Number of young antidepressants users 4% higher

In 2020, community pharmacies dispensed at least one antidepressant to 51,000 young people between the ages of 6 and 24. This means that the number of users is 4% higher than in 2019. This increase is stronger than in previous years and is among young adults.

Prescribing antidepressants

According to current guidelines, doctors should be cautious about prescribing antidepressants to children and adolescents up to the age of 25, partly because of an increased risk of suicidality from the use of this medication.

In 2020, more than 51,000 young people between 6 and 24 years old received an antidepressant through the community pharmacy, 1.5% of all people in this age group. The majority are older than 18 years (87%). The number of youth users in 2020 is 4% higher than a year earlier, which is a stronger growth than in 2019 (2.6%) and 2018 (0.1%).

It is young adults who have started taking antidepressants more often, while the number of teenagers on antidepressants has actually decreased somewhat. These findings are in line with the results of a recent study by Nivel, which showed that during the second lockdown, GPs were more likely to prescribe antidepressants to young people.

First choice

For all patients starting antidepressants, regardless of age, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are preferred because of a more favorable side effect profile than the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).

Most commonly used antidepressant for adults and minors

Fluoxetine is the drug of first choice in adolescents under 18 years of age. In case of insufficient response, sertraline or citalopram can be used. TCAs have not been shown to be effective on minors and are therefore not recommended.

For people over 18, in addition to fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram and paroxetine are also suitable to start with. In line with the standards, the most commonly used drug by minors is fluoxetine, with 3100 users in 2020, followed by sertraline (1900) and citalopram (1600).

In young people aged 18 to 24, Citalopram leads the way with 9300 users, followed by sertraline (7800) and then fluoxetine (6900). Both top 5’s contain one TCA: amitriptyline. Because amitriptyline has more indications, it is impossible to say to what extent the drug is used in young people for depression.

Fluoxetine & Citalopram

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