Sales of antidepressants in Russia soared to an unprecedented 16.1mn packages from January to November 2024, a year-on-year increase of 16.8%, according to data from DSM Group.

The figure surpassed the previous record set in 2022, when 13mn packages were sold, Kommersant reported, citing DSM Group data.

Demand for antidepressants has surged since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which has been reported as a cause for increasing widespread stress and anxiety. An expert from the pharmaceutical industry, quoted by the outlet, also attributed the rise partly to evolving medical practices, with Russian doctors now more inclined to prescribe antidepressants instead of sedatives and tranquillisers that were more commonly used during the Soviet era.

In monetary terms, antidepressant sales totalled RUB13.5bn ($131mn), a 31.9% increase compared to 2023, driven by an 11% rise in medication prices amidst a national inflation rate of 9.5%. The heightened demand has caused periodic shortages of popular medications, such as Zoloft, which saw sales skyrocket by over 300% in 2024. Supply chain disruptions and Western sanctions have also exacerbated shortages, pushing prices higher.

While Zoloft remains one of the most sought-after antidepressants, alternatives such as Amitriptyline and Fluoxetine are also widely used, according to industry sources.

This trend dates back to the early weeks of March 2022, shortly after the conflict in Ukraine escalated, when sales of antidepressants saw a dramatic uptick. Analysts speaking to Kommersant suggested that the surge reflects a cultural shift in attitudes towards mental health, with more Russians now turning to medical treatment rather than traditional remedies.

Mental health diagnoses have also surged. In July 2024, the independent Russian news outlet iStories reported, citing Ministry of Health data, that 460,400 people were diagnosed with mental disorders in 2023. This figure surpassed pre-COVID levels, marking the highest incidence in a decade. Experts link this increase to the stress caused by the war in Ukraine and lingering effects of long COVID (post-COVID syndrome).