Anonymous asked this question on 4/27/2000:

Do you feel that Manic Depression is caused by or made worse by the onset of a monthly period? My friend is still breast feeding her baby, has suffered from 'depression' for years, but has had a bad experience recently of wanting to commit suicide. It seems she got her first period after the birth of baby, at 8 months. She is not coping very well at all at present. Please help us to understand what could be going on within her brain. She has been taking Zoloft but it seems not to be working effectively any more. Would Prozac be a better option. She is going to see a psychiatrist but is getting desperate as the waiting list for these people is so long. Thankyou for any help at all.

jillyk gave this response on 4/28/2000:

I feel there is another issue that is not being addressed here. It is quite common for mothers to have an onset of post natal depression later on after the pregnancy and child birth. I experienced serious PND when my third daughter was about 13 months old. This was bad enough for me and I think there is a strong possibility of this condition exaccerbating her manic depression. I find it stange that she has not been perscribed Lithium, which is the usual drug given to manic depressives. I do not recommend her taking Zoloft (Sertaline) as it is not recommended for breast feeding mothers. This may pass through the breast milk and will affect the infant. There is also a warning that in some cases (rare) that Zoloft actually intensifies feelings of depressionand suicidal thouht. I suggest you give the mater of PND some serious thought.

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