RFK Jr. Investigates Potential Ban on Widely Used Antidepressants Including Zoloft and Prozac

Americans may soon face restrictions on access to some of the most commonly prescribed antidepressant medications. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly exploring whether the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has the authority to ban certain treatments within a class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

This class of drugs includes widely used medications such as Zoloft, Prozac, and Lexapro, which have been approved for public use for decades. However, sources familiar with the discussions did not disclose which specific drugs the Trump administration is considering restricting.

HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon denied the report, stating in a formal statement that Kennedy’s department

“has not had any discussions about banning SSRIs, and any claims suggesting otherwise are false.”

Kennedy’s Stance on Mental Health Medications

Despite the denial, Kennedy has repeatedly criticized the use of mental health medications. Earlier this week, he blamed the country’s mental health crisis on medication overuse, declaring at a daylong mental health summit that America is experiencing a “dependency crisis driven by overmedicalization” of mental health and wellness.

Kennedy also introduced new policies aimed at reducing the prescription of these widely used drugs. However, he clarified that while he intends to steer U.S. health institutions away from prescribing psychiatric medications, individuals currently taking them should not stop without consulting their doctors.

Kennedy has a long history of opposing mental health medications. He has previously spread misinformation, falsely linking antidepressants and other medications to school shootings and mass murders, rather than addressing gun control measures.

Current Use of Antidepressants in the U.S.

Recent data highlights the widespread use of antidepressants in the United States. A 2026 study published in BMJ Mental Health found that approximately one in six U.S. adults are currently taking antidepressant medications. This represents an increase from previous decades.

According to CDC data, between 2005 and 2008, just 11% of people aged 12 and older were using these mood stabilizers.

Medical Community Responds to Potential Restrictions

The American Psychiatric Association lists SSRIs as the first-line treatment for depression, citing them as evidence-based medications. Dr. J. John Mann, of the New York State Psychiatric Institute, emphasized the importance of these medications in an interview with Reuters:

“There are a lot of prescriptions because there are a lot of folks with illnesses that can respond to these medications,” including depression and several anxiety disorders. “Restricting use of these medications is not justifiable medically.”