Learn More

Depression is Treatable

Most depressed people can benefit from treatment. In fact, early recognition and treatment seem to decrease the length and severity of depressive episodes for most people.

Treatment Options

The most common treatments are antidepressant medicines, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. You and your doctor can work together to decide on appropriate treatment. Antidepressant medicines have been proven effective in treating depression. Today, medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants.

In psychotherapy, patient and therapist discuss the patient's experiences, relationships, events, and feelings to identify and try to resolve areas of difficulty. Working together with a supportive therapist can help you find better ways of dealing with your problems.

To help people follow their treatment plans, a free educational program called RHYTHMS® is available from Pfizer. Talk to your doctor.

Phases of Treatment

The length of treatment for depression is different for each person. In general, all medicines for depression should be taken for 6 months to 1 year. Studies have shown that to prevent depression from coming back, people should keep taking their medicine for at least 4 to 9 months after they feel better.

That's because depression can last a long time, and it may come back. There are three
phases of depression treatment:

Phase 1 lasts for the first 6 to 12 weeks that a person takes medicine for depression. During this time, the person should begin to feel better. But it's still important for the person to keep taking the antidepressant medication because the depression can still come back during Phase 1.
Phase 2 lasts for 4 to 9 months. The person should remain feeling better with continued treatment. Usually, the person will keep taking medicine at the same dose during Phase 2. The person should not stop taking the antidepressant medication without talking to the doctor.
Phase 3 of treatment can last another year, or longer. How long it lasts depends on the depressed person's medical history and on the advice of the doctor or other healthcare professional. Not all people need to take their medicine for depression during Phase 3