2nd Antidepressant Usually Works

People who don't get well on their first antidepressant often succeed when they try another one, according to a large study done at the National Institute of Mental Health.

Five drugs were tested: Celexa, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Effexor and Buspar. All proved similarly effective and relatively safe. Evidence also showed antidepressants should be given a 6-to-12-week chance to work and that if one doesn't help, another should be tried.

Within the same study, a group of patients were given Celexa plus either Wellbutrin or Buspar to enhance the effect of the former and one-third from this group became symptom-free within 14 weeks.