These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

Azim, age 40: I stopped taking my depression medicine a year ago. I had been on the medicine for a year, and my symptoms were under control. I felt really good. I wanted to see if I could stay healthy without the medicine. I am still going to counseling, though, and I hope that will be enough to keep my depression from coming back.

Walker, age 23: My symptoms were really bad. I even tried to kill myself once. Thank goodness my doctor finally found a medicine that makes me feel just about normal. I've been on the medicine for a while, but there's no way I'm going to stop taking it until my doctor thinks I'm ready. I definitely do not want to go back to feeling the way I did before treatment.

Inez, age 35: I've been on antidepressants for 9 months, and my depression symptoms are gone. But each of the three different drugs I've tried has side effects that I don't like, especially not having a sex drive and not being able to sleep well. My depression symptoms weren't all that bad in the first place. For me, the treatment is worse than the disease was.

Rachel, age 29: My medicine is working really well now, and the side effects don't really bother me. Taking the pills is just not that big a deal for me, so why stop a good thing? Especially if it means I'm less likely to get depressed again in the future.