Depressed? You’re Likely To Get An Antidepressant

This isn’t surprising. A new survey finds that 78 of those seeking treatment for depression or anxiety were prescribed antidepressants, but roughly half of those taking such a pill report being helped ‘a lot.’ Meanwhile, 91 percent of respondents who stuck with ‘talk therapy, reported this approach made things “a lot” or “somewhat” better, according to Consumer Reports, which conducted the survey.

The survey also found that older, often less expensive SSRI antidepressants - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Lexapro, Celexa, Prozac and Zoloft - work just as well, and with fewer side effects, than newer, more costly SNRIs, including Cymbalta and Effexor (see Consumer Reports cost data here). Last year, doctors prescribed $9.9 billion worth of antidepressants, a 3 percent increase, according to IMS Health.

“Our survey shows that a combination of therapy and medication works best, and that despite the intense marketing push consumers are subjected to,” Nancy Metcalf, senior program editor for Consumer Reports Health, says in a statement, “there is no evidence that newer drugs like Pristiq and Cymbalta work any better than older medications in their class.”

Among those taking SSRIs, 53 percent say they helped “a lot,” compared with 49 percent given SNRIs. As to side effects, 31 percent of those on SSRIs reported sexual side effects, 16 percent cited weight gain and 12 percent had sleep problems. Of those taking SNRIs, 36 percent reported sexual side effects, 22 percent had weight gain and 16 percent cited sleep problems. Wellbutrin, which is also known as Bupropion and is neither an SSRI nor an SNRI, helped 48 percent of respondents “a lot.” In terms of sexual side effects and weight gain, it was tolerated better than the SSRIs and SNRIs.