Many Older Adults Don't Take Prescribed Antidepressants

A study published in Family Practice suggests older adults prescribed antidepressants by primary care physicians often fail to start taking them or to continue using them as directed, reports Reuters Health . The researchers analyzed data on about 1,500 people at least 60 years old and diagnosed with depression in 2012 by primary care providers. About 14 percent of those prescribed antidepressants opted not to begin taking the drugs within two weeks. When they did start taking medications on time, about 15 percent missed doses at least 20 percent of the time and 37 percent stopped altogether within 12 months. Study participants tended to do a better job of starting and maintaining the prescribed drug regimen when they were already used to taking multiple daily pills for a variety of other chronic health issues. Persons already on multiple drugs were 11 percent less likely to fail to start antidepressants and 13 percent less likely to take them inconsistently. Side effects of antidepressants may have prompted some subjects to stop taking their drugs, as participants who experienced side effects were 22 percent more likely to take antidepressants inconsistently or cease altogether.