While Rogan attributed Von’s comments to his medication, medical literature does not list delusional thinking as a side effect of SSRIs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Podcaster](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2246876163.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
On his most recent podcast, Rogan referenced an incident last year when Von was recording a Netflix comedy special and told the audience, \u201cI’m trying not to take my own life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Von later spoke about the incident on his podcast and said that he was not suicidal but had stopped taking his medication ahead of filming as he wanted to \u201chave more feelings during the show,\u201d which left him feeling \u201cmildly manic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rogan said about Von\u2019s suicidal comment: \u201cYou hear stuff like that, and you just go like, ‘Oh, Jesus Christ.’ I’ve known too many people that I didn’t think were going to kill themselves and then did.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then he goes down these spirals where he starts talking about world events and freaking out. I’m like, ‘Oh, Jesus Christ.’ Like, I got to help this dude. And so I send him things about people getting off of them,\u201d Rogan said, referring to Von\u2019s use of SSRIs.<\/p>\n
Rogan added that while he knows some people who have benefited from using SSRIs, he knows others who have taken their lives while on medication and speculated a link, explaining that suicidal ideation can be a potential side-effect.<\/p>\n
He went on to challenge the idea that depression is linked to a chemical imbalance, which is a common reason for prescribing SSRIs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s the thing about that chemical imbalance thing: that\u2019s not real,\u201d Rogan claimed.<\/p>\n
\u00a0What The Science Says About SSRIs<\/strong><\/p>\n SSRIs are widely used antidepressants that have been studied in hundreds of clinical trials.\u00a0<\/p>\n A widely cited piece of research is The Lancet\u2019s 2018 network meta-analysis of 21 antidepressants, which found them to be more effective than placebo for the acute treatment of adults with major depressive disorder, with effectiveness ranging from small to moderate.<\/p>\n However, research also identifies some risks. An FDA safety review of clinical trial data found an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and adolescents\u2014about 4 percent on antidepressants vs 2 percent on placebo\u2014particularly early in treatment.<\/p>\n The FDA guidance<\/a> noted that clinicians and families must balance this risk against the risks of untreated illness and monitor closely during the early stages of treatment.<\/p>\n Studies have also shown risks of withdrawal symptoms when stopping SSRIs, including a 2019 Lancet Psychiatry paper.<\/p>\n Overall, the evidence supports SSRIs as effective for many people with depression, but with a range of risks that vary depending on dose, age, and individual medical circumstances.<\/p>\n What to Know About Long-Term SSRI Effects<\/p>\n SSRI Skepticism<\/p>\n Backlash against SSRIs has surged in recent years, particularly in right-wing and “wellness” circles. <\/p>\n Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently announced several initiatives<\/a> that aim to reduce the prescription of SSRIs.\u00a0<\/p>\n This skepticism was recently fueled by a viral video from Ella Emhoff, stepdaughter of former Vice President Kamala Harris, who questioned the lack of research on the long-term use of SSRIs and discussed the challenges of going off them.<\/p>\n While this video was widely circulated and cited by those skeptical of the medication, Emhoff later made a video<\/a> explaining that she was \u201cvery pro-SSRIs\u201d and said that they have \u201csaved her life.\u201d<\/p>\n What Happens Next<\/p>\n Von has not publicly responded to Rogan\u2019s latest comments, but after their podcast exchange in April, he wrote on X <\/a>about Rogan: \u201che just wants me to be healthy and feel cared abt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n