Pill fashion: Russians are buying antidepressants more often
Russians are no longer shy about taking antidepressants, and this has become one of the reasons for the growth in sales of such drugs. It is almost impossible to buy medicine without a prescription, and there will be no point in treating it without a doctor's appointment. How to recognize depression, how it differs from ordinary fatigue and in which cases it is possible to do without taking powerful drugs — in the material of Izvestia.
Who buys antidepressants
The number of sales of antidepressants in Russian pharmacies is growing at an accelerated pace, from 8.4 million packages in 2019 to 22.3 in 2025. The reasons that have caused a boom in this specific field of drugs include the accumulation of stress factors related to general political tensions, worries about problems in the labor market, and the fact that Russians are no longer shy about taking such medicines and contacting specialists who prescribe them.
Indeed, people began to seek help from mental health specialists more easily and willingly than before, confirms psychiatrist and psychotherapist Alexey Vilkov. If earlier complaining about emotional problems and worries was considered almost shameful, now this trend has even become fashionable, has become part of the lifestyle.
— And therefore, if a person officially turns to specialists in clinics (private or public), then the diagnosis becomes better, and anxiety and depressive disorders are diagnosed more often. This affects the growth in sales of antidepressants," the expert explains.
The psychiatrist notes that you should not take medications without direct indications, simply because the medicine helped a friend, acquaintance or relatives. This negatively affects a person's condition or the effect of their action is zero.
— All drugs have a specific focus, they are prescribed according to indications, — warns Alexey Vilkov. — You can not take medications according to your own understanding — it can cause severe side effects. Only psychiatrists or psychotherapists can prescribe medications.
What happens if people refrain from consulting with specialists or take medications on their own, following tips on the Internet or borrowing "magic pills" from relatives? Side effects usually include headache, nausea, increased drowsiness, general discomfort, and stool disorders. But if the problem is serious, then there is a risk of triggering the disease and pushing yourself to the extreme.
Strictly by prescription
Denis Prokofiev, a general practitioner with the status of "Moscow Doctor", emphasizes that in our country there are few episodes of using antidepressants on their own or on the advice of other patients, simply because they are difficult to buy. The expert notes that the use of antidepressants helps to cope with problems of depression, increased excitability and cognitive disorders only if their appointment and reception is under strict supervision of specialists. The statistics of high sales may also be influenced by the fact that antidepressants are used not only for mental illnesses.
— These drugs are also prescribed for such diagnoses as trigeminal neuralgia, facial neuralgia, sciatica, which is accompanied by chronic pain syndrome. They are included in the standard of treatment along with antiviral and anti—inflammatory therapy," explains the general practitioner.
Denis Prokofiev once again emphasizes that it is possible to buy antidepressants today only with a strict prescription.
How not to Miss Depression
The sooner the patient seeks help, the fewer treatment problems there will be. According to Andrey Vilkov, in order not to fall into a deep depression, first of all it is important to notice and not miss its first signs. The most basic is a steady decline in mood that lasts for more than two weeks.
— If longing, sadness and apathy prevail for only a few days, giving way to a more positive attitude, then this is not depression. This condition can be triggered by stress, general instability, or anxiety, but the person copes with it and lives on safely," the psychiatrist explains.
You should seek help if your mood has been steadily declining for more than two weeks and leads to serious problems: performance deteriorates, anxious, depressive thoughts appear, pessimism overcomes, and sleep is disrupted. When a person loses interest in life and previous activity, both he and others notice this.
— The sooner depression is diagnosed and proper treatment begins, the sooner a person will get out of her condition or achieve remission, — the doctor suggests. — Depression prevention is a normal healthy lifestyle, reducing overall stress levels, self—regulation, adequate sleep, adequate communication, minimizing negativity and solving those conflicts and problems that can cause psychogenic depression. That's the name of this type of disorder.
Separately, experts identify endogenous depression, which occurs due to a violation of the metabolism of neurotransmitters in the brain. Such a condition can "cover" a person for no apparent reason, and it is much more difficult to resist it.
— Heredity plays a role here, as well as a malfunction of the brain. But all the same, such depression can be triggered by some external stress, so in any case, a proper lifestyle and a healthy atmosphere in the family and at work are important. And when the first signs of mental illness appear, you should seek medical help as soon as possible," says Vilkov.
Do vitamins help against nervous exhaustion
Sometimes people with depression confuse nervous exhaustion and fatigue. In this case, you can bring joy back to life with the help of a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and daily routine. Denis Prokofiev also draws attention to the possible deficiency of certain vitamins and trace elements that affect a person's mental and physical activity.
With the help of special examinations, it is possible to determine whether there are enough of these substances in the body. It is necessary to eliminate the deficiency of iron, which is important for vital activity, B vitamins that affect the nervous system, vitamin D, which we need all year round, magnesium, which ensures normal sleep and good mood, and such a powerful antioxidant as vitamin E.
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