you can also advocate for yourself once you know this. 1. start at a dose lower than that usually advocated by the fda. do this for a few days to get your body and brain used to [the drug] in order to hopefully lower your side effect risks. 2. increase and take the lowest fda dose for four to six weeks. 3. if you are not better increase to the middle dose for four to six weeks. 4. if you are not better increase to the highest fda dose for four to six weeks. if you and your doctor accomplish this then you have had a 'full trial' of the antidepressant. if the full trial has failed ask your doctor for another similar trial ideally of an antidepressant [that] works on a different set of neurotransmitters. do not stay on the same low dosed antidepressant for several months if it is not helping.
how should doctors dose antidepressants?