OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this ongoing prospective study was to document the quality of life and adverse reactions reported by ambulatory patients receiving pharmaceutical care from the Community Pharmacist Research Network. METHODS: Pharmacists collected demographic and prescription data, and verified each patient was treated for depression for at least three months and received no other medications. Patients completed the SF-36 questionnaire and a symptoms checklist. RESULTS: Thirty-one white patients, 20 females and 11 males, completed study instruments. Twenty-seven patients were receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), including fluoxetine (13 ), paroxetine (8), and sertraline (6); four patients were receiving non-SSRI’s. The mean age of patients receiving SSRI’s was 45 years and patients receiving non-SSRI’s was 41 years. Twenty-three patients received antidepressants prescribed by non-psychiatrists. Mean transformed scale scores from the SF-36 were calculated for patients receiving SSRI’s and non-SSRI’s, respectively, as: physical functioning 87.59 vs. 72.5; role - physical 83.33 vs. 50; bodily pain 75.88 vs. 68.3; general health 71.29 vs. 47.25; vitality 52.77 vs. 51.25; social functioning 76.92 vs. 71.87; role-emotional 70.35 vs. 66.6; and mental health 66.96 vs. 59. Six patients reported the presence of sexual dysfunction; seven reported nervousness; seven reported diarrhea; seven reported difficulty falling asleep; eight reported changes in sexual interests; eight reported blurred vision; eight reported constipation; nine reported weight gain ; nine reported drowsiness; and sixteen reported dry mouth. CONCLUSION: Based upon these real world findings, similar studies are warranted. Although patients receiving SSRI’s experienced clinically significant side effects, health-related quality of life in all SF-36 domains was better for these patients compared to patients receiving non-SSRI drugs. These findings have great relevance for the care of depressed patients.