Honestly, I was a bit worried about RFK's theory on antidepressants. I'm glad you clarified the information for us. I fear most people put their lives at risk due to false scientific analysis.
Great post! Very informative. As a fellow healthcare provider and someone who has struggled with mental health themselves, I appreciate your input and efforts to combat all the medical misinformation out there. Keep doing what you're doing!
Weeks or even months to taper off SSRIs I think indicates RFK Jr. has a point. While not addictive like opioids clearly long-term use of SSRIs can create a dependence that is not easily reversed. The brain has adapted to SSRI use and must readjust when they are withdrawn.
Hi Mr. Findlay. I understand there is something to learn about how to discontinue and taper an SSRI, however I disagree that RFK Jr. has a point. He is reckless in his understanding of the science and dangerously oversteps his expertise - leading to false statements that are harmful to public health. Vaccines do not cause autism. His claim that SSRIs are more addictive than heroin is simply false. They aren't even addictive. Mr. Kennedy has been elevated to a prominent government post and with it he is entrusted to make responsible statements. Imagine a depressed individual who reads his claim and decides to not pursue treatment due to false information. Months later they die by suicide. A discontinuation/withdrawal syndrome is not a reason to not take a medication that could be life saving!! In other areas of medicine the same is true. Patients must slowly taper off an anti-seizure medication or benzodiazepine or they risk a seizure amongst other things. Stopping a blood pressure medication cold turkey could lead to very high blood pressure and devastating outcomes including a stroke. My point is that there are many treatments that have a withdrawal syndrome (some even fatal) that are not a reason to not take the medication as a treatment. The country needs leaders with expertise in their field who know how to evaluate data and scientific information. RFK Jr does not meet this criteria.
To add to this, I would say also that not all antidepressants are SSRIs. Although they might not be physically addictive, stopping abruptly, even over periods of several months, can amplify suicidal ideations and atypical behaviours.
I honestly have no idea who you are but I’m ecstatic that this blog post came to my email. Lies- like what you’ve written here, are exactly what have made me mistrust the field of psychiatry and psychology over the past year. I am a therapist. I work in the field. I’ve peddled all the narratives you have peddled here. I have taken many different psychotropic medications for anxiety and depression. And all I’ve found- is that I’m worse off for it. I started an SSRI in grad school due to experiencing passive suicidal ideation. I knew very quickly Zoloft was not the medication for me- but I was so broke that I couldn’t afford to continue going back to my PCP and pay $90+ dollars a visit to have him just give something else a try. I immediately noticed that my cognition was impacted- my memory was terrible, I had trouble with word recall. I had never experienced this prior to taking this medication. I still experience those deficits to this day (this was nearly 10 years ago). I didn’t kill myself (thank god) - I’ll give you that. I tapered off (properly) with the support of my doctor about a year and a half later. It was a living hell. I was barely functioning for a month. The pandemic occurred, I moved across the country, life got hard again. I found a psychiatrist who prescribed Lexapro. It WAS life changing. I remember thinking that I never realized how beautiful the word truly was prior to this magical medication that boosted my serotonin. But, as always occurs (with my body), a year in, I was depressed, I was anxious, I was passively suicidal. My psychiatrist upped the dose, tried other medication combos (adding other anti anxiety medications and SSRI’s/SNRI’s) and I never felt that relief again. Research indicates that SSRI’s are most effective in the short term in conjunction with therapy. Why then, do psychiatrists not give you this information up front? Why do they not make a plan with their patients to start a medication for a short period of time and make a plan to taper off? Maybe you do. Maybe you’re one of the good ones. By 2 years of medication, again, for me, they lost all positive effects. I decided to taper off my 3 medications (all for anxiety and depression) one by one with my psychiatrist. I wanted to get off the medication because of the research about short term impacts, I was more depressed and anxious than when I started, and I was suicidal again. By the time I got to tapering off the last medication (which again- you know this process takes months, especially if your prescribed multiple medications- you say it can cause “discomfort” for a few weeks. With all respect, my experience is that it takes months to get back to “normal” and I would not call what I went through “discomfort”), I couldn’t recognize myself any longer. I was actively suicidal, having meltdowns (crying uncontrollably for hours on end with no ability to soothe) on a daily basis, and felt like a prisoner to my own brain. This suicidal ideation lasted a full month. It is, again, by the grace of god, and from my training in mental health, that I didn’t take my own life. I can only imagine someone without the knowledge that I have gained in my career as a therapist would have done in my situation. I know that suicidal ideation is temporary and suicide is not a feasible solution because of my work and education. If I had not had that background knowledge, I am almost certain I would have ended my life. While my memory still sucks and I’m more spacey than I ever was prior to taking medication, once I rode out the “wave” that came with getting off these medications, I somehow feel more clearheaded than I have in the last 3-4 years trying to find a medication combo that “works” for my brain and body. I am less restless, less compulsive and irritable, less anxious, and I am not depressed like I was when I was on the medication. I understand this is one lived experience. I understand these medications save lives. But let’s actually use these medications with a purpose, rather than giving life time prescriptions and saying that “withdrawal” from SSRI’s is just a few weeks of discomfort. That couldn’t be any further from the truth. These medications are incredibly difficult to get off of and they are over prescribed. I wonder if any psychiatrists receive compensation from pharmaceutical companies, as doctors do, for prescribing these medications for years to their clients with no plan to help them get off. I can’t come to any other conclusion than financial benefits for a doctor/psychiatrist when our research is clear that these medications are most effective in the short term in conjunction with therapy. and yet I am sure that anyone who is still reading this comment can attest that they know someone who is an antidepressant “lifer.” It is important to question big pharma, why these pills are pushed on to so many who do not need them, and what the side effects of these medications truly are. Thank god someone has the courage to stand up and start asking questions.
You are exactly right. I think the “misinformation” cuts both ways here. There’s a lot of information and hype about temporary side effects of beginning these medications but as far as I know there’s not much out there If you decide to stop taking them. And I wonder how much of what they do as far as elevating mood is the placebo effect. What’s not being told to Americans is there’s a dark side to these medications. People can become numbed and emotions muted on them yet withdrawal can be extremely difficult.
Good article, Jake. Could you also someday explain about screen “addictions” and how the brain is rewired? In terms of the brain how does this compare with a substance like opioids and how the action is in the brain.
Thank you Dr. Jake.
Thank you for the support Marco!
Honestly, I was a bit worried about RFK's theory on antidepressants. I'm glad you clarified the information for us. I fear most people put their lives at risk due to false scientific analysis.
I'm glad the newsletter could help your worry a little!
Great post! Very informative. As a fellow healthcare provider and someone who has struggled with mental health themselves, I appreciate your input and efforts to combat all the medical misinformation out there. Keep doing what you're doing!
Thank you for all that you do!
Likewise man! Would love to collaborate some time. 👍🏻
Really well written post! Fighting misinformation is SO important
Thank you!
Thank you for clarifying this difference.
You're welcome!
Thank you Doctor Jake!
You're welcome!
Thank you for speaking up!
Thank you for the support Laurie!
Bravo 👏 thank you for standing up to provide clarity. The misinformation spewing out is threatening public health.
Thank you Tanya!
Thank you for this explanation to provide evidence based education and reduce stigma.
You're welcome. Thank you for the support RJ!
Thank you for this! It’s hard to understand how RFK JR comes to his dangerous conclusions.
Thank you for the support Charlotte!
Bravo! So important to combat misinformation, especially when it comes from the new head of the Health department.
Thanks for the support pops!
Weeks or even months to taper off SSRIs I think indicates RFK Jr. has a point. While not addictive like opioids clearly long-term use of SSRIs can create a dependence that is not easily reversed. The brain has adapted to SSRI use and must readjust when they are withdrawn.
Hi Mr. Findlay. I understand there is something to learn about how to discontinue and taper an SSRI, however I disagree that RFK Jr. has a point. He is reckless in his understanding of the science and dangerously oversteps his expertise - leading to false statements that are harmful to public health. Vaccines do not cause autism. His claim that SSRIs are more addictive than heroin is simply false. They aren't even addictive. Mr. Kennedy has been elevated to a prominent government post and with it he is entrusted to make responsible statements. Imagine a depressed individual who reads his claim and decides to not pursue treatment due to false information. Months later they die by suicide. A discontinuation/withdrawal syndrome is not a reason to not take a medication that could be life saving!! In other areas of medicine the same is true. Patients must slowly taper off an anti-seizure medication or benzodiazepine or they risk a seizure amongst other things. Stopping a blood pressure medication cold turkey could lead to very high blood pressure and devastating outcomes including a stroke. My point is that there are many treatments that have a withdrawal syndrome (some even fatal) that are not a reason to not take the medication as a treatment. The country needs leaders with expertise in their field who know how to evaluate data and scientific information. RFK Jr does not meet this criteria.
To add to this, I would say also that not all antidepressants are SSRIs. Although they might not be physically addictive, stopping abruptly, even over periods of several months, can amplify suicidal ideations and atypical behaviours.
Great, succinct post. I am going to email it to anyone who may benefit from it.
Thank you for spreading the word!
Any thoughts on the dangers of SSRI’s. I would not prescribe or suggest anyone start on them for multiple reasons.
I honestly have no idea who you are but I’m ecstatic that this blog post came to my email. Lies- like what you’ve written here, are exactly what have made me mistrust the field of psychiatry and psychology over the past year. I am a therapist. I work in the field. I’ve peddled all the narratives you have peddled here. I have taken many different psychotropic medications for anxiety and depression. And all I’ve found- is that I’m worse off for it. I started an SSRI in grad school due to experiencing passive suicidal ideation. I knew very quickly Zoloft was not the medication for me- but I was so broke that I couldn’t afford to continue going back to my PCP and pay $90+ dollars a visit to have him just give something else a try. I immediately noticed that my cognition was impacted- my memory was terrible, I had trouble with word recall. I had never experienced this prior to taking this medication. I still experience those deficits to this day (this was nearly 10 years ago). I didn’t kill myself (thank god) - I’ll give you that. I tapered off (properly) with the support of my doctor about a year and a half later. It was a living hell. I was barely functioning for a month. The pandemic occurred, I moved across the country, life got hard again. I found a psychiatrist who prescribed Lexapro. It WAS life changing. I remember thinking that I never realized how beautiful the word truly was prior to this magical medication that boosted my serotonin. But, as always occurs (with my body), a year in, I was depressed, I was anxious, I was passively suicidal. My psychiatrist upped the dose, tried other medication combos (adding other anti anxiety medications and SSRI’s/SNRI’s) and I never felt that relief again. Research indicates that SSRI’s are most effective in the short term in conjunction with therapy. Why then, do psychiatrists not give you this information up front? Why do they not make a plan with their patients to start a medication for a short period of time and make a plan to taper off? Maybe you do. Maybe you’re one of the good ones. By 2 years of medication, again, for me, they lost all positive effects. I decided to taper off my 3 medications (all for anxiety and depression) one by one with my psychiatrist. I wanted to get off the medication because of the research about short term impacts, I was more depressed and anxious than when I started, and I was suicidal again. By the time I got to tapering off the last medication (which again- you know this process takes months, especially if your prescribed multiple medications- you say it can cause “discomfort” for a few weeks. With all respect, my experience is that it takes months to get back to “normal” and I would not call what I went through “discomfort”), I couldn’t recognize myself any longer. I was actively suicidal, having meltdowns (crying uncontrollably for hours on end with no ability to soothe) on a daily basis, and felt like a prisoner to my own brain. This suicidal ideation lasted a full month. It is, again, by the grace of god, and from my training in mental health, that I didn’t take my own life. I can only imagine someone without the knowledge that I have gained in my career as a therapist would have done in my situation. I know that suicidal ideation is temporary and suicide is not a feasible solution because of my work and education. If I had not had that background knowledge, I am almost certain I would have ended my life. While my memory still sucks and I’m more spacey than I ever was prior to taking medication, once I rode out the “wave” that came with getting off these medications, I somehow feel more clearheaded than I have in the last 3-4 years trying to find a medication combo that “works” for my brain and body. I am less restless, less compulsive and irritable, less anxious, and I am not depressed like I was when I was on the medication. I understand this is one lived experience. I understand these medications save lives. But let’s actually use these medications with a purpose, rather than giving life time prescriptions and saying that “withdrawal” from SSRI’s is just a few weeks of discomfort. That couldn’t be any further from the truth. These medications are incredibly difficult to get off of and they are over prescribed. I wonder if any psychiatrists receive compensation from pharmaceutical companies, as doctors do, for prescribing these medications for years to their clients with no plan to help them get off. I can’t come to any other conclusion than financial benefits for a doctor/psychiatrist when our research is clear that these medications are most effective in the short term in conjunction with therapy. and yet I am sure that anyone who is still reading this comment can attest that they know someone who is an antidepressant “lifer.” It is important to question big pharma, why these pills are pushed on to so many who do not need them, and what the side effects of these medications truly are. Thank god someone has the courage to stand up and start asking questions.
You are exactly right. I think the “misinformation” cuts both ways here. There’s a lot of information and hype about temporary side effects of beginning these medications but as far as I know there’s not much out there If you decide to stop taking them. And I wonder how much of what they do as far as elevating mood is the placebo effect. What’s not being told to Americans is there’s a dark side to these medications. People can become numbed and emotions muted on them yet withdrawal can be extremely difficult.
Good article, Jake. Could you also someday explain about screen “addictions” and how the brain is rewired? In terms of the brain how does this compare with a substance like opioids and how the action is in the brain.