RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The sale of antidepressants and mood stabilizers had a significant increase over the past year.
A survey from the National Council of Pharmacies shows that nearly 100 million boxes of prescription drugs were sold in all of 2020 – a 17% hike compared to the preceding 12 months.
“The research seems to show a link between social health determinants and the increase in drug consumption. There is a trend for people to feel that several aspects of social life can be treated with medication,” explains the organization’s consultant, Wellington Barros.
There are states in which consumption of antidepressants was even higher than the Brazilian average, according to region. Amazonas and Ceará, which are experiencing a public health crisis, lead the ranking in consumption rises during the pandemic (29%).
Next came Maranhão (27%) and Roraima (26%). The state of Pará ranks 5th (25%). Among the main economic capitals in the country, São Paulo ranks 18th and Rio de Janeiro ranks 20th.
Experts say that the surge in the use or dependence on medication for anxiety control may also be linked to the socioeconomic development of each Brazilian region. Moreover, unemployment, the incidence of Covid-19 deaths, and confinement in quarantine have increased anxiety levels among the population.
“It was expected,” says psychiatrist and researcher at the University of São Paulo (USP), Márcio Bernik. “In the medical literature throughout the year 2020, everyone was talking about a third wave of illness as secondary to Covid-19. This would be mental illness related to stress from social isolation, fear of loved ones dying, loss of income, and loss of job prospects,” he explains.
According to the specialist, patients with symptoms of depression and anxiety stopped seeking help during the pandemic and the data show that only a part of the population received the required care. “It’s good that some people managed to have a prescription in hand, because the vast majority did not get to that point,” says Bernik.
Source: CNN Brasil