Happiness is . . . swallowing pills

30 July 2014 - 02:01 By Katharine Child
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Researchers find an increasing uptake of antidepressants across Europe in recent decades.
Researchers find an increasing uptake of antidepressants across Europe in recent decades.
Image: ©Nomad_Soul/shutterstock.com

South Africans are an unhappy bunch, according to a Mediscor report.

The company, which helps manage medicine claims for 50 medical aids, says that 11.6% of the 1million beneficiaries incorporated in its analysis used anti-depressants last year.

"This figure could [actually] be a bit higher," said Madeleine Bester, one of the authors of the report "2013 Medicines Review".

She said not all members claimed from their medical scheme for anti-depressants, instead paying cash for the pills.

University of KwaZuluNatal pharmacologist Andy Gray said: "There is a global debate on the use of anti-depressants."

Some psychiatrists argue the medicine is over-prescribed, and used in place of therapy.

Alternatively, the increasing number of prescriptions could mean depression is being recognised more frequently.

The spokesman for the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, Cassey Chambers, said: "One in three South Africans has a mental illness. A lot of South Africans are depressed.

"But we can tell from the calls we get daily, there are still a lot of patients who aren't getting treatment."

According to the report, the prescriptions that cost medical aid the most were for the treatment of high blood pressure (17% of members), diabetes (6%), and heartburn or ulcers (18%).

Bester said: "It is good that people are on chronic medicine for high blood pressure. If it keeps people healthy and out of hospital with complications, it is appropriate."

The report noted that medical aids' limited budgets were under strain and one of the causes was claims for new drugs for rare diseases.

The authors encouraged the use of generic medicines rather than expensive, patented drugs.

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