like nyuk said, some people do need meds and if you havent lived with or needed them than you just dont know. they are way over perscribed nowadays though, in my opinion. i think a good general rule of thumb is, if you can pinpoint why youre feeling down, then you probably dont need meds.
clinical depression is very irrational, feeling down for no real reason for long periods of time or all the time. my family has a long history with major clinical depression and even some anxiety and paranoia. most of us arent on meds cause, well, we dont think we need em, like that old adage, if you think youre crazy you probably arent cause the crazy dont know enough to know it. haha. but i can sit in a room with certain members of my family/extended family and just see it, in their affect and the way they speak etc. and some would say the same about me. i remember once when my great grandma (the only one of us on meds) decided she didnt need her meds anymore, i walked into her living room and she was literally sitting in her chair with her head down, staring into her lap.
anyways, get your wife's perscription changed or ask the doc about weening her off em, cause she shouldnt be passing out like that, or she may be abusing them, taking too many. get your problems in your marriage fixed, keep yourself busy, i doubt you need meds.