Is a baseline blood test really necessary before starting something like this?

Is it normal to feel worse before better? Nobody told me that.

Sorry for the basic question, but how do you actually start one of these diaries?

How long before you can reasonably say something is or is not doing anything?

Following this because I am in the same place and have no idea what to ask at the appointment.

Is it normal to feel worse before better? Nobody told me that. Currently on trazodone myself.