RFK Jr.'s demonization of psychiatric medication

Alana M. Carroll

Anchor Staff Writer

Following the confirmation and inauguration of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, millions of people with diagnosed mental health disorders worry for the future of access to their crucial medications. The nephew of a former president and a long-term politician, Kennedy has had influence over the American public for decades. With his confirmation Jan. 30th by a vote of 52-48, he now oversees crucial agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Now, with his new authority, Kennedy is wasting no time in targeting drugs that are commonly prescribed for managing depression and anxiety.

“I know people, including members of my family, who’ve had a much worse time getting off of [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors] than people have getting off heroin,” claimed Kennedy during his second confirmation hearing. He also suggested that acts of mass violence, such as school shootings, started happening “with the introduction of … Prozac and the other drugs.” Unsurprisingly, many had issues with his claims. 

“I'm on Prozac for OCD, anxiety and depression,” shared Rachel Curti, the Anchor’s editor for the arts and entertainment section. Prozac is the branded name for fluoxetine, an SSRI that was approved by the FDA in 1987 for the treatment of depression. Now, it’s used to treat a range of diagnoses from panic disorder to bulimia nervosa.

“Usually you can't just ‘be on medication’. You're being monitored, whether through therapy or under a doctor's care. You're not just being given a medication and told 'good luck'. It's a careful process. Meds aren't just prescribed at random.” 

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Only certain licensed professionals can prescribe psychiatric medications, and they’re rarely the only treatment used for mental health disorders. More commonly, they’re administered alongside regular therapy. The professional provider also meets with the patient to ensure that the medication is being used safely and treating symptoms effectively.

“My prescriber at least always ensures my meds aren't having any negative side effects and that I'm still speaking with a therapist that can look out for any potential unsafe behaviors.” 

Curti was not the only member of Anchor staff to affirm the use of antidepressants. 

“I take 10mg of Lexapro, an SSRI; I take it for anxiety and depression,” shared Roman Kavanagh, the Anchor’s opinions editor. Lexapro, or escitalopram was created in 1997 and only approved for the treatment of depression after five years of testing, in 2002. After one year, the medication was also approved for treating generalized anxiety disorder, the most common anxiety disorder in the United States.

“It’s made my life so much easier. I didn’t realize how much depression was impacting me until I felt the symptoms start to lift. They have made it possible for me to go to college and pursue writing my book. I wouldn’t be nearly as productive and happy as I am without them.” Kavanagh expressed distrust in Kennedy’s claims: “I don’t know why a random man with a worm in his brain is dictating my medicine usage… [It’s] weird.”

Although SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed type of medication for depression in the United States, they are not the only ones. “National and international guidelines currently recommend [SSRIs] as first-line treatment for most patients with major depression,” states a 2017 publication by Lancet Psychiatry. “Clinical guidelines commonly recommend the use of an SNRI in patients who do not respond to SSRIs. … Overall, however, all currently licensed antidepressants are believed to relieve depression by increasing serotonin or norepinephrine availability, or both, at least initially.”

“I take duloxetine… which is an SNRI. I take it for fibromyalgia,” stated Mel Cordeiro, the editor for the news section of the Anchor. Duloxetine, commonly known by its branded name, Cymbalta, is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI. Typically prescribed to treat depressive and anxiety disorders, it is also relied on by those with fibromyalgia, diabetic nerve damage and chronic pain linked to bones and muscles. Despite its creation in 1993, it was not FDA approved until 2004 after a decade of studies and testing.

“The safety testing of duloxetine in human subjects is adequate,” reads the 2002 approval package for the medication. “The sponsor has exposed enough patients to surpass the ICH guidelines for the safety testing of new drugs. Appropriate clinical monitoring was done to account for what was learned about the drug from the preclinical toxicology data. Duloxetine is adequately safe to use in the treatment of [depression].”

“The duloxetine takes away just enough of the pain so I can function somewhat comfortably,” continued Cordeiro. “If I didn’t have this medication, there is no doubt I’d be spending a lot more time in bed not moving. These are real medications that people need to function, not street drugs. I fear that a lot of his claims are unsubstantiated, not well researched and do not have the backing of legitimate science and research.” 

In response to the health secretary’s comments on these medications being potentially addictive, our staff members expressed skepticism. 

“I don't think any of these medications are addictive and I'm not worried they are,” reflected Curti. “There's never a time where I'm eager to take my medication. I just take it because it's supposed to help me.”

Cordeiro shared the sentiment.

“When you have people in positions of power who refuse to do research or listen to both sides of a story, it creates a lot of problems. Though I am taking my medication twice a day, I am in no way harming myself and, if anything, I am addicted to feeling pain-free.”