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BlueKota

(5,547 posts)
Fri May 15, 2026, 03:46 PM 6 hrs ago

RFKJR

Now wants to take away SSRIs. I hope the worm comes back and eats what little is left of his brain.

I take Escitolopram. I have had several bouts with major depressive episodes, have been suicidal 3 times, and hospitalized several times since my 30's. My psychiatrists over the years have told me, my mental illness is treatable but not curable and I will need medication for the rest of my life.

Since one of my previous psychiatrists came up with a combination of 3 meds including the Escitolopram, I have been relatively stable for the last five years. Now I have to be scared the Escitolopram is taken away, and how it might put me back at high risk? I really concerned about this.
https://people.com/rfk-jr-pushes-for-the-deprescribing-of-antidepressants-11975001

39 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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RFKJR (Original Post) BlueKota 6 hrs ago OP
... SheltieLover 6 hrs ago #1
Thank you. BlueKota 6 hrs ago #2
Politicians should stay out of doctor-patient decisions. They are not medical experts or even doctors Deuxcents 6 hrs ago #3
I agree. BlueKota 6 hrs ago #4
Your health shouldn't be subject to the whims of a mcar 6 hrs ago #5
These times suck BlueKota 3 hrs ago #18
It is insane... I have always preached caution on these drugs, but under appropriate supervised care, hlthe2b 6 hrs ago #6
He should have never been approved BlueKota 3 hrs ago #19
;-{)...... Goonch 6 hrs ago #7
Very fitting BlueKota 3 hrs ago #20
That's not nearly enough to explain how fuck*d up of an individual he is. twodogsbarking 5 hrs ago #8
Fucked up is a good start. Joinfortmill 5 hrs ago #12
It fits BlueKota 3 hrs ago #21
If I take advice from a heroin user, it will be from Keith Richards irisblue 5 hrs ago #9
I definitely think Keith has more brain cells left. BlueKota 3 hrs ago #23
RFKjr. is dangerous man. oasis 5 hrs ago #10
He really is BlueKota 3 hrs ago #24
Oh, my what a terrible situation to be in. Joinfortmill 5 hrs ago #11
It's scary. BlueKota 3 hrs ago #25
Wishing you well Joinfortmill 49 min ago #39
My SSRI is keeping me alive and civil. nt Ilsa 5 hrs ago #13
Same with me. BlueKota 3 hrs ago #26
I have somebody close to me that takes meds to stabilize his/her mood swings. Buddyzbuddy 5 hrs ago #14
They definitely help. BlueKota 3 hrs ago #27
No need to exaggerate - he doesn't want to take them away, just use them more cautiously. TheRickles 4 hrs ago #15
Unfortunately this article doesn't include BlueKota 3 hrs ago #28
From the article: TheRickles 3 hrs ago #33
Not an exaggeration. Kennedy absolutely would like to ban them. Eve Of Destruction 3 hrs ago #32
Thank you! BlueKota 1 hr ago #35
I wish EuterpeThelo 4 hrs ago #16
Same. BlueKota 3 hrs ago #29
He can huff and puff, it won't change your script. mr715 4 hrs ago #17
Thank you this helps. BlueKota 3 hrs ago #30
Ignore RFK, Jr., Blue Kota DrRaskolnik 3 hrs ago #22
Thank you. BlueKota 3 hrs ago #31
I take Lexapro & Lemotragine MustLoveBeagles 2 hrs ago #34
He's a disgusting asshat. BlueKota 1 hr ago #36
A man whose brain was half eaten by the worm is in charge of our healthcare. LisaL 1 hr ago #37
Your doctor should be able to advise and reassure you. Sogo 59 min ago #38

Deuxcents

(27,651 posts)
3. Politicians should stay out of doctor-patient decisions. They are not medical experts or even doctors
Fri May 15, 2026, 04:00 PM
6 hrs ago

Especially this bunch of people.

BlueKota

(5,547 posts)
4. I agree.
Fri May 15, 2026, 04:04 PM
6 hrs ago

Kennedy especially has no qualifications for this job. He's obviously mentally ill himself so should not be in a position to decide the treatment of others.

mcar

(46,338 posts)
5. Your health shouldn't be subject to the whims of a
Fri May 15, 2026, 04:18 PM
6 hrs ago

brain-worm addled addict. Crikey what a timeline.

hlthe2b

(114,625 posts)
6. It is insane... I have always preached caution on these drugs, but under appropriate supervised care,
Fri May 15, 2026, 04:20 PM
6 hrs ago

they can be miraculous for those who really need them. There are very justified indications for a myriad of reasons in medicine--in veterinary medicine as well.

He's an uninformed pompous ideologue and dangerous in this current role (or any role).

twodogsbarking

(19,300 posts)
8. That's not nearly enough to explain how fuck*d up of an individual he is.
Fri May 15, 2026, 05:04 PM
5 hrs ago

There aren't enough medical terms to cover it all so just go with fuck*d up.

BlueKota

(5,547 posts)
25. It's scary.
Fri May 15, 2026, 06:49 PM
3 hrs ago

I have a regularly scheduled visit with my therapist on Monday. This is going to be the first thing I bring up.

Buddyzbuddy

(2,873 posts)
14. I have somebody close to me that takes meds to stabilize his/her mood swings.
Fri May 15, 2026, 05:36 PM
5 hrs ago

They are life changing for that person and the people that are in that person's life. Without them, they become suicidal/homicidal.
If this person has missed the dose(one per day) for 2 days it becomes obvious to those around but not to the person taking the meds. By day 3 if meds are missed or not refilled this person becomes a different, scary, stressed unrecognizable person.

The meds don't keep the person happy or high, just rational. The meds are life changing.

BlueKota

(5,547 posts)
28. Unfortunately this article doesn't include
Fri May 15, 2026, 07:07 PM
3 hrs ago

opposing view points from the American Psychiatric Association who have already expressed the opinion that Kennedy is dangerously over simplifying the issue. It should have. His plan does mention weaning off people off, who decides that? It should be up to an individuals psychiatrist not an individual who has no medical background. These are questions that need to be addressed.

TheRickles

(3,525 posts)
33. From the article:
Fri May 15, 2026, 07:26 PM
3 hrs ago

"The American Psychiatric Association put out a news release stating that “we strongly object to framing the nation’s mental health crisis as primarily a problem of ‘overmedicalization’ or ‘overprescribing.’” The main issue, the A.P.A. maintained, is insufficient and unequal access to care."

32. Not an exaggeration. Kennedy absolutely would like to ban them.
Fri May 15, 2026, 07:25 PM
3 hrs ago

They've openly talked about a ban.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/kennedys-health-officials-explored-us-ban-some-widely-used-antidepressants-2026-05-08/

Exclusive: Kennedy's health officials explored US ban of some widely used antidepressants
WASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) - 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 and Lexapro, which have been available in the U.S. for decades, one of the people said. The sources did not say which drugs were being examined for restrictions or how far the inquiries about them had advanced.
..........................
Kennedy has also, without evidence, linked SSRIs to violence, including mass shootings, and said they pose a risk to fetuses when women who are pregnant take them. Kennedy in November said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was studying whether SSRI therapies contribute to mass violence, but has not provided details on that effort.

The psychiatric association, in a statement after Kennedy's Monday announcement, said it supports plans for better research to help physicians prescribe the treatments and decide when a patient can come off them. It strongly objected "to framing the nation's mental health ​crisis as primarily a problem of 'overmedicalization' or 'overprescribing'."


BlueKota

(5,547 posts)
35. Thank you!
Fri May 15, 2026, 09:08 PM
1 hr ago

He also doesn't consider that while not everyone's depression has a physical cause, for some people it does, or at least is one contributing factor. Depression ran in both sides of my family so the likelihood of a genetic link. He just unscientifically dismisses that possibility like he does the benefits of vaccinations.

Three of my cousins, and some of their off spring all are bipolar. Their father, my late uncle-by marriage was bipolar. That makes it seem fairly clear that it is an inherited illness.

mr715

(4,114 posts)
17. He can huff and puff, it won't change your script.
Fri May 15, 2026, 05:56 PM
4 hrs ago

Lexapro is well studied, well tolerated, and a reasonably effective treatment comparable to other SSRIs.

The HHS will issue advisory memos, and there will be fewer free pens and your doc will have to ask you if you're taking enough vitamin D or ivermectin, but then you'll get your Rx.

I get anxiety over my xanax not being renewed, which is an ouroboros of mental illness happening.

DrRaskolnik

(12 posts)
22. Ignore RFK, Jr., Blue Kota
Fri May 15, 2026, 06:46 PM
3 hrs ago

I'm a retired psychiatrist, BlueKota.

My advice is to stay on your regimen that works and ignore RFK, Jr.

The man is a poorly educated idiot who doesn't recognize his own ignorance.

BlueKota

(5,547 posts)
31. Thank you.
Fri May 15, 2026, 07:14 PM
3 hrs ago

The combination one of my doctors came up with has helped me so much. I plan to stick with it. Unfortunately she went to a different clinic, but I do trust my current psychiatrist to have my back regarding my meds.

MustLoveBeagles

(17,184 posts)
34. I take Lexapro & Lemotragine
Fri May 15, 2026, 07:46 PM
2 hrs ago

For anxiety and depression. The hell he's going to take it away!

BlueKota

(5,547 posts)
36. He's a disgusting asshat.
Fri May 15, 2026, 09:10 PM
1 hr ago

He should be on meds, not trying to play a doctor in D.C., trying to take it away from those of us it has helped.

LisaL

(47,502 posts)
37. A man whose brain was half eaten by the worm is in charge of our healthcare.
Fri May 15, 2026, 09:13 PM
1 hr ago

I will never forgive any of Trump voters for this.

Sogo

(7,299 posts)
38. Your doctor should be able to advise and reassure you.
Fri May 15, 2026, 09:40 PM
59 min ago

I'm wondering if you would be able to get it from Canada or Europe if it becomes banned here.

Wishing for the best outcome for you....

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