Can you guess the number of people with depression worldwide? You will be surprised to know the exact number. For example, do you know that one in six adults in the United States currently takes a mental health drug such as an antidepressant? This result is the findings from a recent study while evaluating data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. This result indicates that several millions of Americans have health challenges relating to emotional health and mental health. However, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) did not specify the specific medications and the length of its use. It is quite unfortunate that many of these people experience a form of adverse side effects while on these drugs.

DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE USERS OF MENTAL HEALTH DRUGS.

 It is worth mentioning that the use of mental health drugs differs among adults of different ages, sex, and race. For example, in the referenced study above, 21% of white adults reported having used a psychotropic drug, while 9% of Hispanic adults confirmed that they had used a mental health drug. Likewise, older adults reported a higher rate of psychiatric drug use. For example, 25% of adults with ages between 60 and 85 years confirmed that they had used at least one mental health drug. On the other hand, less than 10% of adults between the ages of 18 and 39 verified that they had used at least one mental health medication. Furthermore, nearly twice as many women as men reported having taken a psychiatric drug.

HOW TO ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY OF DRUG SELECTION.

According to the report, the two commonly used antidepressants are sertraline and citalopram. On the other hand, the third most common drug on that list is a sedative called alprazolam. The common factor in these drugs is that its users soon become dependent on the drug, which often increases their susceptibility to an adverse drug reaction. Hence, there is a need to begin the use of these drugs at the lowest possible dose and reassess the need for the medications as time progresses. Wait a minute! Can you guess how much time and human resource that will be wasted in the trial-and-error search process for a suitable drug that can have less or no adverse reaction? A simple test can identify a specific drug that is most suitable for patients. Click to receive our FREE report guide.   

REFERENCES

Miller, S. G. (n.d.). 1 in 6 Americans Takes a Psychiatric Drug. Scientific American. Retrieved April 27, 2020, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/1-in-6-americans-takes-a-psychiatric-drug/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(2020). (n.d.). Depression care among depressed adults with and without comorbid substance use disorders in the United States.  Retrieved April 27, 2020, from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/depression-care-among-depressed-adults-and-without-comorbid-substance-use-disorders-united