Anti-depressants; how do you when it's the right one?

I have been depressed for a couple of years and I was put on Fluoxetine which I took for 6 months and it really helped me overcome a dark time. Gradually it was making me feel more and more cloudy and controlled and I tried to stop taking them a few times, each time breaking down on the third day, until one day when it never happened and I didn't need them. I'm still depressed, but even at my worst I can control it enough without meds.

However... my boyfriend, who has been depressed about 4 years, started taking anti-depressants for the first time about a month ago. He was on Escitalopram for about a week and he said it made him feel ok for the first few days and then just felt bad again. So the doctor switched him to Fluoexetine and after 16 days he has felt worse and worse. He is extremely suicidal at the moment and it's very hard to convince him of anything else right now. He's trying to wait it out for a month since we know it can make you feel worse before feeling better (but at the moment he doesn't care about that).

Should he keep on Fluoexetine if it's making him feel this bad? Has anyone gone through that and reached the 'good' point (and if so, how long)? Has anyone tried multiple types and 'felt' which one was right - is there any way to know, or do you just have to wait it out?

Is the doctor aware of this situation? It is very important to let the doctor know when dangerous side effects and/or suicidal thoughts may be caused by a medication.
Mine told me to call right away if I noticed anything like 'detachment from reality' or 'thoughts of self-harm' occurred with me. It is rare and one always hopes for the best, but it can still happen.
I have had minor dry mouth, swollen tongue and lips and swollen ankles from a med once, I called and they said to stop taking it right away. They then called in another prescription to the pharmacy for me which didn't cause these problems.
I've also had a pharmacy block access to a new prescription because of something that I was already taking might have had an adverse reaction to it.
Not all side effects are 'typical'. Everyone reacts differently to different meds. Another class of drugs may be tried if it is found that one can't tolerate a certain class of drugs.
If you are experiencing negative issues (possibly) caused by a med, then you need to contact your doctor or the facility right away. They are professionals and familiar with the patient's situation. I am neither.
Best of luck to both of you.

I'm going to try zoloft...prozac gave me headaches. I will try it for a month and let you know how it is.