In this article, we will be taking a look at the 5 countries with most antidepressant users in the world. If you want to learn about more, head straight to 20 Countries With Most Antidepressant Users In The World.
5. Belgium
Annual Sales Per Capita (2021): $11.40
Belgium stands out globally for its significant number of antidepressant users, with over seven percent of the population consuming antidepressant drugs in 2018. The consumption of antidepressants has been increasing, with a rise of 2.4 dosages per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2021 compared to the previous year. Additionally, the 2018 Belgian health survey estimated a prevalence of depression at 9.4% among individuals aged 15 and above.
4. Greece
Annual Sales Per Capita (2021): $12.60
Greece, one of the countries with most antidepressant users in the world, has a significant antidepressant usage, with a 12-month prevalence of 7.2% in 2010, doubling over a decade. Z-drugs like zolpidem and zopiclone are commonly prescribed for short-term insomnia despite the risks. Zolpidem is the most prescribed Z-drug. Between 2018 and 2021, there were 1,229,842 prescriptions for Z-drugs, mainly among older adults and females, prescribed by specialties other than psychiatrists and neurologists. The average annual prevalence of at least one Z-drug prescription during 2019-2020 was approximately 0.9%.
3. Spain
Annual Sales Per Capita (2021): $15.10
Spain, standing third among the top countries with most antidepressant users, has seen a significant rise in antidepressant consumption, with SSRIs being the most used type, accounting for 4.99% of consumption. Escitalopram has surpassed citalopram as the most widely used antidepressant. Antidepressant non-adherence rates in Spain exceed 20% for medications like fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and vortioxetine. In 2021, 10.6% of the population used antidepressants, with 19.9% non-adherent. Fluoxetine, the least expensive, has the highest costs associated with non-adherence. Economic evaluation in Castile and Leon in 2021 focused on patients using at least one antidepressant that year.
2. Iceland
Annual Sales Per Capita (2021): $26
Iceland is globally recognized for its high rates of antidepressant consumption, far exceeding the OECD average. In 2022, Iceland was among the top users of antidepressants, with 106 doses consumed daily per 1,000 individuals and approximately 71 out of every 1,000 people using antidepressants. Estimated sales for antidepressants in Iceland amounted to approximately €4 million in 2010, with over 35,000 patients using these medications, highlighting a significant market.
1. Canada
Annual Sales Per Capita (2021): $31
In Canada, 5.8% of the population takes antidepressants, surpassing the prevalence of major depressive episodes, making Canada stand first among the countries with most antidepressant users in the world. Antidepressant use has substantially increased since the early 1990s but has shown a slowdown or halt in growth since 2012. The Canadian antidepressant drugs market was valued at $1.31 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow with the development of novel drugs.
Mental health and addictions accounted for about 7.2% of total healthcare spending in 2019, with the majority directed towards mental health services and prescription medications. Public spending accounted for approximately 70% of total expenditures, with depression affecting millions annually and an estimated 1 in 5 Canadians experiencing mental illness each year.
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