US Launches Effort to Reduce Antidepressant Use

U.S. Initiates Antidepressant De-Prescribing Push U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday announced new federal initiatives aimed at reducing the prescription and facilitating the cessation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class of antidepressants. These measures, unveiled at a Mental Health and Overmedicalization Summit, represent the first significant federal effort to address concerns about long-term SSRI use and withdrawal.

The initiatives include new training modules for clinicians from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), updated clinical guidelines for de-prescribing developed by a technical expert panel, and changes to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement policies. The CMS will now compensate clinicians for time spent assisting patients in tapering off medications.

These actions are intended to encourage non-pharmacological interventions and provide support for patients experiencing withdrawal symptoms, which can include "brain zaps" and flu-like symptoms.

Approximately 16.6 percent of U.S. adults, or one in six, reported taking an SSRI in 2026. While some medical organizations, such as the American Psychiatric Association, acknowledge the need for improved de-prescribing guidelines, they caution against a blanket assertion of overprescribing. The long-term impact on prescribing practices remains to be seen, as patient and provider decisions ultimately determine medication use.