💊 Medication: the basics

Organisational and legal matters around antidepressants – no dosage recommendations. For all medical questions your doctor is responsible.

Antidepressants Co-payment Financial burden limit Combination therapy Duty to inform

In brief

This page deals exclusively with organisational and legal aspects of medication – no dosages or medical recommendations in individual cases. Only you, together with your doctor, decide on the benefit, risks and correct dosage of a medication.

Medication can be part of treatment, particularly in moderate and severe depression, often in combination with psychotherapy. Whether and which medication makes sense is a medical decision that you make together with a doctor – nobody is obliged to take medication.

Step by step

Have a conversation with your doctorOnly doctors (GP or specialist in psychiatry) may prescribe antidepressants; openly discuss pre-existing conditions and other medication.
Redeem the prescriptionPrescribed medication is covered by statutory health insurance; a statutory co-payment applies at the pharmacy.
Disclose interactionsTell every treating practice and the pharmacy all medication you take, including over-the-counter and herbal preparations.
Report back effects and side effectsAntidepressants often do not work immediately; regular follow-up appointments with your doctor serve to discuss effect and tolerability.
Make changes only under medical supervisionYou should change a dose or stop medication only in consultation with the prescribing practice, not on your own.

Deadlines

no statutory deadline

There is no statutory deadline for the start, duration or end of medication – this is a medical decision in the individual case–

2 % / 1 % of gross income

Annual financial burden limit for co-payments for medication (1 % for chronically ill people); beyond that, the health insurance fund grants exemption on application§ 62 SGB V

Watch out – common mistakes

Stopping antidepressants on your own can cause symptoms – any change belongs in medical hands.
According to the guideline, treating depression with medication alone is often not as effective in moderate and severe cases as a combination with psychotherapy.
Interactions with alcohol or other medication can be relevant – that belongs in the conversation with your doctor, not in your own internet research.
The statutory co-payment (generally 10 % of the package price, at least €5, at most €10, never more than the package price) also applies to antidepressants on a statutory-insurance prescription.

In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Combination therapy under the guideline

The National Care Guideline/S3 guideline Unipolar Depression recommends medication in particular from moderate symptoms upward, in severe depression often in combination with psychotherapy. The decision for or against a medication is always an individual weighing of benefit and risk between patient and practitioner (shared decision-making).

Co-payment and financial burden limit

For prescription-only medication on a statutory-insurance prescription, the law requires a co-payment of 10 % of the pharmacy retail price, at least €5, at most €10 per package, never more than the price of the package itself (§ 61 SGB V). If annual co-payments exceed 2 % of gross income (1 % for chronically ill people), the health insurance fund grants exemption from further co-payments in the current calendar year on application (§ 62 SGB V).

Information and self-determination

Before any treatment, medical information about benefits, risks and alternatives is required (§ 630e BGB); treatment may in principle only take place with the patient's consent.

Who is responsible

GP
Specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy
Pharmacy

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Medication: the basics“?

Organisational and legal matters around antidepressants – no dosage recommendations. For all medical questions your doctor is responsible.

Which deadlines and figures matter?

no statutory deadline: There is no statutory deadline for the start, duration or end of medication – this is a medical decision in the individual case (–)
2 % / 1 % of gross income: Annual financial burden limit for co-payments for medication (1 % for chronically ill people); beyond that, the health insurance fund grants exemption on application (§ 62 SGB V)

What should I do first?

Have a conversation with your doctor: Only doctors (GP or specialist in psychiatry) may prescribe antidepressants; openly discuss pre-existing conditions and other medication.
Redeem the prescription: Prescribed medication is covered by statutory health insurance; a statutory co-payment applies at the pharmacy.
Disclose interactions: Tell every treating practice and the pharmacy all medication you take, including over-the-counter and herbal preparations.

What do I need to watch out for?

Stopping antidepressants on your own can cause symptoms – any change belongs in medical hands.
According to the guideline, treating depression with medication alone is often not as effective in moderate and severe cases as a combination with psychotherapy.
Interactions with alcohol or other medication can be relevant – that belongs in the conversation with your doctor, not in your own internet research.

Evidence

National Care Guideline/S3 guideline Unipolar Depression, version 3.0 (register.awmf.org)
§§ 61, 62 SGB V (gesetze-im-internet.de)
§ 630e BGB (gesetze-im-internet.de)

As of

As of: September 2026 (National Care Guideline/S3 guideline Unipolar Depression, version 3.0, 2025). · Sources and method

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.