To evaluate trends in the use of antidepressant drugs in Lithuania between 2002 and 2004 years.

The data on total sales of antidepressant drugs in all Lithuanian regions over three years (2002-2004) were obtained from IMS Health Inc. Data were calculated by DDD methodology and expressed in DDDs per 1.000 inhabitants per day. DU95% was used as the quality indicator of the drug prescribing. The pharmacoeconomic analysis of antidepressants was performed by cost minimization and reference price methodology.

In Lithuania the total antidepressants consumption increased by 30,55% over three years (2002-2004) period reaching the value of 10,00 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day. Since 2002 the proportion of use of SSRIs has increased by 27,82% and the use of TCAs has declined by 10,78%, while the use of other (newer) antidepressants expanded almost three times. The expenditures of antidepressants has reached 26 mln Litas (in 2004 year), of which 68,15% was costs for SSRI agents. Setting the reference price of fluoxetine it would be possible to save costs by 60,7%, up to 18 mln Litas per year (1 = 3,4528 Lt).

The findings suggest that the use of total antidepressant drugs continues to increase because of the increased use of the SSRIs and other (newer) antidepressants. In comparison with the data in other countries the consumption of antidepressants in Lithuania is low. Due to high suicide rates in Lithuania and low consumption of antidepressant drugs we can assume that depression is diagnosed and treated insufficiently