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Although antidepressants have helped thousands of people manage their depression, finding the right drug (or drug combination) for you can be a challenging task.

Many cases of depression are thought to be caused by deficiencies in any of three chemicals in the brain: serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Some patients might only require medication addressing one of these chemicals, while others need to manage two of them, or even all three.

Psychiatrists almost always begin by prescribing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) including Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, and Zoloft. These pills block the reuptake of serotonin, thus allowing the brain to benefit from the chemical for longer amounts of time without actually increasing the quantity of serotonin produced. SSRIs are generally mild in terms of side effects, although sexual side effects (loss of libido) are a problem for some patients.

If you try several SSRIs and still feel depressed, your doctor might start you on a different class of drugs called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which work like SSRIs, except that they target both serotonin and norepinephrine. These include Cymbalta, Effexor, and Ixel.

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Nobody can help you achieve and maintain good health like your doctor. Unlike a website or a textbook, your doctor possesses more than just medical knowledge, as he or she also has knowledge about you. Moreover, your doctor is there to answer your questions about healthy living, medical conditions, and more.

That being said, none of this has any use unless you know how to talk to your doctor. Here are a few tips to help foster communication on both sides:

Don’t settle. Just because your insurance plan set you up with a specific doctor doesn’t mean that this person is the right practitioner for you. If you’d feel more comfortable with a doctor of a different gender or age—or if you just aren’t feeling a connection with this particular person—don’t be afraid to make a change.

Write things down. People tend to think of all sorts of questions and symptoms to report in the days leading up to a doctor’s appointment, only to forget these items in the moment. To avoid this problem, bring a written list of all your questions, symptoms, and concerns. You can even write down your medications and allergies if you need help remembering them.

Explore your options. Sometimes doctors are quick to recommend the most popular prescription or treatment method, but this might not be right for you. Inquire about any alternative medications or treatments and the possible side effects of each.

When in doubt, speak up. You might not think your stomach ache or dizziness is relevant to the condition you’re discussing, but let’s be honest — you didn’t go to med school. Tell your doctor everything. And while you’re at it, remind him or her of everything, especially your allergies, prescriptions, and current or previous conditions.

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