[sandsstone1]

Another one from the rumor mill. Anyone been rejected because they are currently or sometime in the past were prescribed anti-depressants?

[Teri M]

Yup on the anti-depressants... Usually that is one of the questions that you answer on your app to the agency and then they will discuss their policy as they know if any of their regions will allow it... some will, some won't.

You have to remember that Russians think differently than we do in terms of medicine etc... it was explained to me this way - they think if you take medicine for a mental disorder, then you are mentally unstable...they don't understand nuances and how many people over here take it for so many reasons, ie - depression, PMS etc....

I have a friend who adopted in 2002 and was on Zoloft - she didn't tell her SW - she went to a new Dr. for a physical for the medicals and just didn't say she was on it. Never came up - no one knew and her adoption of twins went thru and they are one big happy family. She took it for PMDD - a severe form of PMS. She doesn't take it anymore but did all thru the adoption....

I wish I would have thought to ask my Dr for something during the adoption - maybe some of my anxieties would have been lessened )

Good luck!!

[Amysue1112]

Sadly it is true..they do not like the idea of anti-depressants. But there was nowhere we had to list/tell the meds we were on, (although not on antidepressants, i was on a seizure drug), Basically we were told-make it simple. Don't tell any info you don't have to. I am not really the lying type, but if you primary doc things you are safe to adopt, just chalk it up to "they wouldn't understand so they don't need to know".
It is getting to the point in many regions that they are "looking" for a reason to turn someone down. If you feel you are being called to adopt a child from Russia..go for it...God will bring you through everything if it is meant to be.
Good luck!

[Lo-la-la]

I am the "poster child" for this issue.

I don't know of anyone that was rejected by the Russian court because they took (or had taken) an anti-depressant, but I did have a hard time during my court hearing because I took Wellbutrin. I can say with absolute certainty that by law - Russian law - they cannot deny an adoption based on the fact that someone takes an anti-depressant for depression. However, I do feel that if they really had a problem with it, they would try very hard to find another reason to deny the adoption, but legally, they cannot use the reason of depression.

During my initial hearing, and the 4 hearings that followed, the prosecutor continally argued that I was mentally unstable - bipolar to be exact - and incapable of parenting a child because I took Wellbutrin. She continued to object despite several letters from doctors, recommendations from the orphanage director and MOE, AND an assessment by a Russian psychiatrist (THAT was fun!) who testified that she was in agreement with my doctors - that I was absoultely mentally healthy. I was told by the orphanage director that the case of Irma Pavlis, who adopted two children from Russia and killed the little boy in December of 2003, was still fresh in everyone's mind and that was the basis for the prosecutor's objections. Her mind was made up and it was not going to change. Even when the judge approved the adoption in the 5th hearing (who was prepared to approve it in the 1st hearing and was shocked by the prosecutor's objections), the prosecutor appealed her decision to the Supreme Court, so I had no other choice but to return home until the Supreme Court hearing.

Here is an excerpt from the book Adopting in Russia - Your Rights & the Law written by Irina O'Rear, who is a Russian attorney and formerly a Russian judge. I contacted her the year that I was preparing to go before the Supreme Court. She is very knowledgeable and was able to provide some good information to me. This excerpt gives, among other things, a list of diseases that would prevent someone from being an adoptive parent.

Commentary to articles 127 and 128

Adoption is allowed only in the interests of the child; therefore only persons who have the necessary parenting skills may be adoptive parents. According to article 127 of the Family Code persons of either sex who is of full age, that is 18 years of age or older may be adoptive parents though by virtue of emancipation they are also recognized as completely capable (article 27 of the Civil Code).

With intent to ensure the interests of children the Family Code increases the requirements to future adoptive parents. Such requirements were provided also by the previous legislation in force. Now the list has increased considerably.

Alongside the persons who have had their parental rights removed, incapable or partially capable, a married couple cannot adopt the child, if one of them is recognized by the Court as incapable or partially capable; persons, restricted by the Court in their parental rights; the former guardians, trustees and foster parents if they, through their fault, did not take proper care of the child, and also the persons who have medical conditions, not allowing them to take care of the child or endangering the child. The lists of illnesses are specified in the Government Regulation of the Russian Federation from May 1, 1996 #542.

These diseases are: tuberculosis (fissile and chronic) of all forms of localization for patients of groups I, II, V of dispensary registration; diseases of viscera, the nervous system, reference-propulsion organs in the stage of decomposition; malignant oncology diseases of all forms of localization; drug addiction, toxicomania, alcoholism; infectious diseases; mental disorders; all diseases and traumas resulting in physical inability and eliminating capacity for work.

It is also stated in my Supreme Court documents that depression is NOT one of the diseases that would prevent someone from being an adoptive parent. The Supreme Court judges upheld the decision of the regional court, which was that the adoption be approved, dismissing the prosecutor's objections that I was mentally ill, and I was able to finally bring Olya home.

I know that I set a precedent in the Supreme Court of Russia, and hopefully it will help pave the way for future families that face this type of gross misinterpretation of anti-depressants in America. It is very, very misunderstood in Russia, but it can be overcome. You will need clear and precise letters from your doctor, and maybe even an extra psychiatric assesment. I was able to triumph in my adoption, and even though it wasn't easy, Olya was worth all the heartache that I went through - and believe me when I say, it was tough.

In my case, thankfully, it wasn't the judge (the person who had the final word in whether the adoption was approved or not) who had a problem with the issue of an anti-depressant, it was the prosecutor. My agency was shocked that it was made an issue of, as was the judge, the MOE, and the orphanage director. I would talk more with your agency about it and see what they recommend.

Also, I should add that I had already met Olya. It wasn't until my 2nd trip, after the court hearing had been set, that all of this came to the surface. Having already met my little girl, that made me persevere that much harder and not lose sight of her - I refused to give up on her. So, my situation is going to be a lot different than someone who has not yet received a referral and traveled to meet that child.

The best advice I can give you is to pray and ask God for guidance. That's the only thing that got me through my adoption journey. I could not have done it without God's strength. Please send me a PM if you'd like to talk about it further.

I wish you all the best.
Lola