Expert: Ginger M. - 11/4/2008

Question
I have been Bulimic on and off since I was 17 and I am 34 now. I have 2 children, the youngest is 16months and still breasfed before his sleeps. Is it harmful to him for me to go on antidepressants? I am very concerned about his mental health in the future being exposed to drugs. This disorder is getting way way out of control and I am feeling every day I am more and more obsessed with exercising and losing weight, with a daily B/P episode or even two. I have seen several Psychiatrists and drs and even been hopsitalised in the past when my weight became dangerously low. My family thinks Im better because Im not too skinny right now, but its ony a matter of time and by then I may not ask for help or feel I need it. I need help now.

Answer
Hi Jenny,

Thanks for your question. I have to say, you're very insightful and smart to want to get a handle on this now,  before it gets worse. I hate how some people think that eating disorders are always obvious from looking at a person! It's all about a disordered pattern of eating/trying to lose weight. A 75-pound anorexic person once had to have been a normal-sized person with an eating disorder, or it wouldn't have gotten to that point, right?

I think a doctor would be the best one to answer your question, because I don't know much about medications and how they affect breastfed babies, but I do know a lot of women who have taken anti-depressants while they were pregnant/breastfeeding without any problems. I think if you see a doctor, he/she will probably weigh the pros and cons with you- in the end, having a mom who is so sick, she's unable to care for him (or no mom at all, if your weight gets dangerously low again) will likely be a bigger risk for your baby than the anti-depressants. Counseling would probably be helpful for you (and your two children) right now, too. Do you think you could go back to a therapist? Do you have any friends who know about your bulimia and who are able to encourage you to stay on the right track, for the sake of your children, even?

I hope this helps a little bit! I'm here if you want to e-mail again.

Ginger