# Does taking antidepressants prevent you from going into the military? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 1, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545 "2005-09-01T03:38:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wishbone\_Ash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Wishbone\_Ash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wishbone_Ash)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/1 "2005-09-01T03:38:26Z")
Is there any rule that prevents people who take antidepressants from going into the military? I don’t mean mentally ill people or nutjobs, just people who have been prescribed drugs for depression. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/2 "2005-09-01T04:02:52Z")
> [@Wishbone Ash](#): > > Is there any rule that prevents people who take antidepressants from going into the military? I don’t mean mentally ill people or nutjobs, just people who have been prescribed drugs for depression. Is there a way to be prescribed antidepressants without being mentally ill in some fashion? ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/3 "2005-09-01T05:35:32Z")
As far as I know, one of my friends was taking (and recieving through the military hospital) anti-depressants while enlisted in the Navy. ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/4 "2005-09-01T05:37:51Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Is there a way to be prescribed antidepressants without being mentally ill in some fashion? I believe there are some anti-depressants that are prescribed for sleep aid. They’re probably a last-ditch effort after trying the normal list of sleep aids, though. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@The\_Hook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hook)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/5 "2005-09-01T06:43:07Z")
> [@Electronic Chaos](#): > > I believe there are some anti-depressants that are prescribed for sleep aid. They’re probably a last-ditch effort after trying the normal list of sleep aids, though. They’re also prescribed for gastric problems. ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/6 "2005-09-01T07:38:13Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Is there a way to be prescribed antidepressants without being mentally ill in some fashion? Actually, yes. You can pretty much walk into a doctor’s office and ask for it, depressed or not. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/7 "2005-09-01T16:51:06Z")
Some anti-depressants are alsu used for OCD. I think milder OCD folks might do really well in the militray. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/8 "2005-09-01T17:15:37Z")
> [@Large Marge](#): > > Actually, yes. You can pretty much walk into a doctor’s office and ask for it, depressed or not. Depression is by definition a “mental disorder,” hence the mental health field’s bible reference source, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Whether you have insurance or not, your physician is required to “code” your visit. Prescribing antidepressants for depression would require a code that denotes some type of depressive disorder, by definition a mental disorder, conidtion, or “illness,” in earlier parlance. Given that people in the US military are a microcosm of society at large, it’s safe to say that tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel have been diagnosed and are treated for mental disorders, among them depression, anxiety, eating disorders, etc. The pivotal issue, I would guess, is whether your mental disoder or condition hampers your ability to perform your job. If you’re in an elite service or are a pilot, a diagnosis for a mental disorder might be a career killer. If you’re a candidate, such a diagnosis would probably preclude you from serious consideration. BTW, antidepressants have many therapeutic uses, including those described above. That said, your physician’s notes will almost certainly outline his/her diagnosis, thus explaining why some people–military and aviation personnel, among them–go to a physician using fictitious identity and paying with cash. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/9 "2005-09-01T17:35:35Z")
> [@Large Marge](#): > > Actually, yes. You can pretty much walk into a doctor’s office and ask for it, depressed or not. But will they actually give it to you? I think not! ---
**Author:** ![twhitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@twhitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twhitt)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/10 "2005-09-01T18:28:18Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > But will they actually give it to you? I think not! Some physicians will, yes. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/11 "2005-09-01T18:37:57Z")
> [@twhitt](#): > > Some physicians will, yes. I think most. Since, pretty much every kid I knew in high school got diagnosed with either ADHD, Bipolar, Depression or a combination there of when they got to a doctor and had something fun prescribed. The only people not popping meds are those who never went to a head “doctor”. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/12 "2005-09-01T18:51:23Z")
> [@groman](#): > > I think most. Since, pretty much every kid I knew in high school got diagnosed with either ADHD, Bipolar, Depression or a combination there of when they got to a doctor and had something fun prescribed. The only people not popping meds are those who never went to a head “doctor”. Anti-depressants are not “fun drugs”. They do not get you high, or give you a buzz. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/13 "2005-09-01T19:00:52Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Anti-depressants are not “fun drugs”. They do not get you high, or give you a buzz. I’m well aware of that, they’re still antidepressants, i.e. psychoactive substances. Caffeine doesn’t get you high or give you a buzz, but it’s still a “fun drug”. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/14 "2005-09-01T19:17:39Z")
> [@groman](#): > > The only people not popping meds are those who never went to a head “doctor”. Almost by definition, yes, though that doesn’t preclude GPs ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/15 "2005-09-01T19:40:24Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > Almost by definition, yes, though that doesn’t preclude GPs I don’t think it’s by definition. I’d say if 50% of people go to a psychiatrist, most of them should be sent home as healthy. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/16 "2005-09-01T22:21:49Z")
> [@groman](#): > > I’m well aware of that, they’re still antidepressants, i.e. psychoactive substances. Caffeine doesn’t get you high or give you a buzz, but it’s still a “fun drug”. No, but the effects of caffeine are immediate enough to be noticed. From my experience and the literature I’m familiar with, anti-depressants (disclosure: I was on Prozac for 3 months) are quite subtle drugs. They take time and usually it’s your family and friends noticing your mood getting better, not you. Anti-anxiety medications (Xanax and the like), on the other hand, _are_ immediate and obvious. (I took it for three weeks and couldn’t stand it. Way too strong for me. Eventually, the anxiety just worked itself out.) ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/17 "2005-09-02T07:16:48Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > But will they actually give it to you? I think not! Yes, they will, and they did. I have severe PMS like symptoms pretty much constantly, but am not clinically depressed or anxious, and don’t suffer from OCD. He prescribed one that had horrible side effects that were worse than the initial problem, and another that _made me_ depressed and anxious. After a month, I said “enough.” Honestly, I wasn’t that surprised at how easy it was to get. I think prescriptions are largely overprescribed. [sub]That doesn’t mean that I think most people are medicated for the wrong reasons. I think a large number of suffering people receive great if not necessary benefits from medication.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/18 "2005-09-02T08:30:48Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Is there a way to be prescribed antidepressants without being mentally ill in some fashion? well I think you would have to mentally ill to consider joining at the moment with a war on so I am sure its OK [ducks and runs] ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/19 "2005-09-02T08:53:02Z")
[This](http://www.military.com/Recruiting/Content/0,13898,rec_step04_questions_FAQ,,00.html#q9) says you have to be clean for a year before enlisting. I remember reading that the Marines wouldn’t take anyone who had _ever_ used antidepressants, but can’t find a cite just yet. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545/20 "2005-09-02T09:04:15Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > Depression is by definition a “mental disorder,” hence the mental health field’s bible reference source, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. I have been diagnosed as having “severe clinical depression without psychotic episodes.” Am I mentally ill? > [@Guin](#): > > But will they actually give it to you? I think not! I can summon spirits from the vasty deep! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-taking-antidepressants-prevent-you-from-going-into-the-military/319545.md?page=2)