There are multiple medications that can assist with depression. All of these medications have potential side-effects and risks and you should discuss all these in detail with your medical provider before agreeing to take anything. Your primary care provider can usually start you on these medications so it may not be necessary to see a psychiatrist.
If you also struggle with anxiety, you may want to start with a very low dose and slowly increase it to avoid making anxiety worse.
Most antidepressants take 4-6 weeks to take effect. Pay attention to any differences in your mood and report them to your doctor. Monitor changes monthly using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). This is a great tool to catch small improvements so you and your doctor know if the medication is working. You may need to change your dose several times before it is right and you might even have to try several medications before you find the right one for you. Be patient. You’re worth the effort.