One doctor put it this way: We tell patients that taking antidepressants feels the opposite of drinking. When you drink, you immediately enjoy the happy feeling and its hangover does not appear until the next morning. With antidepressants, the vast majority of people start feeling the unpleasant side effects, and the positive effects don’t appear until four to six weeks later. It can be annoying to have to wait a month or 6 weeks to see improvement. At this point, be patient and don’t stop using it. Soon after, you will turn around. As for the side effects, if they occur, most of them will lessen after a few weeks of taking them until they disappear. The effective amount varies from one antidepressant to another. It is very important to note that the dose you take has nothing to do with the severity of your depression or your craving for recovery. The doses of antidepressants are not correlated; some take effect at 15 mg per day, while others take 200 mg per day. It usually takes time for patients to adjust to antidepressants. Most doctors start with a small dose and then, if necessary, increase the dose as stated by the manufacturer. Antidepressants are not addictive, but do not stop using them suddenly. If you stop using them suddenly, you will experience a flu-like contraction effect. Your doctor will help you slowly reduce your medication when you are ready to stop.