Antidepressant sales up in Russia

From September 19 to September 25, the volume of sales of antidepressants in Russian pharmacies increased 2.2 times in monetary terms year-on-year, to 213.8 million roubles [$3.67 million]. Also, sales increased by 80 per cent in physical terms, to 289,200 packages.

According to the agency, since August 22, sales of antidepressants have grown weekly by no more than 77 per cent in monetary terms and by 46 per cent in kind, TASS reports with reference to the DSM Group.

Since the end of August, sales of these drugs have increased by 76 per cent year-on-year in monetary terms and by 45 per cent in kind, and since the beginning of 2022 - by 89 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively.

The DSM Group clarified that sales of sleeping pills and sedatives from September 19 to 25 increased by 41 per cent in monetary terms (274.8 million roubles - $4.72 million) and by 10 per cent in kind (2.3 million packages). At the same time, in the previous four weeks sales of such drugs in monetary terms grew by no more than 13 per cent, in kind - decreased by 8-19 per cent.

Against the background of the partial mobilisation announced in Russia on September 21, citizens began to buy first-aid kits. Two sources of Kommersant in the pharmaceutical market said that buyers come with lists of medicines and medical products issued, according to them, in military enlistment offices. In addition to antiviral, painkillers, diarrhoea medications, and bandages, the lists include, for example, hemostatics, tourniquets, hemostatic agents, and collagen sponges.