RFK Jr. Launches Plan to Curb Antidepressant 'Overprescription'
Officials explored whether the department could restrict SSRIs as Kennedy announced new steps to curb prescribing and support tapering.
- On Friday, reports surfaced that Health and Human Services officials explored potential bans on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon denied the discussions, declaring that "any claims suggesting otherwise are false."
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced initiatives on Monday to curb overprescription of psychiatric medications, characterizing the crisis as "dependency crisis driven by overmedicalization of mental health and wellness."
- Kennedy's plan provides billing and clinical guidance for providers assisting patients in tapering off SSRIs. Statistics show 1 in 6 American adults and nearly 1 in 10 children currently use antidepressants for mental health needs.
- The American Psychiatric Association cautioned that medications are "important and lifesaving" for many, urging against stigmatizing psychiatric care. The group argued mental health crises stem from resource shortages rather than overprescribing.
- Experts note the Food and Drug Administration requires strong scientific evidence of patient risk to enact medication bans. Kennedy pivoted to this focus after criticism over efforts to rewrite vaccine policy threatened Republican midterm chances.
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Insiders report RFK Jr exploring ban on SSRI antidepressants Zoloft, Prozac and Lexapro
RFK Jr has long been critical of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), a widely used type of antidepressant that includes Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro. In Jan. 2025, he singled them out as potentially worse than heroin (I guess he would know), saying he witnessed a family member come off them who was left “suicidal, literally every day.” Since taking office as Secretary of Health, he’s repeatedly criticized their use, saying earlier th…
Sec. Brain Worms May Ban Some Popular SSRIs
Reuters reports: U.S. health department officials last week explored whether they could ban certain drugs in a widely prescribed class of antidepressants as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. prepared to roll out a plan to reduce their use, according to two people familiar with the discussions. Their interest centered on specific treatments within a class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, such as Zoloft, Prozac an…
Kennedy’s officials explored restrictions on antidepressants | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
WASHINGTON >> U.S. health department officials last week explored whether they could ban certain drugs in a widely prescribed class of antidepressants as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. prepared to roll out a plan to reduce their use, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
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