1 In 5 In Co. Wexford Taking Anti-anxiety And Depression Treating Drugs

1 in 5 in co. wexford taking anti-anxiety and depression treating drugs

Up to one in five people in County Wexford are taking anti-anxiety and depression treating drugs. That's according to a special report published in today's ExaminerNewspaper. The report reveals that 1.436 million euro was spent on depression and anxiety drugs in County Wexford in 2012 under the General Medical Scheme. This amounted to almost 83,000 prescriptions being written for just over 13,000 of people in the county. They were prescribed one of five diffierent drugs for the treatment of anxiety and depression. The figures only cover those on the medical card sheme and do not take account of private prescriptions and those under the Drug Payment Scheme. Each patient used their prescription on average 6.4 times during the year. Today's figures show up to a half a million people in the country are taking anxiety and depression drugs on an annual basis.