Stressed by coronavirus, more Americans resort to pills to beat anxiety, depression and insomnia: Report
More Americans are popping anti-anxiety and antidepressant pills to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, which has uprooted every aspect of their lives.
The number of Americans filling out prescriptions for anti-anxiety and antidepressant and anti-insomnia medications has shot up by 21% between February 16 and March 15, according to the report from Express Scripts, a Cigna-owned pharmacy benefit manager.
"It is understandable. Americans have grown increasingly anxious as they have seen this global pandemic upend their lives within a very short time. This analysis, showing that many Americans are turning to medications for relief, demonstrates the serious impact COVID-19 may be having on our nation’s mental health," the report read.
The report recorded the highest rise in prescriptions for anti-anxiety pills, which saw an increase of 34.1% between mid-February and mid-March. The use of antidepressants and sleep disorder pills increased by 18.6% and 14.8% during the same period.
Further, the number of Americans turning to these medications reached its peak around the time the World Health Organization(WHO) declared it a pandemic. The word "pandemic" could trigger worries. "Because it [pandemic] makes the threat more real, it can increase worries and anxieties. With increased worries and fears, we may also see an increase in feelings of depression," Dr Robin Gurwitch, psychologist and professor at Duke University Medical Center, had earlier told MEA WorldWide (MEAWW).
How do current trends compare with previous years?
The report tracked the use of these medications over the last few years and compared them with the recent data.
In doing so, it highlighted something striking: This recent surge has reversed the five-year decline in the use of these medications among 21 million people with employer-funded insurance. According to their findings, the use of anti-anxiety and anti-insomnia medications between 2014 and 2019 fell by 12% and 11.3% respectively.
However, this does not apply to anti-depressants. Over the past few years, more people are popping these drugs, especially teenagers. It found that from 2014 to 2019, the overall rise in the use of antidepressants increased by 15%.
As for teenagers, it jumped by 38%. There is more: About twice as many girls took these medications than boys in 2019.
"While the recent increased use of medications to treat anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders is sudden, it is encouraging to see our members recognizing the need for help and seeking support from their physician," the reports said.
Other reports have also thrown light on the rising stress in the country. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, the number of people worrying or feeling stress has increased to 45% in late March, up from 32% in early March.
The American Psychiatric Association poll from March found that nearly half of Americans were anxious about contracting the disease.
“During this time, it is important to do what we can to maintain self-care and manage the stress. I would suggest this for everyone coping at home as well as those who are still in their workplaces by necessity, especially the health care professionals on the front lines of this pandemic," said Dr Bruce Schwartz, the association's president said in a statement.