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<p>Prescribing information is available from 1991; annual figures are provided from
1991 to 2014 for antidepressant prescription items dispensed and the net ingredient
cost (NIC).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p>The number
of antidepressant prescription items written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in
the community in England, as classified as antidepressant drugs in British National
Formulary (BNF) section 4.3, with the NIC – 1991 to 2014</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Items
(000’s)</p></td><td><p>NIC (000’s)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1991</p></td><td><p>8,953.9</p></td><td><p>£54,045.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1992</p></td><td><p>9,914.3</p></td><td><p>£81,117.6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1993</p></td><td><p>10,776.7</p></td><td><p>£98,829.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1994</p></td><td><p>11,816.4</p></td><td><p>£117,246.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1995</p></td><td><p>13,227.1</p></td><td><p>£146,832.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1996</p></td><td><p>14,960.6</p></td><td><p>£191,242.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1997</p></td><td><p>16,822.6</p></td><td><p>£239,120.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1998</p></td><td><p>18,424.5</p></td><td><p>£279,004.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1999</p></td><td><p>20,108.1</p></td><td><p>£315,269.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2000</p></td><td><p>22,021.8</p></td><td><p>£310,378.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2001</p></td><td><p>24,342.7</p></td><td><p>£341,660.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2002</p></td><td><p>26,329.4</p></td><td><p>£380,883.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2003</p></td><td><p>27,658.0</p></td><td><p>£395,178.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004</p></td><td><p>28,995.5</p></td><td><p>£400,681.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005</p></td><td><p>29,389.9</p></td><td><p>£338,546.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>31,038.0</p></td><td><p>£291,511.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>33,839.6</p></td><td><p>£276,107.6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>35,960.5</p></td><td><p>£247,355.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>39,140.5</p></td><td><p>£230,062.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>42,788.0</p></td><td><p>£220,372.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>46,677.8</p></td><td><p>£270,177.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>50,167.2</p></td><td><p>£211,145.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>53,326.6</p></td><td><p>£282,121.6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>57,147.9</p></td><td><p>£265,003.7</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>Source: Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system data provided by the Health
and Social Care Information Centre</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Note: The values
for NIC have fluctuated over the years; reasons for this will include: the number
of antidepressants available on the market, shifts in prescribing practice following
national policy and guidance, and the expiry of patents for some medicines and increased
use of lower priced generic alternatives. Price changes for generic medicines have
strongly influenced the overall costs in recent years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>Medicines should only be prescribed when necessary and in all cases
the benefit should be considered in relation to the risk involved. The options should
be discussed carefully with the patient.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The National
Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a range of clinical
guidelines, relevant to the prescribing of anti-depressant medication.</p><p> </p><p>Advice
on the prescribing of anti-depressants is available in the BNF, which is made available
free of charge to National Health Service prescribers. Best practice guidance may
also be produced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In
addition, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) ensures that
the product information available to all doctors and patients contains authoritative
and up to date essential information on how to prescribe antidepressants and on the
benefits and risks of treatment, including the risk of withdrawal. In addition the
MHRA issues updated advice as appropriate and communications to healthcare professionals
via the letters to healthcare professionals, the MHRA website and also Drug Safety
Update.</p><p> </p>
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