Mother Jones: RFK Jr. Is Already Taking Aim at Antidepressants

[Dennis Donovan]

Mother Jones - RFK Jr. Is Already Taking Aim at Antidepressants

The new HHS secretary has made baseless claims that the drugs are addictive and cause violent behavior.

1 hour ago
Kiera Butler

Hours after being confirmed as Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. issued a statement that laid out sweeping plans for his first 100 days in office. Chief among his goals, he wrote, was to combat what he called a “growing health crisis” of chronic disease. The document called for the federal government to investigate the “root causes” of a broad range of conditions, including autism, ADHD, asthma, obesity, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis. Conspicuously absent was any explicit mention of childhood vaccines, which Kennedy has long railed against as the head of the anti-vaccine advocacy group Children’s Health Defense.

But the document did zero in on another one of his fixations: a class of widely prescribed drugs that treat depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. The government, he said, would “assess the prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, [and] mood stabilizers.”

Kennedy has repeatedly railed against what he sees as rampant overprescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly known as SSRIs, which treat depression and anxiety and include medications like Prozac and Zoloft. As with his previous assertions about vaccines, many of his statements about these drugs are not backed by science. In a 2023 livestream on X with Elon Musk, he claimed that “tremendous circumstantial evidence” suggested that people taking antidepressants were more likely to commit school shootings. (Actually, most school shooters were not taking those drugs, evidence shows.) Kennedy has also called people who take SSRIs addicts—and then tried to claim he didn’t during his confirmation hearings.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch swears in Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as Health and Human Services Secretary as his wife Cheryl Hines holds the Bible in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)

Hours after being confirmed as Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. issued a statement that laid out sweeping plans for his first 100 days in office. Chief among his goals, he wrote, was to combat what he called a “growing health crisis” of chronic disease. The document called for the federal government to investigate the “root causes” of a broad range of conditions, including autism, ADHD, asthma, obesity, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis. Conspicuously absent was any explicit mention of childhood vaccines, which Kennedy has long railed against as the head of the anti-vaccine advocacy group Children’s Health Defense.

/snip

[mcar]

1. Yeah, everyone can go on heroin, right Jr?

[Paladin]

4. You beat me to it.

I'll give the same credence to rfk jr's health advice that I would any other heroin addict. Yet more evidence that the inmates have taken over the asylum.

[Crunchy Frog]

35. Or brain worms.

[BoRaGard]

45. Do G.O.P. Billionaire Bros get a cut of that action?

[choie]

65. Or steroids.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. As if those illnesses aren't being investigated already

and btw some doctors get very very good results by prescribing medications for 'off-label' uses.

RFK Jr. is imho disrupting an established system of health care. It's not perfect but it's administered by actual doctors in close contact with the people they care for.

[Whyisthisstillclose]

3. RFK Jr is not a doctor, but plays one in his worm riddled brain

[newdeal2]

5. Can he take away the ketamine from his boss?

[Passages]

6. He is against junk food, the only thing he might not screw up policing.

This man is dangerous for all stated purposes, and I am stunned he was confirmed. Republicans do not give a damn about anyone's children.

[keep_left]

16. Well, he's against junk food until his boss tells him otherwise...

...as we saw in a recent photo from Trump's plane. Anybody remember this one?

https://democraticunderground.com/100219732796

[Passages]

25. Cancel what I said.

Ugh, what an awful man.

[keep_left]

28. I'd love to know the story behind that photo.

You just know Trump insisted RFK Jr appear in the photo. Note that he's also the only one with an open box (a Big Mac, I think). This is the same guy who ridiculed Trump's junk food diet just a couple of months before.

[Passages]

29. Carolyn Kennedy got it right, might have sounded over the top but I don't think so.

He is a predator.

When I saw the onesies for babies for purchase on his affiliated website selling for $26.00 each and have printed on them, Unvaccinated Unafraid....I believe her completely.

[Bengus81]

49. That other box looks like chicken Mc Nuggets and why is he the only one with a Coke?

Yeah...keep that picture on file. I will............

[keep_left]

63. I pointed out at the time that it looks like Trump has a Fanta or...

...some other kind of orange soda. Even more sugar than a Coke. But you're right, RFK Jr has what looks like a regular (HFCS) Coke; that's about 70 g of sugar per bottle. Not really what you want to be advertising when you're making speeches about America's type 2 diabetes epidemic. And I know Trump insisted on RFK Jr being in this picture...I'm just not quite sure why yet. (Maybe it's to have something to fire him with when he goes on the warpath again about junk food).

Another thing I got a laugh out of is that it looks like everyone has at least two Mickey D's boxes in front of them, as well as a large (super-size?) order of fries. Don Jr is even holding up his box of fries with a moronic grin on his face. The whole thing is like a recap of that White House (NCAA) dinner that Trump had catered with fast food.

[Crunchy Frog]

37. I'm stunned by just about everyone that's gotten confirmed.

[lapfog_1]

7. I was in a relationship years ago with a woman

taking these sorts of drugs. Everything was great... she was feeling so great that 6 months into our relationship, she decided she didn't need the drugs anymore.

OMFG. It was Jekyll and Hyde in real life. I tried to get her to go see her doctor... someone, anyone. But she just went further into herself. Sigh.

Drugs are sometimes really required. If there is a problem, banning a drug isn't the only answer, more education and time with a patient by their doctor is probably the better answer.

[Passages]

9. That is an unfortunate cycle people like your friend experience. No one wants to take

medication every day, especially if there are some side effects. But, for many, it is the only way to maintain a functioning fruitful life, at least for now.

[LymphocyteLover]

10. getting off those drugs is very tricky and it's a huge mistake to go cold turkey-- it always ends up badly

my son had an issue somewhat like that, and I know of others with similar stories

[raccoon]

30. Yes! You go into withdrawal if you try to go cold turkey from some antidepressants, SSRI's.

And the withdrawal can be pretty rough.

[LymphocyteLover]

8. Seriously-- WTF is he going to do? Reverse FDA approval on SSRIs? Block docs from prescribing them? It's abolutely nuts

[RockCreek]

39. Gut the FDA

Most (if not all) of these meds are not manufactured in the US. Block the importation.
Not out of line with anything else that has occurred thus far.

[LymphocyteLover]

53. you seriously think he'd block importation? Drug companies are gonna freak, do massive pushback

[RockCreek]

57. I never would have believed it

And still don't logically.
But I would not have dreamed of some of what he has pulled in recent weeks, and I'm pretty pessimistic and able to come up with some nightmare scenarios.
If the drug companies were bought, or threatened, or most likely both... Well, who knows?

[aocommunalpunch]

11. My anxiety would decrease if

These authoritarians would take the Hitler way out.

[Chemical Bill]

22. I know, right?

Jr. could get rid of those depressing Republicans and I would feel much better.

[Meowmee]

42. Yes!!!! We can only hope... either that or there is some divine intervention STAT

[Initech]

12. This worthless fucking administration has already increased my anxiety levels 10,000%.

And I fear it's only going to get worse. Fuck RFK Jr to the hottest of hells. And fuck every single MAGA moron who voted for this bullshit, ugh.

[LisaL]

15. Exactly?

Are they freaking kidding us? They are causing so much anxiety as it is.

[milestogo]

13. So why isn't he teaching in a medical school?

Oh that's right- he didn't even GO to medical school, but he knows more than physicians and psychiatrists do. What an arrogant piece of shit.

[RockCreek]

40. Psychiatrists are Physicians.

Just pointing that out.

[milestogo]

56. Yes, I know. And they prescribe antidepressants.

[RockCreek]

58. The vast majority of antidepressants

The vast majority of antidepressants are not prescribed by psychiatrists. The majority are also prescribed to people with no psychiatric diagnosis.
(Not sure where this is going, just adding some related facts).

[milestogo]

59. I've had enough mansplaining for today and its not even 8:30am.

Just stop. You have no idea who you are talking to.

[RockCreek]

60. How is this mansplaining?

Have to ask, since I'm not even a man

[GoCubsGo]

14. Can't wait to see how Big Pharma deals with that.

Something tells me the brain worm guy isn't going to last very long in this job...

[LisaL]

17. He should not be at this job for any period of time.

NT

[GoCubsGo]

23. Well, that goes without saying.

The same with every last one of them, from the top on down. But, here we are...

[raccoon]

61. Thank you for pointing that out. as I have posted somewhere else in this

Thread, SSRI have a wicked withdrawal. And apart from that, some people, of course desperately need them.

[GoCubsGo]

62. And, Big Pharma profits mightily off of them.

Along with other drugs that Brain Worm Bobby is probably going to attempt to go after. They're going to rip him to shreds...

[Aristus]

18. Is he going to hire Tom Cruise to jump on couches and call everyone 'glib'?

If he is going to come out publicly against anti-depressants, he should at least be entertaining about it.

[surfered]

19. Damn, and just when we're going to need them the most.

It’s gonna be a long, hard 4 years.

[Lulu KC]

33. Exactly what I was thinking

Prolonged stress can trigger a major depressive episode if you are wired for one. It's been 25 days since inauguration, and 101 days since election day. Long enough.

[Demovictory9]

20. Is he so healthy? With that catchers mitt face and shaky voice?

[Bengus81]

50. Unlike Trump RFK isn't spraying that tan on,he's under a lamp for hours to get that burnt up face

Hope that POS dies from that shit,sooner the better.....

[LudwigPastorius]

21. I'm on a SSNRI for chronic nerve pain.

It's the only thing that has worked to make my life manageable.

If this worm-eaten, chainsaw-wielding maniac bans my medication from the market, I may as well show myself the door.

(I'd give serious consideration to taking out some fascist motherfuckers when I go, though.)

[allegorical oracle]

24. Worm brain better not stifle the free commerce of Oxycontin in my MAGAt neighborhood or

my ammosexual neighbors will go after him. They become very short tempered and they're armed to the hilt.

[New Breed Leader]

67. lol

[RandySF]

26. Ok, I can't have this.

My meds saved my life.

[Irish_Dem]

27. Antidepressants are miracle drugs.

They have revolutionized the treatment of the mood disorders.

Without these medications we will go back to the old days.
People will suffer from crippling depression.

[GP6971]

32. Well, Hello!! Off to a roaring start I see. Bye!!

[Crunchy Frog]

34. Fortunately or unfortunately, antidepressants don't work for me.

They'd better not take away my clonazapam for my anxiety though.

[OldBaldy1701E]

51. They did not work for me either.

And, I am too poor to do anything else about it. I use medical cannabis, but I am also in danger of losing that as well.

Let's hope that those of us who are obviously not worth the attention of anyone who could do something don't have to suffer much longer.

[sakabatou]

36. Every doctor, nurse, and pharmacist need to write a letter

that says, "FUCK OFF!"

Hell, some drug companies are probably angry.

[LisaL]

46. I am sure drug companies are angry.

With the way Trump's administration is going, I am sure anti-anxiety sales are way up.

[ShazzieB]

38. RFK Jr is a freaking idiot!

I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder decades ago, and have been on 2 SSRIs simultaneously for over 20 years. (Started on one, then the second was added a few months later because the first one wasn't quite cutting it.) This was after several depressive episodes starting when I was in my teens that went untreated due to a lack of knowledge about what depression is and how it works. Since going on the current regimen, I've had minor ups and downs but have stayed on more of an even keel overall than I ever did in my whole life prior to that.

Doctors have advised me that going off these drugs would be very unwise, and that wth my history, I'd be about 99% likely to have another very severe depressive episode. I'm not interested in risking that, so i follow my doctor's orders. Yes, psychiatric drugs are powerful, and not every drug is appropriate for every patient. DUH - that's psychopharmacology 101, and the doctors know it! That's why they are careful what they prescribe for whom and often try several different drugs or drug combinations before hitting on what works best for a particular patient. When they do find the right prescription, the results can be quite dramatic, even miraculous.

When someone like RFK starts trying to paint ALL psychiatric drugs with a broad brush and claim they're ALL "bad" or "dangerous," it really gets my dander up! I guarantee you Brainworm Bobby has never witnessed actual patients having their lives greatly improved or even saved by these drugs and has absolutely no fucking idea what he's talking about. Putting him in the position he's in now is one of the stupidest things the Orange Hellbeast has ever done!

[Meowmee]

41. Great... an addict loon anti vaxer who killed his own relatives & innocent children

Is going to control what medications we have access to?

[EndlessWire]

43. Honest to Gawd

This is hilarious.

Chief among his goals, he wrote, was to combat what he called a “growing health crisis” of chronic disease. The document called for the federal government to investigate the “root causes” of a broad range of conditions, including autism, ADHD, asthma, obesity, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis.

Well, how are you going to do that, Bobby, when Donald is busy decimating our entire public health infrastructure? Think, boy! Donald fires all the scientists, they're gone, and now who are you going to hire to figure stuff out for you?

Besides, you're going to be too busy ordering body bags for the bird flu victims to do much research on anything else! Bend over, Bob, because you're next in line to take the blame for a pandemic! Should have thought of that before you shut down vaccination research!

Good luck!

[xmas74]

44. Im on Effexor

I can't use any HRT due to my cancer. This decreases some of the horrendous hot flashes that would hit me at all hours. I'd drip sweat, have a headache and become nauseous.

Effexor helps. It doesn't stop it but it helps. He has no idea what he's doing.

(Fyi-ovarian cancer and I'm 2 years in remission. Fingers crossed.)

[Conjuay]

47. Yeah, plant trump in the WH,

And take away our antidepressants.

That is especially sadistic.

[Rhiannon12866]

48. Shouldn't that be up to qualified physicians??

[Dennis Donovan]

52. One would think. Also, sanity should be a prerequisite.

[The Madcap]

54. They just want

everyone to be overworked, underpaid (or not paid), ready to die, and depressed about it, all while insisting that everyone says they are doing fine. Cruel tyrants. They can't tolerate anyone else being truly happy in life except for themselves.

[C_U_L8R]

55. Trump Jr is gonna have a sad

How will he come down after his next all-night cocaine spree?

[Oopsie Daisy]

64. Antidepressants (duloxetine) are a part of my chronic pain management routine.

I no longer need (or crave) opioid pain relievers in the quantities I once was taking. I fear that without antidepressants, my pain will not be as easily or effectively managed. A vicious cycle will ensue.

[choie]

66. They'll have to pry my antidepressant

out of my cold dead hands!