HHS Explored Potential SSRI Restrictions Ahead of RFK Jr. Push to Reduce Antidepressant Use

U.S. health officials recently explored whether certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, could face restrictions as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. prepared a broader initiative aimed at reducing antidepressant use, according to Reuters. The Health and Human Services Department later denied discussions about banning SSRIs, a class of medications that includes Pfizer ($PFE) antidepressant Zoloft and Eli Lilly ($LLY) antidepressant Prozac. Lobbying data from 2025 through today shows healthcare and pharmaceutical firms spending millions lobbying on behavioral health policy, mental health parity, psychiatric treatment access, prescription drug pricing, and pharmacy benefit manager reform as federal scrutiny of antidepressant use intensifies.

• Kennedy announced initiatives this week focused on reducing SSRI use, including physician reimbursement guidelines for helping patients taper off the drugs.
• HHS also plans to publish prescribing trend data and expand provider training related to psychiatric medications.
• Elevance Health ($ELV) disclosed more than $2 million in lobbying tied partly to “Mental Health Parity,” behavioral health reimbursement policy, prescription drug affordability measures, and pharmacy benefit manager reform legislation.
• Acadia Healthcare ($ACHC), a major behavioral health provider, reported lobbying on behavioral health issues, electronic health records, and opioid treatment access legislation.
• Lobbying disclosures across the healthcare sector also referenced broader issues including psychiatric treatment access, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, prescription drug transparency, and healthcare pricing oversight.
• About one in six U.S. adults reported taking SSRIs, according to a 2026 BMJ Mental Health study.
• The FDA would require substantial scientific evidence to restrict or withdraw longstanding approved medications.
• The American Psychiatric Association defended SSRIs as evidence-based treatments for depression and objected to framing mental health issues primarily as overprescribing.

Relevant Companies

• Pfizer ($PFE) - Markets Zoloft, one of the SSRIs referenced in the report.
• Eli Lilly ($LLY) - Developed Prozac, a widely used SSRI antidepressant.
• Elevance Health ($ELV) - Reported multi-million dollar lobbying activity tied to mental health parity and prescription drug policy.

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.