This is what Chemical Agents and Breast Milk, edited by Lauwers and Woessner and published by Avery in 1990 (ISBN 0-89529-467-2) says about the drugs you mentioned for Manic Depression the mother takes: "DEPAKOTE (Valproic Acid) Usage: Anticonvulsant Amount in milk: Moderate Effect on Infant: Significant Data: The amounts of this agent in milk are unlikely to produce overdose toxicity. However, safety of this very toxic drug for the infant has not been proven by tests for liver damage and developmental assessment. There have been no proven adverse effects. Valproic acid is classified as usually compatible with nursing by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is prudent to monitor the infant very carefully for all signs of valproic acid side effects, including sedation, liver damage, and high blood ammonia levels." TRAZADONE (Desyrel) "Usage: Antidepressant Amount in milk: Insignificant Effect on infant: Insignificant Data: Trazodone is found in very limited amounts in milk after a single 50 mg dose. The presence of its active metabolic product has not been investigated. There have been no reported adverse effects of trazodone use by nursing mothers. The use of trazodone does not appear to contraindicate nursing. If the mother takes trazodone regularly while nursing, the infant should be monitored for sedation." Barb