antidepressants and joining?

[RHill9919]

Hi all. My doc recommended that I start taking some anxiety medication, an SSRI. I'm currently awaiting decisions from a few nursing programs I applied to.

I hope to join the Navy or AF for direct commissioning after I finish nursing school. Will being on an SSRI such as Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, etc. prevent me from being able to join as a military nurse?

A friend of mine who is currently active tried to go from enlisted corpsman to IDC and because he/she had been prescribed an antidepressant within the past year, the package was denied. He/she was told to wait one year.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

I think you'll need a medical waiver for that. As competitive as it is right now, I think you're going to have a hard time getting one. They require a medical waiver for GERD (requiring a PPI).

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Taking anti depressants aid a automatic disqualification if they have been taken in the last year.

[RHill9919]

Thank you!