I am not sure about anti-depressants....if you have major depression do you need an anti-depressant for your entire life...at present I don't think so but I don't know this for sure...I tend to think it is better to take them during the very acute phase and then go off them....I was one who kept taking them for many many years....and now I cant get off them...and I have tried many times.....I don't like having that chemical in my body...I don't like taking any of these chemicals....what am I doing....I just don't know....I wish we knew more about the causes of depression....and I think most people really believe in these antidepressants...but I am now very skeptical...