You have come to the decision with your doctor to try an antidepressant medicine for depression.

Here are some things you need to know to safely take your pills:

• Ask your doctor if it is safe for you to drink alcohol while on the medicines prescribed for you. Cutting back on your use of alcohol may help your body tolerate your new medicine.
• If you've taken your medicine for a long time (months) and you feel it's not working anymore, contact your doctor. You may need to add an additional medicine, change to a different medicine, or have your dosage increased. Always let your other doctors know about any changes in your medicines, since starting a new medicine can change the drug levels of medicines you are already taking.
• Don't suddenly stop taking your pills without consulting with your doctor. Stopping suddenly can make you feel nauseated, dizzy, and unable to sleep. It can also give you a headache and nightmares. Depressive symptoms may return.
• Antidepressant pills may take some time to work. Depending on the medicine, it can take 2 to 8 weeks at the right level for your antidepressant to be effective. Most people first sleep better, then are less grouchy, and then are in a better mood. You'll still have the same kinds of troubles or concerns you felt before starting the medicine, but those same troubles will not be as overwhelming. Remember, it may take some time for the medicines to work. You may feel the temptation to stop taking the medicines. Continue to take the medicines even if the symptoms of depression have not changed. Keep in close contact with your doctor.
• Be careful when first taking your medicine and driving a car or operating dangerous machinery. Sometimes antidepressants can make you sleepy or dizzy. Contact your doctor if side effects affect your usual activities. Your dosage or medicine may need to be changed, or the timing of taking your medicine may need to be changed.
• Antidepressant medicine may make your mouth dry. You can help this by taking frequent sips of water, sucking on hard candies, chewing on sugarless gum, and doing good routine oral care.
• Antidepressants can sometimes cause headaches. You can usually take a non-aspirin pain reliever for the headache. If the headaches continue or are not relieved by the pain reliever, or if you are undergoing chemotherapy, contact your doctor to discuss what else you can do.
• Antidepressants can cause either diarrhea or constipation. If you have hard stools, increase the amount of fruits, vegetables, and fiber in your diet. If you have diarrhea, decrease the amount of fruits, vegetables, and fiber in your diet. If your changes in diet don't work, call your doctor for suggestions before taking over-the-counter medicines.
• You may have nausea when you first start to take your antidepressant. Many times, the nausea will decrease in a few days. You may find that you need to adjust when and how you take your medicine, such as with food, after food, or before food. If the nausea continues, contact your doctor.

Contact your doctor or get medical help right away if you:

• Have vomiting that won't stop.
• Can't continue with usual activities.
• Have an illness that makes you stop taking your medicine.
• Have extreme anxiety or changes in mood or behavior.
• Have thoughts of harming others, or intent to harm others.
• Have thoughts of suicide, or intent to hurt yourself.
• Can't pass your urine.