According to the latest data, the demand for antidepressants in Ukraine has increased by 47% compared to previous years. This was the result of high levels of stress and psychological strain caused by war and social upheaval. Ukrainians began to turn more to psychiatrists and psychotherapists, as well as to buy medicines to ease their psycho-emotional state.
Due to war, stress and seasonal diseases in Ukraine, the demand for mental health and its prevention has increased. As the analysts of the Liki24 service reported, this year the demand for antidepressants grew by 46%, and for vitamins - by 45.5%, compared to 2023.
It is noted that these categories have become the leaders of growth, traditionally yielding only to seasonal medicines for flu (50%), sore throat (48%) and colds (46%).
"Antidepressants overall are among the top 10 most popular drug groups by order volume since February 24, 2022, along with pain relievers, high blood pressure medications, joint and muscle pain medications, and sedatives," the study said.
According to Liki24, in 2024 Ukrainians increased their purchase of the following medicines:
Seasonal medicines
- Medicines against the common cold: in 2024, they were bought by 46% more than in 2023.
- Medicines against sore throat (+48%).
- Medicines against the flu (+50%).
Means for mental health
- Antidepressants (+46%).
- Vitamins and mineral complexes (+46%).
Medicines for chronic diseases
- Analgesics or painkillers (+40%).
- Medicines for high blood pressure (+11%).
It is noted that Ukrainians began to spend more on imported drugs, but buy them in smaller quantities. So, this year, Ukrainians' spending on foreign medicines accounted for 22% of all users' spending on ordering medicines. Since 2023, this share has increased by 1%, while the number of purchased imported drugs has decreased from 38% to 36%.
"This may indicate that Ukrainians have become a little more confident in affordable Ukrainian-made medicines for daily needs, while foreign ones are bought for narrow requests," analysts believe.
What was bought the most since the beginning of the war
Analysts also analyzed which groups of drugs were bought the most by Ukrainians since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The top 10 drug groups by order volume from February 2022 to November 2024 included:
- Analgesics (for quick pain relief, indispensable in a first-aid kit).
- Antihypertensive (to control high blood pressure against the background of stress).
- For joints and muscles (relieve pain and inflammation during exercise).
- Medicines against the common cold.
- Preparations for the throat.
- Antiseptics (for disinfection and prevention of infections).
- Sedative (help reduce stress and anxiety).
- Anticoagulants (prevent blood clots and reduce the risk of stroke).
- Vitamin D.
- Antianginal (prevent heart attack).
Also, Liki24 cited an interesting fact about the demand for potassium iodide, which increased significantly after the nuclear threats from the Russian Federation.
"The demand for Potassium Iodide by the number of orders in 2022 grew by almost 5,000% compared to 2021. In 2022, the peak demand for Potassium Iodide was in August (41.2%), it exceeded the average monthly demand by 250 times and gradually decreased until October (21.2%), the study said.
Then, in 2023, there was a sharp surge, in particular, the demand in June was 82.8%, then it dropped just as sharply. This year, the demand for this tool has decreased by almost 98% compared to 2022.
Rising drug prices
Inflation, rising prices of raw materials and fuel year after year affect the fact that prices, including those for medicines, are rising.
According to analysts, over the past three years, the cost of drugs has increased unevenly:
- 2021 - moderate growth of 9.31%. Before the full-scale invasion, market conditions were stable.
- 2022 – a sharp jump to 19.7%. The start of a major war, supply disruptions, inflation.
- 2023 - growth by 18.99%.
- 2024 - the growth rate slowed down to 10.81%. Market prices are stabilizing.
"Drug prices grew more slowly in 2024. This is a good trend, but double-digit percentage growth is still a red flag. Medicines should be available to everyone," the experts noted.
It is noted that the composition of the pharmacy basket changed from 2021 to 2024, although the number of drugs in one order remained stable - 3-5 units.
According to the service, in 2021 the orders consisted mainly of basic medicines: painkillers, cold remedies, medicines against chronic diseases. In 2024, vitamins, sedatives, and antidepressants were added to these categories. And the average cost of an order increased from UAH 700-900 in 2021 to UAH 1200-1400 in 2024.
