Pyrrha asked this question on 4/22/2000:

I am 23 years old. I have one 2 year old child and I plan to have another, unfortunately, my mood swings and temper have been causing so many problems in my marriage that we have decided to hold off until I am mentally stable again. I recently went to a doctor and she believes that i am depressed. She has prescribed an anti-depressant and she also put me on the birth control pill (because she said that they didn't know if taking the anti-depressants could cause side effects). So, what I need to know is: how long will I have to take the anti-depressant until I am able to stop? Will I be able stop taking it and be relatively cured of my depression. Or will I have to take this medicine for the rest of my life? And should I say good-bye to my desires of having another child?

richardwross gave this response on 4/25/2000:

You are talking about mood swings which might indicate bipolar disorder rather than depression. Please consider this possibility because if this is the case the treatment may well be different.

All medications have side effects, your doctor needs to check the side effects for the antidepressant you are taking.

The general rule with taking an antidepressant is on initial treatment take for approximately 6 months and then if depression is controlled try coming off the medication. If a second treatment is necessary then no less than 1 year before trying to do without. For repeat depression then permanent treatment should be considered.

Having depression does not mean you should give up on having more children. Get this depression under control and then talk to your OB-GYN doctor.