need to be careful. 10, if the diagnosis is a depressive state, or anxiety state, that is, a lighter state than depression anxiety disorder, the time to take medication can be reduced at your discretion. However, you should never stop taking the medication immediately after getting better.