Guides for the weeks between appointments
Plain-language articles on antidepressants, medication reviews, and what to expect — written for patients, medically reviewed by a consultant psychiatrist.
Every guide here is written for the same moment: you've left the appointment, the next one is weeks away, and something is changing — sleep, side effects, mood, motivation. These articles explain what's typical, what's worth writing down, and what to bring back to your prescriber.
Written by Claro's editorial team, led by Tanya Rybakova, and medically reviewed by consultant psychiatrists, led by Dr. Jason Tan. Supported by Claro's advisory board of 9 clinical experts and a wider network of specialists.
How we write these guides
These articles are educational. They exist to help you understand what is typical on antidepressants between visits — not to diagnose, prescribe, or replace your clinician. We hold them to the same bar as the rest of Claro: named people, cited sources, and a clear limit on what we will claim.
Sources
We prefer primary evidence: clinical guidelines, peer-reviewed papers, and official public-health sources. We do not treat blogs, forums, or marketing copy as evidence. Each article lists the sources it used, with links, so you can read the same material.
Medical review
A consultant psychiatrist reviews every article before it is published. The reviewer checks that the claims match the evidence, that safety caveats are present, and that we have not slipped into advice. You will see the reviewer's name and credentials on each article.
When we ask other experts
Our advisory board — psychiatrists, a neuroscientist, nurse practitioner, therapists, and specialist clinicians — is the core of a wider network we draw on. When a topic needs a specialist view, we try to reach an expert who works in that exact area, and their job is to challenge the draft, not rubber-stamp it. Meet the advisory board.
What we will not do
We will not tell you to start, stop, or change a dose. We will not hide uncertainty. If a guideline changes, or a reader flags a problem, we correct the piece and re-review it. Links to the Claro app are how you can use the product; they do not change the medical claims in the article.
If you and your prescriber are planning a dose change, Claro's free calculator tool turns it into an educational step-by-step schedule to review together. Browse the rest of the free tools.
Guides
Frequently asked questions
- Who writes and reviews these articles?
- Claro's editorial team writes each guide in plain language — Tanya Rybakova leads the current series. Before anything is published, a consultant psychiatrist reviews it for medical accuracy. Behind them sits our advisory board — psychiatrists, a neuroscientist, therapists, and specialist clinicians — which is the core of a wider network of experts we try to reach so each topic can be covered by someone who actually works in it.
- How do you decide what to publish?
- We write for the weeks between appointments. Every piece is sourced from guidelines or peer-reviewed research, written in plain language, and medically reviewed by a consultant psychiatrist before it goes live. When the topic needs it, we also ask a specialist from our advisory board. The articles are educational — they are not a substitute for your own clinician.
- How long do antidepressants take to work?
- Most people need several weeks before the picture is clear. The first two weeks are often adjustment — sleep, energy, and side effects can shift before mood does. A middle dip is common around weeks 3–5. The usual therapeutic window is 6–12 weeks. The week-by-week timeline article walks through that stretch, and which functional signs (sleep, daily tasks, energy) are worth tracking.
- What happens in the first weeks on antidepressants?
- Jitter, nausea, and sleep changes are common while the dose settles. That does not mean the medicine is failing — side effects often arrive before any benefit. Write down what you notice and take those notes to your next review. The first-weeks guides cover what is typical and when to get in touch sooner.
- How often are medication management appointments?
- Cadence varies — some people are seen every few weeks at the start, then less often once things are stable. The visit itself is usually 15–20 minutes. The appointment-prep article covers a simple five-item tracking framework so that short window is about your weeks on treatment, not a blank chart.
- Where should I start if I just began antidepressants?
- Start with the week-by-week timeline, then the appointment-prep guide. Together they cover what the first weeks usually feel like, and what to bring to your next medication review.