I agree with PP. just want to add that at some point if he's. It getting relief he may need to find a different psychiatrist. Some are better than others at finding the right drug/dose/combination, and a fresh set of eyes can also help. A relative of mine was a psychiatrist who was able to treat many patients who had been in treatment for years without relief, so don't ever accept that depression is treatment resistant.

Honestly, 8 months isnt that long. Many drugs take time to build up in the system before there is any change. So trying different drugs and different combinations of drugs takes a lot of time.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a great place to start.

A family member was diagnosed with anxiety and depression about eight months ago. He has been on various anti depressants and anti anxiety meds but nothing has really helped so far. I understand the drugs are trial and error, but how long does it usually take to get it right or explore other options? It is painful to watch him becoming more and more hopeless. He has already done an inpatient stint and has tried two different outpatient psychiatrists.