# Give antidepressant patients a safety leaflet in 2027

> “Finally, a supporting safety (ancillary) leaflet is being developed by the MHRA with the wider healthcare system, which will be given to patients at their first appointment discussing antidepressants. It will describe the key risks and benefits to support informed decision making about their treatment. This safety leaflet will also be given to patients who are already receiving antidepressants. This will be available in 2027.”
>
> — HM Government; Press release (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), 15 October 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Health](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/health)
- **Speaker:** [HM Government](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/hm-government)
- **Made on:** 15 October 2026
- **Where:** Press release (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency)
- **Deadline:** 31 December 2027
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** Patients starting antidepressants, and patients already taking them
- **When:** In 2027
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-introduces-new-safeguards-to-strengthen-antidepressant-safety-information-following-major-review (checked word for word at its source on 18 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 19 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-antidepressant-safety-leaflet-2027

## Where it stands

The leaflet follows a review, started by the Commission on Human Medicines, of how leaflets explain the risks of suicidal thoughts and behaviours and of sexual dysfunction that continues after treatment stops. The same release says patient information leaflets will carry a new boxed warning and, for certain antidepressants, the term Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction. 2027 is read as the end of 2027. The card moves when the leaflet is published.

## Timeline

- 15 October 2026, Promised: The medicines regulator says a safety leaflet for antidepressant patients will be available in 2027
- 31 December 2027, Deadline (to come): Antidepressant safety leaflet due to be available in 2027

## About the cost

No cost has been published.

## Sources

- [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency press release, 15 Oct 2026: MHRA introduces new safeguards to strengthen antidepressant safety information following major review](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-introduces-new-safeguards-to-strengthen-antidepressant-safety-information-following-major-review)

## Checks

- Verified by Pavel Guzhikov, checked by AI Journalist; approved on 19 October 2026.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 18 October 2026.

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