Anti-depressant use in Scotland
- 1.2 million prescriptions were written in Scotland in 1992. By 2001, this figure had risen to 2.8 million. Yet the numbers of people who are depressed does not seem to have risen in this time.
- 40% more per head is spent on anti-depressants in Scotland than in England. This costs about £45 million each year.
- Fewer than half of those who start anti-depressants stay on them after one month. Many come off the drugs due to side-effects or because they do not feel they are helping. Anti-depressants often take 2-4 weeks before they start to help but side effects can start straight-away. In other words, you may feel worse before you feel better.
