Does anti-depressant medication work for depression?

What is your experience, what are the benefits and detriments? Any negative side effects? Wondering if with my disability this would help me feel any better, I have pain a lot of the time and my life has changed dramatically after a car accident many years ago. Some help for pain at lower levels, but I am wondering if it would help me feel better emotionally if I take a higher dosage for depression. Haven't started taking one yet. What anti-depressant has worked for you if you have found one that works.