▶ Key Takeaways
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of medication that increases the amount of serotonin in the brain.
- Serotonin is the “feel-good” neurotransmitter; more serotonin available for signaling between neurons generally means a happier disposition.
- SSRIs are antidepressants used to treat anxiety and depression, but they are increasingly being prescribed to children who display unwanted behaviors in school.
- Natural therapies and treatments for anxiety and depression—and the spiritual dimension of mental health—are often downplayed in favor of the “quick fix” of pharmaceutical drugs.
- The number of SSRI prescriptions given to children between the ages of 3 and 17 more than doubled between 2006 and 2023.
- Between 20 and 30 million adults—approximately 16.6% of the U.S. adult population—regularly take SSRI medication.
- One of the most understudied and misunderstood side effects of SSRI use—and withdrawal from SSRIs—is post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD).
- Most SSRIs are required by the FDA to carry a black-box warning about possible suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and young adults, but no comparable warning is required for possible sexual dysfunction.
- Studies have shown that roughly half of SSRI patients experience at least one symptom of sexual dysfunction.
Sleep disorder.
Stress.
Fear.
Anxiety.
Depression.
In our 21st-century, high-pressure, performance-based American society, these physical and psychological maladies affect nearly everyone at one time or another.
But rather than address the real causes, most Americans are programmed to seek a quick fix:
• An internet search for an ad
• A quickly set up telehealth appointment
• A short conversation with a psychiatrist
• A prescription for a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor – an SSRI drug
The side effects of the drug? Not disclosed.
And the patient doesn’t ask about possible side effects.
The assumption is that the “benefits” of the drug always outweigh the side effects.
But the U.S. has the highest age-standardized rate of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from drug-use disorders.
Here are 6 things every parent and every young adult should know about SSRI drugs:
1. SSRI drugs are a national crisis that is robbing people of their lives.
The federal government has given pharmaceutical companies a monopoly over treating mental health in America.
Natural therapies for stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, etc., are downplayed as an effective alternative to drugs.
Social media advertises and pushes the drugs.
Psychiatrists push the drugs.
The medical establishment pushes the drugs.
The public schools push the drugs.
Nick Taber – writer, podcaster, and speaker about authoritarian politics – suggests American society too readily medicates children for “having valid responses” to unpleasant environments…
Unpleasant environments such as abusive family situations and a dehumanizing public school system.
And the Christian community – pastors, church leaders, Christian school administrators, Christian podcasters, social media influencers – are largely silent about the spiritual dimension of mental health.
2. The shocking prevalence of SSRI drug use among Americans.
SSRI drugs comprise about 70% of all antidepressant prescriptions given to Americans.
This amounts to more than 130 million prescriptions per year – including refills.
Between 2006 and 2023, SSRI use among children between the ages of 3 and 17 more than doubled.
A large survey in 2025 concluded that 16.6% of American adults – between 20 and 30 million take antidepressant drugs regularly.
3. The most common SSRI medications and how they work.
Here are the most popular SSRI medications:
• Fluoxetine (Prozac) – one of the oldest SSRI drugs. Used for depression and OCD. Approved for children.
• Sertraline (Zoloft) – One of the most widely prescribed SSRIs. Used for depression and anxiety disorders.
• Escitalopram (Lexapro) – common first-choice medication known for good tolerability.
• Citalopram (Celexa) – widely prescribed for depression and sleep disorders. Very similar to Escitalopram.
• Paroxetine (Paxil) – Used for anxiety and depression. Can result in higher side effects or withdrawal symptoms.
These drugs affect the way serotonin functions in the brain.
Most serotonin is produced in the GI tract – only 1% to 2% of this chemical is produced in the brain.
Platelets in the blood carry serotonin throughout the body and release it when activated.
Serotonin is one of many neurotransmitters in the brain that carry signals between nerve cells.
Normally, after transmitting a signal between brain cells, serotonin is taken back into those cells via a process called reuptake.
SSRIs block this process, allowing more serotonin to be available to pass messages between brain cells.
Why is this significant?
Serotonin – sometimes called the “feel-good” chemical – works throughout the central nervous system – the spine and the brain – to help regulate:
• Mood and emotional stability
• Sleep-wake cycles and sleep quality
• Appetite and satiety
• Cognition, learning, and memory
• Pain perception
• Sexual desire and function
• Stress responses, aggression, and other behaviors
But serotonin doesn’t readily cross the brain-blood barrier, so increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain that’s available for messaging can improve mood, sleep quality, cognition and memory.
4. The undesirable side effects of SSRIs.
Some of the possible side effects of SSRIs may include:
• Upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Sweating
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Shakiness
• Changes in appetite leading to weight gain or weight loss
But there is one additional serious side effect that’s a complete mystery to both psychiatrists and patients.
Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) is a condition that includes:
• loss of libido
• pleasureless orgasms
• reduced tactile sensitivity
• emotional blunting
• genital numbness similar to that produced by a local anesthetic
These symptoms can begin after only a couple of doses… and they can persist after medication is stopped.
At a MAHA – Make America Healthy Again – event earlier this year, one of the panelists testified she was 8 years old when she was prescribed an SSRI medication because her teacher said she was too fidgety in class.
Today she is 30 years old and is still tapering off of what she described as “a prescription cascade of antidepressants, benzodiazepines, mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, all before my 10th birthday.”
She said she suffered debilitating neurological injury from the drugs.
5. The FDA does not require an SSRI warning for PSSD.
Most SSRIs come with an FDA black-box warning that the drug may cause suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and young adults.
This possible side effect alone is reason enough for psychiatrists to avoid prescribing these medications to children and teenagers…
But there is also no federal requirement for psychiatrists to calculate the risk of sexual side effects known to patients before prescribing SSRIs.
The FDA does not currently require a warning for Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) to be printed on any antidepressants.
The MAHA panelist quoted above testified, “The label doesn’t warn you that these drugs can fundamentally alter your brain so severely that coming off may be impossible, or that even one dose can cause irreversible loss of emotions and the ability to feel love, leaving you chemically castrated and mentally lobotomized.”
Still, some psychiatrists feel comfortable prescribing these powerful drugs through casual mediums after brief patient interactions.
6. The medical establishment needs to do much more to communicate the dangers of PSSD.
PSSD needs to be studied and researched much more thoroughly than it has been so far.
And the dangers need to be communicated to parents of kids and teenagers who think they need to take SSRI medication.
Although PSSD is understudied and under-emphasized as a side effect of SSRI medications, it isn’t a rare occurrence.
In a 2009 study of 1,473 patients treated with Citalopram for up to 14 weeks, the following PSSD symptoms were reported:
• 54% experienced severely decreased libido
• 36% experienced difficulty achieving orgasm
• 37% of men experienced erectile dysfunction
Overall, nearly two-thirds of the patients experienced at least one sexual side effect of the popular SSRI medication.
According to a 2019 study conducted in the UK, 56% of patients who stop taking SSRI medications suffer withdrawal symptoms.
Almost half (46%) experience severe withdrawal, which can include “brain zaps,” restlessness, flu-like symptoms and other symptoms that often resemble symptoms of depression.
Conclusion:
Modern technology has compressed time by introducing incredible speed into our daily lives.
Research that used to take hours – if not days – in libraries, can now be done in minutes on the internet.
Communication that took weeks of waiting for a “snail mail” response can now be accomplished instantaneously via text messages or emails.
The instantaneous nature of modern American society leads to our expectation of a “quick fix” to nearly every personal health problem we face.
Couple this with the normal human tendency to choose the path of the least effort to solve a problem… and it’s no wonder that taking a drug for stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, etc., has become so popular.
People think all they need to do is treat the symptoms… the cause is irrelevant and can be ignored.
No thought or consideration is ever given to what’s going in a person’s soul or spirit.
Why don’t pastors preach sermons about the spiritual dimension of mental health?
Why don’t churches work closely with a local Christian mental health professional who knows what God’s word says about mental health?
Why not pair a personal mentor or coach with each mental health patient – in the same way the
AA program does?
Mental health issues are not some new modern-day phenomenon that didn’t exist in Bible times…
David certainly dealt with bouts of depression… as did Moses… as did Elijah… as did many others.
It’s no doubt true that some mental health problems are caused by a physical malfunction or imbalance in the brain.
In these cases, medication is appropriate and necessary.
But testing and evaluation is necessary to determine if medication is necessary – something that both doctors and patients don’t want to take the time to do when an instant remedy and a quick profit are the goals.
God’s word speaks to every area of life – including mental health.
We should study diligently so that we are able to accurately handle the Word of Truth. (2Timothy 2:15)
What do you think? Email me at [email protected].
Action:
Share the information in this article with family, friends, your pastor, and anyone you know who has a school-aged child who suffers from anxiety or depression or ADHD.
FAQs:
Q: What are SSRIs and how do they work?
A: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressant medications. They block the reuptake of serotonin (a neurotransmitter sometimes called the “feel-good” chemical) after it transmits signals between brain cells. This leaves more serotonin available in the brain to influence mood, sleep, appetite, cognition, pain perception, sexual function, stress responses, and other behaviors.
Q: What conditions are SSRIs commonly prescribed for?
A: They are primarily used for depression and anxiety disorders. They are also increasingly prescribed to children for unwanted behaviors in school settings (e.g., fidgetiness) and sometimes for sleep-related issues.
Q: What are the most common SSRI medications?
A: Common SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro), citalopram (Celexa), and paroxetine (Paxil).
Q: How widespread is SSRI use in the United States?
A: SSRIs make up about 70% of all antidepressant prescriptions, totaling more than 130 million prescriptions per year (including refills). Use among children ages 3–17 more than doubled between 2006 and 2023. A 2025 survey found that 16.6% of American adults (roughly 20–30 million people) take antidepressant drugs regularly.
Q: What are the common side effects of SSRIs?
A: Possible side effects listed include upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhea, sweating, headache, dry mouth, shakiness, and changes in appetite that can lead to weight gain or loss. Sexual side effects are also frequent.
Q: What is post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD)?
A: PSSD is a condition in which sexual problems (loss of libido, pleasureless orgasms, reduced tactile sensitivity, emotional blunting, and genital numbness similar to local anesthetic effects) begin during or after SSRI use and can persist even after the medication is stopped.
Q: Does the FDA require a warning for PSSD on SSRI labels?
A: No. Most SSRIs carry an FDA black-box warning about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and young adults. There is currently no federal requirement for a specific warning about Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) on antidepressant labels.
Q: Why is SSRI use a national crisis?
A: Pharmaceutical companies, psychiatrists, the medical establishment, social media, and public schools heavily promote drugs while downplaying natural therapies and the spiritual dimension of mental health. Brief telehealth visits and quick prescriptions are common, with limited discussion of side effects. The U.S. has the highest age-standardized rate of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from drug-use disorders.
Q: What are some things that can be done to mitigate the over-prescription of SSRIs?
A: Address root causes of mental health issues rather than treating only symptoms. Explore natural therapies for stress/anxiety/depression/sleep issues, and consider the spiritual dimension of mental health. Commit to thorough testing, evaluation and confirmation of any physical causes of mental health illness. Pair a personal coach or mentor with each mental health patient, following the AA model.
About Craig Huey:
Craig Huey is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and publisher of The Huey Alert and Direct Marketing Update. Craig appears on national media such as FOX, FOX Business, Newsmax and more. He also co-hosts The Huey Alert Podcast with his wife Shelly and helps business leaders, Christians, conservatives, libertarians, young people and more understand the intersection of faith, politics, and freedom.