From January through March, Russian pharmacies sold 3.6 million packs of antidepressants, totaling 2.9 billion rubles. This marked a record in the last five years, according to DSM Group data cited by the newspaper Vedomosti.
When compared with the same period in 2023, antidepressant sales in Russia rose by 45 percent in monetary terms and 33 percent in physical terms. In that earlier period, 2.7 million packs were sold for around 2 billion rubles.
Pharmacy Chain 36.6, which operates brands including 36.6 and Gorzdrav, reported that antidepressant sales at the Pharmacy 25 chain in the first 11 weeks of 2024 increased by more than 15 percent year over year, reaching gains near the 41 percent mark in some estimates. These figures reflect a broadening consumer uptake across multiple retail networks.
Internationally, researchers from Chun-an University in South Korea noted that Iceland, Canada, and Portugal have the highest rates of antidepressant prescriptions per capita among the 22 countries analyzed. The United States ranked fifth, while the United Kingdom was seventh. The study synthesized prescription data across the included nations to map global trends in mental health treatment.
In separate research, scientists observed that strength training can play a role in managing depressive symptoms, sometimes allowing for reductions in medication in appropriate clinical contexts. This complements medical guidance and underscores the value of integrated approaches to mental health care.
Overall, these findings highlight shifting patterns in antidepressant use—both within Russia and in global comparative contexts—driven by factors such as public health policy, access to care, and evolving consumer attitudes toward treatment options. The evolving landscape invites ongoing monitoring to better understand how pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies can work together to support mental well-being.