Despite the fact that you have already tested using antidepressant drugs or other medications for depression and still you dont feel any better after a period of 2 months, don’t lose hope. You and your psychiatrist may just not have been able to find the drug or combination of drugs that works for you. You have several choices even if you’ve tried medications before. Why not try doing the following:

Increasing your dose. Because people respond to medications differently, you may benefit from a higher dose of medication than is usually prescribed. Discuss with your doctor whether this is an option for you. Don’t alter your dose on your own.

Trying a medication longer. Antidepressants and other medications for depression typically take four to eight weeks to become fully effective and for side effects to ease up. For some people, it takes even longer for medication to work, so it helps to be patient.

Augmentation. Augmentation means taking an antidepressant along with a medication generally used for another mental health condition. It may take some trial and error since there are numerous medications for use in augmentation, including anti-anxiety medications, anti-seizure medications, mood stabilizers, beta blockers, antipsychotics and stimulants. The downside of augmentation is that some of these medications may cause bothersome side effects or require periodic blood tests.

Taking L-methylfolate. This prescription supplement provides a form of the B vitamin folic acid, which is necessary for the production of neurotransmitters in the brain linked to mood. Taking this supplement may help with depression if you lack the enzymes to properly break down folate from foods or from standard folic acid supplements.

Switching. Switching to a new medication is common when an antidepressant doesn’t work effectively. Each person responds to medications differently. In nearly 1 in 3 people, the first antidepressant tried doesn’t work at all. You may need to try several antidepressants before you find one that works. You may switch from one antidepressant to another in the same class. Or, you may switch from one class of antidepressants to another.

Having the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) genotyping test. This test checks for specific genes that affect how your body uses antidepressants. It can help predict whether your body can or can’t process (metabolize) a medication. This may help identify which antidepressant might be a good choice for you. There is some evidence that other tests for certain genes that regulate the neurotransmitter serotonin may help predict if you’re likely to respond to a serotonin antidepressant. These genetic tests aren’t widely available, so they’re only an option for people who have access to a clinic that offers them.

Combination. In the combination approach, different classes of antidepressants are prescribed at the same time. That way they’ll be more likely to affect a wider range of brain chemicals that affect mood. For instance, you may take both a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Or you may combine an older antidepressant such as a tricyclic antidepressant with an SSRI. Regardless of the specific medications, the goal is to target several kinds of neurotransmitters at once, including dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.