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Why Antidepressants Don't Always Work

Why antidepressants don’t work for everyone & natural alternatives.

6 min read
Updated on 
Why Antidepressants Don't Always Work
MN

Written by Melanie Nolan

BHSc Naturopathy

Melanie is a degree-qualified naturopath, mother of four, and the founder of Naternal Vitamins. She formulated the Naternal range after years of clinical experience helping women through preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum - and after her own frustration with what was available on the supplement shelf. Every article is grounded in clinical research and real-world experience.

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For 30-50% of People, Antidepressants Don’t Work – Here’s Why

For between 30 and 50% of depressed people, antidepressants don’t work.

This is based on a number of reasons

– lets chat about it:​​​​​​​​​
✨ Research suggests that approximately 30% of individuals with depression may have treatment resistant depression.
✨ People's biological makeup, including genetic factors and physiological variations, can influence how they respond to antidepressants! Some people may have a specific genetic profile that makes them less responsive to certain types of medications.
✨ Depression can often co-occur with other mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders.

Antidepressants Are Not the Only Treatment Option


It is important to note that while antidepressant medications are commonly prescribed, they are not the only treatment option for depression.

As a Naturopath, we commonly look at addressing nutrient deficiencies and modulating neurotransmitters using herbal medicine.

Nutrients That Support Mental Health

Certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins (particularly vitamin B12 and folate), vitamin D, and minerals like zinc and magnesium, have been linked to mental health and are believed to play a role in depression.

Herbal Treatments for Depression


Herbal treatment for depression includes St Johns Wort – St. John's Wort has shown to alleviate symptoms of mild to moderate depression in multiple studies. The plant contains active compounds such as hypericin and hyperforin, which are believed to influence neurotransmitters like serotonin & dopamine.

Another useful herbs are saffron & turmeric! The combination of turmeric and saffron has been shown to improve depressive symptoms, by reducing neuroinflammation. modulate HPA activity for enhanced stress adaptation, believed to boost the production of serotonin.

A Holistic Approach to Mental Health 



It's important to discuss this with your healthcare practitioner, and we can be a part of your healthcare team for a holistic treatment of your mental health concerns x