Half of patients don't finish course of drugs

MORE THAN half of all patients prescribed medication for depression stopped taking their drugs before the course had ended, according to new research released yesterday.

When asked why they stopped taking their medication, two out of five patients said they felt better or didn’t need to take it anymore. The remaining patients said they believed the medication did not agree with them, physically or mentally.

Commenting on the research, Dr Jogin Thakore, consultant psychiatrist at St Vincent’s Hospital, in Fairview, Dublin, said the risk of depression recurring increased threefold if you stopped your course of medicine before it was complete.

“Many patients begin to feel better within a few weeks of taking their medicine and sometimes assume that their depression has gone away, but it is recommended that antidepressants are taken for a minimum of between six to 12 months,” he said.

Patients should carefully consider their options before going on antidepressant medication, according to Dr Mel Bates, spokesman for the Irish College of General Practitioners.

“It’s a big move to go on antidepressants and patients should think carefully about it before doing so, and they should expect to be on them for a year. If they baulk at that , it’s better that they do so before starting medication because relapse rates are much higher at six months than after a year,” he said.

On the wider issue about perceived over-prescribing of antidepressants, Dr Bates added: “Doctors were criticised 10 years ago for not picking up enough depression, now we are being criticised for over-prescribing antidepressants.

“Medication is just one way of treating depression. There are lots of other ways, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, but the problem for GPs is that they can’t prescribe counselling or therapy for medical card patients.”

Psychotherapist Greg White added that patients also needed to consider what could be seen as a positive aspect of depression. “All illness is a messenger and a good GP will ask his/her patients what is happening in their lives and sit down and have a chat about that.”

The pharmaceutical company Lundbeck, which carried out the research, has just launched an information booklet on how to take antidepressant medication properly. Mind Yourself – Keep on Track is available free in pharmacies and GP surgeries. It encourages those with depression to seek other therapies, go to support group meetings, take regular exercise, adopt a healthy diet and avoid alcohol. It is estimated that 400,000 people suffer from depression at any one time in Ireland.

• If you suffer from depression, talk to a healthcare professional or support group such as Aware on 1890-303302, www.aware.ie