Women, particularly younger women and adolescents, use antidepressants the most, with higher rates than men across all age groups, though older adults (60+) also show high usage. Globally, countries in Europe like Iceland, the UK, and Sweden have high consumption, while usage trends continue to rise, especially in younger demographics after the pandemic.
Prescriptions by type
In 2023–24 Antidepressants were dispensed to 14% of the Australian population (3.7 million people), Anxiolytics were dispensed to 3% (885,000).
Ben Affleck said he has taken antidepressants since the age of 26. During a February 2020 interview with Diane Sawyer of Good Morning America, actor Ben Affleck disclosed that he had taken medication to manage his mental health. "I get depressed," he said. "I take antidepressants.
As of 2022, about 4.5% of U.S. adolescents and young adults, ages 12 to 25, had received a prescription for antidepressant medication.
Women are twice as likely as men to take antidepressant medication (16.5 percent compared with 8.6 percent). Women are more likely than men to take antidepressants in every age group.
The typical length of treatment is 6 to 12 months, but some people may stay on antidepressants for much longer.
Antidepressant Addiction Symptoms
Iceland had the highest antidepressant consumption rate in 2010 and 2020 and the steepest increase. Besides the many reasons joined to other countries, this trajectory is probably due to high depression rates for both women and men [28].
Of the 310 respondents who had ever tried to stop an antidepressant, 37.9 % reported having been unable to do so despite trying one or multiple times, 8.3 % were currently in the process of trying to do so, and 53.8 % reported having been able to stop (Table 2).
Marijuana remains the most commonly used drug among Gen Z. Stimulant abuse, such as Adderall, Ritalin, as well as hallucinogen use are also on the rise.
Taylor Swift may be one of the biggest pop stars on the globe, but she's also been strikingly honest about her mental health struggles. From eating disorders to the pressures of fame, from alcohol use to anxiety, Swift has given fans entrance ticket into her inner world.
The Oscar winner revealed she was taking prescribed lithium while filming the 2018 remake of the musical romance during a busy time in her career, which also saw the release of her album Joanne and the accompanying tour, during which she experienced what she called a psychotic break.
Sheeran states talking to someone was “one of the best things” he ever did. Sheeran then stated, “Going on antidepressants and going to therapy is a positive thing,” hoping to urge other performers and musicians to care for their health when needed.
In time, the brain returns to a normal state after stopping antidepressants. If depressive symptoms do arise and gradually worsen, it's best to consult a psychiatrist or doctor if they don't improve within a few weeks or if they become severe.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): One of the most common mental disorders, GAD is characterized by excessive worry about issues and situations that individuals experience every day. Any worrying that is out of proportion to the reality of the situation may fall under this disorder.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
This class includes sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine and fluvoxamine. SSRIs are: the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in Australia.
If antidepressants work well for you, your doctor may suggest taking them for at least 6 months after you feel better. This may help keep you from getting depressed again. If you plan to stop taking your medicine, talk with your doctor first about how to do it safely. You may need to stop slowly over time.
The hardest antidepressants to come off are typically those with short half-lives, meaning they leave the body quickly, leading to more intense withdrawal (discontinuation syndrome); prominent examples include Paroxetine (Paxil), Venlafaxine (Effexor), and Fluvoxamine (Luvox), with Venlafaxine often cited for particularly severe withdrawal. In contrast, Fluoxetine (Prozac), with its long half-life, is generally considered the easiest to stop due to its gradual exit from the body.
What are the alternatives to antidepressants?
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. SSRIs are often used as first-line drug therapy, alongside psychotherapy. In fact, research demonstrates that combining psychotherapy with antidepressant medications improves treatment outcomes.
Older Women Use the Most Antidepressants, Survey Finds. In all age groups, antidepressant use was higher among women than among men in the years 2015 to 2018. Nearly one-quarter of women older than 60 who were surveyed reported taking antidepressant medication.
The United States is the most medicated country in the world and has some of the highest rates of heart disease, stroke, dementia, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety, cancer, and osteoporosis in the world.
People who take anti-depressants report lower levels of neuroticism and increased extroversion, in addition to a lifting of depression. The assumption has been that these changes in personality measures were the result, not the cause, of a lifting of depression.
Eating foods high in tryptophan (an amino acid) and vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folate (folic acid) helps in the production of serotonin. Including foods high in healthy carbohydrates helps to move these serotonin-building nutrients to the brain while delivering long-lasting energy.
Long-Term Treatment – For those with severe, recurrent depression or treatment-resistant depression, antidepressants may be used for several years or indefinitely. The decision to remain on long-term medication depends on how well the medication controls symptoms and the patient's mental health history.