Are Americans too dependent on SSRIs?

There’s no denying that antidepressant medications have become increasingly popular over the past decade. ^[] Before COVID, roughly 1 in 8 Americans were taking an antidepressant.

Then, the pandemic came along and accelerated that trend. ^[] Research shows that antidepressant prescriptions increased by 64% in teens and young adults after 2020. ^[]

The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—or pharmaceutical drugs that improve mood by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. ^[]

But Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., United States Health and Human Services Secretary, isn’t convinced of their effectiveness or their safety. The politician has been vocal about SSRIs, claiming the drugs may be addictive and dangerous. ^[]

Why SSRIs can be life-changing

Ozan Toy, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer at Telapsychiatry in New Jersey, disagrees with the politician’s take. He believes the current prescribing amount is appropriate. “It is an important option for many that should not be ostracized,” he tells MDLinx. 

Dr. Dimitriu believes that people’s limited clinical experience and personal experiences have contributed to opinions that aren’t backed by data. “I wouldn't be doing my job if the medications I used were a crapshoot,” he told MDLinx. 

The societal shift

To Dr. Dimitriu, the increased need for antidepressant medications like SSRIs makes sense, given the significant societal and cultural changes of recent times.

“We live in a time when our society and technology has outpaced our biology,” he says. People, in general, are more socially isolated and devote less time with family and in nature. They have less downtime, work longer hours, and spend hours on their devices.

The human mind was not meant to work this fast, according to Dr. Dimitriu. “This is not natural, and for that reason, we need biological help to keep up,” he said.