The standard advice
If you remember within a few hours of the usual time, take the missed dose. If it is close to your next scheduled dose — typically within six hours or so, though this varies by medication — skip the missed dose and take the next one as scheduled. Never double up. This guidance is consistent across TGA product information for most antidepressants.
What you might notice
Missing a single dose usually produces no significant effect, particularly for medications with longer half-lives. For shorter-half-life antidepressants, some patients notice mild discontinuation-like sensations within 24 to 48 hours — dizziness, unusual sensations, or brief brain zaps. These typically resolve once the next dose is taken.
How to reduce forgetting
Tie it to an existing habit. Taking your dose at the same time every day — brushing teeth, first coffee, or before bed — builds consistency without effort.
Use a weekly pill box. At a glance you can see whether today's dose is gone — far better than trying to remember.
Phone alarms help, with a catch. Alarms are easy to dismiss without acting. Pair them with immediately taking the dose before doing anything else.
Keep a short daily record. Tracking your dose each day makes it immediately obvious when something was missed.
What to flag to your prescriber
Mention these at your next appointment
- Frequent missed doses affecting treatment consistency.
- Discontinuation-like symptoms lasting more than a day after a missed dose.
- Any sense that missing doses is becoming intentional.
- Suicidal thoughts.
Frequently asked questions
What if I forget my antidepressant for one day?
Take the next dose as scheduled and continue normally. One missed dose rarely causes significant problems. If you are close to your next dose time, simply skip the missed dose rather than doubling up.
Should I double the dose to catch up?
No. Doubling up increases side-effect risk without therapeutic benefit. Skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule as normal.
Will one missed dose cause discontinuation symptoms?
For most medications, no. For shorter-half-life antidepressants, some patients notice mild sensations — dizziness, unusual feelings, or brief brain zaps. These typically resolve with the next dose.
Evidence and sources referenced
- NICE Guideline NG222 — Depression in adults: treatment and management (United Kingdom).
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) — Clinical Practice Guidelines for Mood Disorders.
- NPS MedicineWise — patient and prescriber resources on antidepressants (Australia).
- Royal College of Psychiatrists — patient information on antidepressants.
- TGA and FDA — product information for SSRI and SNRI classes.
- Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines in Psychiatry.
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