How many people taking antidepressant

Figure 3. Percentage of adults aged 18 and over who used antidepressant medication over past 30 days, by education level and sex: United States, — Access data table for Figure 3 pdf icon. Overall, during the decade between — and —, antidepressant use increased from A significant increasing trend was observed for women from — through — in antidepressant use during the past 30 days from The percentage of women taking antidepressant medication was higher than in men at all points over the year period.

Figure 4. Trends in antidepressant use over past 30 days among adults aged 18 and over, by sex: United States, — Antidepressant use was higher among women than men in every age group. Use increased with age, in both men and women. Almost one-quarter of women aged 60 and over Antidepressant use was lowest among non-Hispanic Asian adults, and use among Hispanic and non-Hispanic black adults was lower than among non-Hispanic white adults. More than 1 in 5 non-Hispanic white women took antidepressants in the past 30 days Overall and among men, antidepressant use was higher among those with some college education compared with those having a high school degree or less.

Among women, the pattern was the same, although the differences did not reach significance. Over the decade from — through —, the percentage of adults using antidepressants increased. This rise in use was observed among women, but not men. Antidepressant medication: During the household interview, participants were asked if they had taken any prescription drug in the past 30 days. Antidepressants were identified using the second level of drug ingredient categorical codes, specifically code So is it a good thing that so many more Americans are taking antidepressants?

Many perhaps most mental health professionals would say, yes, because depression has been undertreated and because antidepressants are effective. But there are also plenty of critics, as shown by this review in the New York Review of Books , who say the benefits have been overstated and that pharmaceutical company marketing is responsible for the surge in prescriptions.

What do you think? Has an antidepressant worked for you? Have the benefits been exaggerated and the side effects downplayed? As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.

This post is really helpful and got more ideas that gives me inner understanding about this matter. I think people are getting dependent on drugs because this made things so easy for them and not knowing that it does not give them a good outcome to can fix the real problem. Wow if that is the percentage of American taking anti-depressant pill that could be outrageous.

Does they consulted a doctor before taking those meds? I agree with others here. The zombie state is what happened to a friend of mine, and it is definitely worthwhile to seek an alternative. Great post. By the way, his situation worsened to the point of suicidal thoughts with the use of antidepressants.

That is why this experience left a bitter taste in my mouth. No disrespect to those that use antidepressants, but I am not a believer in that method in the least. I feel there are other methods and techniques that are adequate enough rather than resorting to pills. I had an uncle who used antidepressants, and his situation worsened significantly.

Again, I realize all is circumstantial, but I feel there is other methods one should seek to treat depression. Also, it is interesting to note that the placebo effect is statistically as great as that of many SSRI drugs. Perhaps that points to a way forward? But that does not mean that quick fixes will really work for most people, at least not on their owm.

I think there is a better treatment to all those tensions, frustrations, bad times and ill health. What better treatment can be than this. The easiest way to laugh is by watching funny videos.

The more you watch funny videos the more you can bring in smile in your face. So start watching funny and live longer. I am amazed at how many people take these anti-depresants. I truly think they are way over perscribed and to be honest is one of our problems causing health insurance to go higher.

Hi, I think that the antidepressant meds are a bless and a curse at the same time becuse it can be a real realif some time and then you realise how much damage you did to your body. So you are right :. So you are right : thanks! We can consider this post because there showing up of addictive information about an drugs.

We must control over an medicine on human body things so we must maintain the relaxations on the world Actually now a days more peoples taking about an drugs in the worlds or not? Eating or taking drugs just to forget problems will not help. After the effect of the medicine, here you go again and still drowning in your problem. The best way to is to pray and pray and pray. There are problems that is meant to happen because of some reasons. Thanks for posting this. Now I met a wonderful man and am enjoying life again.

Is there any connection between increased statin use and the prescription of antidepressants during this time period? The problems in this world are way to numerous to list, and so many cannot cope.

Add to this the fact that meds are way overprescribed and most people would rather take a pill than deal with the problem or fix it, and you have the drug-taking problems we see today. We need to get people off these drugs and have them instead facing their problems, rather than taking the easy option of a pill. Generally, the amount of people who take antideppressants looks too much.

It really got me back on my feet. For me it worth everything, even the many side affects. The usage of antidepressants has risen dramatically in the last 5 years. The survey also reveals that females are more likely than males to take antidepressant medication.

The questions on prescription drug use were asked in the household interview, and the questions on depression were asked in the MEC.

Questions were administered in English and Spanish. Of the 13, persons aged 12 and over who participated in the NHANES medical examination, analyses for this data brief included 12, persons with information on medication usage and depression severity.

Estimates by income group were based on 11, persons who also reported their family income. NHANES sample examination weights, which account for the differential probabilities of selection, nonresponse, and noncoverage, were used for all analyses.

Standard errors of the percentages were estimated using Taylor series linearization, a method that incorporates the sample design and weights. Overall differences between groups were evaluated using the chi square statistic.

In cases where the chi square test was significant, differences between subgroups were evaluated using the univariate t statistic.

A test for trends was done to evaluate changes in the estimates by depression severity in Figure 3 and by number of antidepressants taken in Figure 5. All comparisons reported are statistically significant unless otherwise indicated. Data analyses were performed using SAS version 9. Laura A. Debra J. Antidepressant use in persons aged 12 and over: United States, — NCHS data brief, no For example, studies have shown that mindfulness based cognitive therapy is effective at preventing relapse.

There has been uncertainty about the extent to which people experience withdrawal symptoms after they stop taking antidepressants. In our study, people who stopped their antidepressants after reducing the dose over two months were more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability and difficulty in concentrating, than those who continued treatment.

Our study only provides information about the average probability of relapse. We do not yet know why some people are able to come off their antidepressants and some cannot. Further research may help us to predict who can stop antidepressants safely.

Our study provides an estimate of the risk of relapse if someone carries on with long-term antidepressants or decides to stop them. These findings will help doctors and patients to make an informed decision together on whether or not to stop long-term antidepressant treatment.

Festival of Social Science — Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire.