The 10 biggest antidepressant drug companies in 2017 are committed to providing the safest and most cost-effective solution for consumers suffering from mental diseases worldwide. According to Journal of the American Medical Association, one out of six Americans consumes psychiatric medicine and about 12% of these drugs are antidepressants.
Depression is a state of mind, where a person is sad and experiences loss of interest in things. It is a common and serious medical illness that can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
Depression is caused primarily by changes in brain chemistry. The condition is, therefore, treatable and according to statistics, 80%-90% of patients are cured by treatment. Genetics, changes in hormone levels, medical conditions, difficult life circumstances etc. are the other factors contributing to the onset of depression. Medications play a vital role in the treatment and the 10 biggest antidepressant drug companies in 2017 manufacture some of the best drugs consumed worldwide.
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The depression medication is available in different chemical combinations ranging from Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These antidepressants add specific chemicals in the human body which then reacts with one’s hormones to produce the desired effects. However, antidepressants also have potential side effects like nausea, weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, loss of sexual desire etc.
According to WHO, about 350 million people worldwide are affected by depression. According to a report by Zion Research, the global antidepressants market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 2.5% between 2015 and 2020. Prozac which was launched in the late 1980s and 90s revolutionized the whole antidepressant market. Since then, the USA FDA has approved many other anti-depression medications. SSRIs proved to be huge cash generators for the industry, however, the ‘big pharma’ stopped their R&D activities around psychiatric drugs as cheap generic competition crept in. In fact, the number of drugs developed by large companies for brain and CNS disorders fell by 50% over the last five years, according to NeuroPerspective. Many of these large pharma companies also got involved in lawsuits for illegally promoting the sale of these antidepressants.
According to our list of the 15 most depressed countries in the world in 2017, India is the most depressed country with over 50 million people suffering from depression. The Asia Pacific region is expected to show moderate growth due to an increasing population, rising consumerism, and approval for marketing the medicine.
Starting on the next page, we have listed the 10 biggest antidepressant drug companies in 2017. We found out the most prescribed and consumed antidepressant medicines using various sources, such as Consumer Health Digest, Verywell.com, Newsmax.com and Research and Markets. Based on the most common choices, we have listed the manufactures of those drugs and arranged them according to their last twelve months’ revenue. SSRIs, for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are the most commonly prescribed drug for depression. Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil manufactured by Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), and GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) (NYSE:GSK), respectively are the best selling SSRIs.
Head to the next page to begin the list!
