This article came out last week, but just caught my article today: Prozac Over the Counter? – TIME

The article makes some great points, so I definitely recommend reading it… but I of course have to give my two cents.

Why do I think that Prozac should NOT be OTC?  Well, my biggest concern, is that depressed individuals who would take OTC Prozac would not seek the help that they need — and they may very likely need MORE help than just an SSRI.  It’s hard to seek mental health treatment — while depression has become so common these days, there’s still a stigma attached to it.  If you could just go to the drug store and pick up some antidepressants, then you don’t have to take that first asking-for-help step.  Suicide rates are going to rise, because so many cases of depression are going to go unreported.  And this isn’t because they’re going to take the OTC Prozac and feel better — it’s because they’re going to think that a Psychiatrist can’t do any more for them.

Pills don’t make problems with psychological components go away. Take diet pills for example — they clearly have not ended the obesity epidemic or cured people suffering from binge eating.  They have caused a lot of heart attacks, though.

Do I think that it should be hard to get antidepressants?  No.  Do I think they should be basically free?  Yes.  (and Prozac practically is at Walmart!  Still waiting for the day when Wellbutrin is on the $4 med list… the day may never come…)  I do think it should SSRIs should stay prescription, though, because I think that someone should be somehow monitoring you at least a couple of times a year.