Have you taken antidepressants? Tell us about your experience

Earlier this week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced initiatives intended to reduce the overprescription of antidepressants, which he says are difficult to quit.

In his announcement, he said he intended to publish new data on prescribing trends and issue clinical and billing guidance for providers helping patients taper off medications. The focus on psychiatric drugs isn't new for Kennedy, who early in his tenure said he wanted to assess the use of psychiatric medications for children.

"Psychiatric medications can play an important and, at times, essential role in treatment," a letter to providers accompanying Kennedy's announcement reads. "For many individuals, such medications reduce symptoms, improve functioning, prevent relapse, and support recovery. At the same time, medication should not be understood as the only treatment option."

Kennedy has focused on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants, often also prescribed for anxiety disorders. They include medications like sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil) and citalopram (Celexa).

The drugs are popular because they typically have fewer and milder side effects than other mental health medications, but many people report withdrawal symptoms after lowering a dose or stopping an antidepressant.

Nearly 19% of adults in the Seattle/Tacoma area used medication for depression or anxiety, survey data from market research firm Nielsen showed last year. 33% of local women aged 18 to 35 reported using the medications.

The Seattle Times is hoping to talk with people about their personal experiences taking SSRIs. We know that many people find them valuable in managing mental health conditions, and we also know that they can cause side effects during use or while stopping use.

If you fill out the form below, a reporter may follow up with you. We won't publish your name or submission without your explicit permission.

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