Will the there be an issue with adopting if I am taking Prozac?

Bodhi

It depends on why you're taking it, what your medical and psychological history is, and what kind of treatment you're getting and have gotten in the past. Also, as part of your home study you will likely be asked to have your doctor submit a letter stating that you're compliant with your medication and it won't affect your ability to parent.

Don't keep any medical or psychological condition or consideration hidden from the person conducting your home study (not saying you would!); if it's revealed and you didn't say anything, that's a major cause for concern. For example, someone writing a reference letter for you (which you will not see before they send it to the social worker) might think they're doing you a favor when they say "she is such a strong person, she's fighting her depression so bravely". Your social worker is going to look at that and be like, 'What depression? No one said anything about that!". Or, when you submit your medical clearance (again, you may not see this as some doctors send this directly to the Social Worker), you doctor might include a list of your medications on there.

Best of luck to you :)

Heather Leigh

First off, please don't try to hide anything as others have suggested. They will find out and it will come back to bite you in the rear end. Not that you said anything about not telling them, I am just pointing out that following the advice of others could hurt your chance at adopting.

No, taking Prozac will not prevent you from adopting. I am an AP that was taking Zoloft at the time we adopted. My doctor stated this on the Physical form he completed but he also stated that my depression was under control with medication.

HappyMomAnna

First of all---DO TELL everything to the adoption social worker! Never ever -- EVER withhold any information during the process. Doing so will only appear deceptive and if discovered at any point prior to the finalization can lead to disruption! Open-Book!

Secondly, since you are adopting via the county then you are interested in adopting a baby or child who has been removed from the care of their biological parents. Abuse, Neglect, possible substance exposure prenatal and the very high possibility there may be a genetic mental health issues.

~~-WHO on Earth is better to understand the potential needs of a child with these possible risks then Someone Who KNOWS HOW to find help for themselves and care for a child Who May or May not one day need to take medications in order to manage their own moods and mental health? It would not be someone who is Ashamed of NEEDING to do the same thing for themselves....

and--Me Too! It's simple you are an open book, you use your own personal life history as a basis for the nature of parent you will be. The very last place a child who may have their own "issues" needs to grow up is with someone who is in denial about the benefits of therapy and if needed medication and treatment!

The most this would trigger is a NEED for some additional Psychological Evaluations--and again, being open and honest about your personal needs is NOT Negative when the very real fact is that children in Foster Care need parents that Get It...not people who want to pretend there are Never Reasons to take an antidepressant...

This is NOT a negative--it's actually a Plus if you do Not try to hide it.

We have been the parents of our little girl for over 6 years and during this time she has been on at least 10 different medications with about 6 of them being ONGOING--guess what? I know how to give her medication--look for side effects--evaluate their effectiveness and speak with her doctor--would I have had this kind of skill had I NEVER needed to see my own doctor, research my own medication--evaluate the effectiveness or interact with a doctor? NOT as Easily I can assure you of this fact!

You do NOT have to be a Perfect Parent to be the Best Advocate for a child who may need the kind of parent who has been there!

DO NOT Withhold Anything--the county deals with people who want to pretend they don't have a problem All the Time--that's why they terminate so many parental rights! Drug addiction is often viewed as Self-Medicating and You are Different because you actually don't self medicate you do it the right way!

SamAzsli

I don't think it will matter unless it hinders your ability to be a good parent but make sure you tell the agency and your social worker about it. Not telling can lead to them thinking you are lying and then you could get in trouble.

icehockeymom7

This should not affect your ability to adopt through the county at all. You may have to have a letter from your doctor explaining that your anxiety is well controlled by the low dose of medication you are taking. There are some countries like China and Taiwan who do not allow families to adopt if taking any antidepressants, but most other countries just would want a note from your doctor. The danger is not people like you who recognize that they make better parents by treating their anxiety.....the danger is the people who SHOULD be taking the Prozac but do not! I commend you for recognizing that your anxiety is easily controlled by medication and doing what you need to do!

sunny

If your depression has to due with infertility, then you ought to shelve your adoption planning right away. You'd really need to grieve the loss of the child that you will never have, and learn more about parenting children from other families--adoption.

If this is a chronic condition, I have to say that I wish you wouldn't adopt. It is VERY difficult to be an adopted child, and would be made much more difficult by being raised by a woman with a mental illness.

â™¥Sexy Mamaâ™¥â™¥

OH NO!!!...THE ONLY THING that will affect you from not adopting.is low income,bad enviroment,ect,ect no health issues is related

Chloe

I wouldn't even tell the adoption agency or the biological mother. It could hurt your chances. You're doing something about your depression and you are one of million of Americans that have suffered from it at some point in their life. As long as you know for sure in your heart that you can provide this child with all the love, emotional stability, and provide for her financiallyy then don't even worry about it. I know that they do a pretty through background check but asking if you are on any psychological meds. may be drawing the line. Now they can ask if you suffer from any psychological condition and I would just say "no". Not that depression isn't a psychological condition but it sounds like yours isn't that debilitating (or else you wouldn't be even considering adoption). Good luck.

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