At a Glance: Rapidly-Acting Antidepressant Treatments

Traditional antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs can take 4-8 weeks to show effect, leaving patients to manage symptoms and potential risks like suicidality during this period. Fast-acting antidepressants can demonstrate full effect within days, providing quicker relief and reducing the risk of harm. This rapid improvement is particularly crucial for patients with severe or difficult-to-manage symptoms, enabling them to regain functionality and decrease the risk of emergent medical disorders while awaiting the therapeutic effect.
Read our article to learn more about these treatment modalities and considerations for their use.