Why patients may be panic-stocking SSRIs—and what you should tell them

By Elizabeth Pratt | Fact-checked by Davi Sherman

Published March 21, 2025

Key Takeaways

Industry Buzz

“We shouldn't let this shock and awful campaign by RFK and the Trump administration scare people into doing things that are not appropriate or in their best interest. So I would not encourage people to stockpile medications.” — Steven Siegel, MD, PhD, Chief Mental Health and Wellness Officer and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Keck Medicine of USC
“While ensuring you don’t run out before your next scheduled appointment is prudent, accumulating medications beyond prescribed amounts is not advisable.” — Laura Hack, MD, PhD, Director of Novel & Precision Neurotherapeutics at the Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness

Find more of your peers' perspectives and insights below.

A recent executive order from The White House states that RFK’s Make America Healthy Again Commission will “assess the prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.”^[]

Experts respond

“Depression and anxiety are serious, potentially lethal public health challenges, with severe depression causing disability comparable to untreated cancer,” Laura Hack, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Director of Novel & Precision Neurotherapeutics at the Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness, tells MDLinx. “SSRIs remain a cornerstone treatment, providing substantial benefits when appropriately prescribed.”

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She notes that, in recent years, the prevalence of SSRI use has risen—so scrutiny of potential over-prescription may be warranted. “The idea of assessing the use of [SSRIs] could be valuable if conducted with scientific rigor and a commitment to minimizing bias and improving outcomes,” Dr. Hack says. “However, a robust assessment must take a broad view and provide strategies for mitigation of issues.”

The problem with stockpiling

While the Commission has not explicitly stated whether medications like SSRIs will be restricted, experts have noted that patients may be concerned about accessing medications. Most agree that the stockpiling medications is not appropriate and should be avoided.

“You should get the prescriptions from your physician that you need so you have the appropriate amount in your possession for what you have right now,” Steven Siegel, MD, PhD, Chief Mental Health and Wellness Officer at Keck Medicine of USC and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, tells MDLinx. “We shouldn't let this shock and awful campaign by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration scare people into doing things that are not appropriate or in their best interest. So I would not encourage people to stockpile medications.”

"One, they have expiration dates. Two, we're not there yet… Hopefully we'll never get there."

— Steven Siegel, MD, PhD

SSRI state of the union

Currently, SSRIs are available, and there is no immediate threat to access.

SSRIs are not controlled substances, and it is unlikely that the drugs will be banned or restricted overnight, Dr. Hack says.

Like Dr. Siegel, she advises against stockpiling SSRIs, noting that this could lead to medication waste, supply shortages, and improper self-medicating. “While ensuring [that] you don’t run out before your next scheduled appointment is prudent, accumulating medications beyond prescribed amounts is not advisable,” says Dr. Hack.

What can physicians do?

Dr. Hack says physicians will play an important role in reassuring patients should there be any SSRI access issues in the future.

Physicians can give patients clear written instructions on medication use—including what to do if a dose is missed or if tapering is needed—discuss alternative treatments with pros and cons, and explain how lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and sleep can support symptom management, according to Dr. Hack.

“Connect families with support resources, including therapists, support groups, and educational materials. Emphasize partnership with a consistent message: 'We’ll navigate any changes together. You won’t have to figure this out alone,'” she says.