Prescription drugs for mental health conditions in Jersey (FOI)

Request

​Please publish the data on the number of prescriptions issued for certain drugs over the past five years, broken down by year and by specific drugs within the categories listed below.

Antidepressants:

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs):
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)
• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs):
• Venlafaxine (Effexor)
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs):
• Amitriptyline
• Nortriptyline
  

Antipsychotics:

• Risperidone (Risperdal)
• Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• Quetiapine (Seroquel)
• Aripiprazole (Abilify)
  

Mood Stabilisers:

• Lithium
• Valproate (Depakote)
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
  

Benzodiazepines:

• Diazepam (Valium)
• Lorazepam (Ativan)
• Alprazolam (Xanax)
  
• Clonazepam (Klonopin)
• Temazepam
• Nitrazepam
• Buspirone
  

Stimulants (for ADHD):

• Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
• Dexamphetamine
• Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)

Non-Stimulants (for ADHD):

• Atomoxetine (Strattera)
• Guanfacine (Intuniv)
  

Medications for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Symptoms:

• Risperidone (for irritability and aggression)
• Aripiprazole (for irritability and aggression)

Response

Table 1 (HCS Pharmacy Data) details the number of prescriptions for the listed medications dispensed annually by Health and Community Services’ (HCS’) Pharmacy. Medications are listed alphabetically under the generic name (includes any branded medicines and all formulations). HCS’ Pharmacy dispenses inpatient medications and take-home prescriptions for patients being discharged, outpatient prescriptions, and those required for Emergency Department attendances and Day cases.

Table 1 - HCS Pharmacy Data (Annual Totals).pdf​

Many of the medicines specified are not exclusively used in the treatment of mental health conditions, but are also used for other indications, including epilepsy, pain and sleep disorders. The diagnosis / indication for treatment is not detailed against the prescription, and no central record is available to report the number of prescriptions dispensed specifically to treat mental health conditions.

Table 2 (Health Insurance Fund Community Prescription Data) presents the volumes and types of medicine dispensed by community pharmacies, as requested, for each of the years 2019 to 2023. 

Table 2 - Health Insurance Fund Community Prescription Data.pdf

The following should be noted:

• ​These data are for medicines dispensed in the community and funded by the Health Insurance fund, so exclude hospital prescribing (see Table 1) and private prescribing 
• Where there is no data available, this is because that medicine is not included in the Prescribed List and is not available to be prescribed and dispensed in the community as a Health Insurance fund prescription
• Data does not capture the reason why each of these medicines was dispensed and some are used for indications other than those stated, for example carbamazepine, which is principally used in the management of epilepsy
• Data are for all forms / brands / suppliers of each of the medicines, and don’t necessarily reflect use of the brand name in the request. ​