Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday rolled out a federal push aimed at reducing the use of certain psychiatric drugs, framing the move as part of a broader effort to address what he described as overprescribing in the U.S. mental health system.
Kennedy Pushes For Deprescribing
Speaking at a mental health summit hosted by the Make America Healthy Again Institute, Kennedy said the initiative would promote “deprescribing,” or the supervised reduction or discontinuation of medications, particularly among children, according to The Hill report.
“Today, we take clear and decisive action to confront our nation’s mental health crisis by addressing the overuse of psychiatric medications,” he said. The initiative will prioritize “patient autonomy,” along with “informed consent and shared decision-making,” while trying to move care toward “prevention, transparency and a more holistic approach to mental health,” Kennedy said.
U.S. Drugmakers Behind Psychiatric Drugs
The FDA approvals for these drugs over the past few years underscore the ongoing conversation about mental health treatment. Among some, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has secured FDA approval in January 2025 for expanded use of its Spravato nasal spray.
Initially approved only as a supplementary treatment for treatment-resistant depression, it is now recognized as a standalone option for adults with major depressive disorder who have not responded to at least two oral antidepressants, addressing a critical gap for the estimated 21 million adults in the U.S. affected by this condition.
Bristol Myers Squibb & Co (NYSE:BMY) gained approval for Cobenfy (xanomeline and trospium chloride, KarXT), an oral medication for schizophrenia in adults, in September 2024. This marks the first new class of medicine in over three decades.
The initiative coincides with Reviva Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc.’s (NASDAQ:RVPH) recent announcement regarding their schizophrenia drug, brilaroxazine, which is undergoing additional Phase 3 studies as recommended by the FDA. The regulatory update, received earlier in 2025, highlighted the need for further efficacy data and expanded safety information, demonstrating ongoing efforts in the mental health treatment landscape.
Eli Lilly and Co.’s (NYSE:LLY) Prozac and Cymbalta are also some widely prescribed medications for depression and anxiety.
Are Psychiatric Medications Overprescribed Today?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 16.5% of U.S. adults reported taking medication for mental health conditions in 2020, according to The Hill report.
As part of the initiative, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will produce a report analyzing national prescribing patterns. HHS leadership also circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter on Monday that argued psychiatric drugs “should not be understood as the only treatment option.”
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by a Benzinga editor.
Photo Courtesy: Joshua Sukoff on Shutterstock.com
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