According to the latest data, the demand for antidepressants in Ukraine has increased by 47% compared to previous years. This was a result of the high level of stress and psychological strain caused by the war and social upheavals. Ukrainians began to turn to psychiatrists and psychotherapists more often, as well as buy medications to alleviate their psycho-emotional state.
Due to war, stress, and seasonal illnesses, demand for mental health and prevention products has increased in Ukraine. According to analysts at the Liki24 service, this year the demand for antidepressants has increased by 46%, and for vitamins - by 45.5%, compared to 2023.
It is noted that these categories have become growth leaders, traditionally second only to seasonal flu drugs (50%), sore throat (48%), and runny nose (46%).
“Antidepressants are generally among the top 10 most popular drug groups by order volume as of February 24, 2022, along with painkillers, high blood pressure medications, joint and muscle pain medications, and sedatives,” the study says.
According to Liki24, in 2024, Ukrainians increased their purchases of the following medicines:
Seasonal medicines
- Cold medicines: in 2024, they were purchased 46% more than in 2023.
- Sore throat medicine (+48%).
- Flu medicine (+50%).
Mental health resources
- Antidepressants (+46%).
- Vitamins and mineral complexes (+46%).
Medications for chronic diseases
- Analgesics or painkillers (+40%).
- High blood pressure medications (+11%).
It is noted that Ukrainians began to spend more on imported drugs, but buy them in smaller quantities. Thus, this year, Ukrainians' spending on foreign drugs amounted to 22% of all users' spending on ordering drugs. Since 2023, this share has increased by 1%, while the number of imported drugs purchased has decreased from 38% to 36%.
“This may indicate that Ukrainians have become a little more trusting in affordable Ukrainian-made medicines for daily needs, while foreign ones are purchased for narrow requests,” analysts believe.
What has been bought the most since the start of the war?
Analysts also analyzed which groups of drugs Ukrainians bought the most since the start of the full-scale invasion. The top 10 groups of drugs by volume of orders from February 2022 to November 2024 included:
- Analgesics (for quick pain relief, indispensable in a first aid kit).
- Antihypertensives (to control high blood pressure due to stress).
- For joints and muscles (relieve pain and inflammation during exertion).
- Medicines for colds.
- Throat preparations.
- Antiseptics (for disinfection and infection prevention).
- Calming (helps reduce stress and anxiety).
- Anticoagulants (prevent blood clots and reduce the risk of stroke).
- Vitamin D.
- Antianginal (prevent heart attack).
Liki24 also cited an interesting fact regarding the demand for potassium iodide, which increased significantly after nuclear threats from the Russian Federation.
“The demand for Potassium Iodide in terms of 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 declined until October (21.2%),” the study said.
Then, in 2023, there was a sharp surge, in particular, demand in June was 82.8%, then it also declined rapidly. This year, demand for this tool has decreased by almost 98%, compared to 2022.
Rising drug prices
Inflation, rising prices for raw materials and fuel year after year cause prices, including for medicines, to rise.
According to analysts, over the past three years, the cost of medicines has increased unevenly:
- 2021 – moderate growth of 9.31%. Market conditions were stable before the full-scale invasion.
- 2022 – sharp jump to 19.7%. Start of a major war, supply disruptions, inflation.
- 2023 – growth of 18.99%.
- 2024 – growth rates slowed to 10.81%. Market prices are stabilizing.
“Drug prices grew more slowly in 2024. This is a good trend, but double-digit growth rates are still a worrying signal. Medicines should be accessible to everyone,” the experts noted.
It is noted that from 2021 to 2024, the composition of the pharmacy basket changed, although the number of drugs in one order remained stable - 3-5 units.
According to the service, in 2021, orders consisted mainly of basic medicines: painkillers, cold remedies, and medications for chronic diseases. In 2024, vitamins, sedatives, and antidepressants were added to these categories. And the average cost of an order increased from 700-900 UAH in 2021 to 1200-1400 UAH in 2024.
