For the first time in years, the number of Belgians taking antidepressants is decreasing. Last year, 1,199,586 patients were prescribed medication for depression, against 1,202,040 in 2016, is what we read Monday in several Flemish newspapers.
Though the decrease is slight, Federal Minister of Public Health Maggie De Block (Open VLD) hopes that the process is underway.
In contrast, the number of daily doses has increased. A phenomenon in line with the new directives. For physicians are urged not to prescribe drugs too quickly for cases with mild or moderate symptoms. In cases of severe depression, however, patients must take their tablets long enough.
The Brussels Times
