You’re taking the medication. You’ve given it time. Maybe you’ve even tried more than one antidepressant. But you’re still struggling with low mood, exhaustion, disconnection, or the feeling that you’re just going through the motions. When depression treatment isn’t getting you where you need to be, a psychiatrist near Alexandria, VA, can help you reassess your treatment plan and find an approach that better fits your needs.
Antidepressants usually need time to work. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that the medications commonly take four to eight weeks, and sleep, appetite, and concentration may improve before mood does.
Persistent symptoms, difficult side effects, or only partial improvement are reasons to discuss your treatment plan with a medical professional. At Northern Virginia Psychiatric Group, a psychiatrist in Fairfax near Alexandria, VA, can reassess your symptoms, diagnosis, response to medication, side effects, and other factors affecting your progress.
You can contact a psychiatric practice directly to ask about care, although insurance plans may have their own referral requirements. Meeting with a psychiatrist near Alexandria, VA, can be especially useful when medication is part of your treatment. As medical doctors, psychiatrists can diagnose mental health conditions and manage psychiatric medications.
Not responding to one medication doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Treatment may involve adjusting medication, trying a different one, adding psychotherapy, or considering other approaches.
For some adults who have not improved after trying at least two antidepressants, treatment-resistant depression may be considered. Spravato (esketamine) is an FDA-approved nasal spray used for treatment-resistant depression. At Northern Virginia Psychiatric Group, Spravato is administered in the office under medical supervision, allowing patients to receive this specialized treatment within a full psychiatric practice.
Depression treatment sometimes requires adjustments. Northern Virginia Psychiatric Group in Fairfax provides psychiatric evaluation, medication management, psychotherapy, and specialized treatments such as Spravato treatment, so your care can evolve as your needs do.
Since 1978, Northern Virginia Psychiatric Group has helped individuals and families throughout Fairfax and beyond find clarity, balance, and lasting emotional wellness. Our board-certified psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors provide compassionate, evidence-based care through both in-person and telemedicine sessions, ensuring you get the support you need in a way that works for you.
As a trusted psychiatry and behavioral health clinic serving Northern Virginia for over four decades, we proudly accept most major insurance providers. Visit our website or call 703-698-5220 today to schedule your confidential consultation and begin your path toward better mental health.
