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The number of NHS prescriptions written to treat depression has almost doubled in the past 10 years, official figures revealed today.

More than 70million lots of antidepressants were given to patients struggling with their mental health in 2018, up from just 36m in 2008.

The data revealed the NHS last year handed out more prescriptions overall than ever - dishing out 1,108,683,483 scripts.

However, the total it spent dropped by £336million, falling from £9.1bn to £8.8bn, which was the biggest single-year drop in spending for more than a decade. 

Unhealthy lifestyles and bulging waistlines remain the biggest driver of prescription meds, with those treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes making up many of the 20 most common.

There are also huge numbers of pills being dished out to treat depression, pain and asthma.

The number of items prescribed by the NHS has risen from 845.2million in 2008 to 1.105bn in 2018 - the total cost of prescriptions in 2018 was £8.8bn

People in England are taking more prescription pills than ever, NHS figures revealed today, but the health service managed to make its biggest financial savings for more than 10 years between 2017 and 2018 (stock image)

Annual prescribing data for the NHS in 2018 was released by the health service this morning. 

Three types of antidepressants are now among the 20 most commonly prescribed medications. 

Sertraline, citalopram and amitriptyline are all now among the most taken drugs in England - a total of 42.4million of them were prescribed last year.

And the number of the antidepressant sertraline hydrochloride packs prescribed saw nearly a seven-fold rise between 2008 and 2018 - from 2.1m to 14.8m.

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Share 35 shares Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'It can be difficult to determine why prescribing rates fluctuate.

'These figures could indicate rising awareness of mental health conditions in society, and that more patients are feeling able to seek medical care for them - as well as demonstrating an improvement in the identification and diagnosis of mental health conditions.'

The figures showed the NHS in England spends the most money on drugs to treat the brain - those for dementia, epilepsy, mental health disorders and pain conditions, for example. 

The category for central nervous system drugs was the most costly, with its medications costing more than £1.5billion.

It was followed by £1.3bn on hormone medications, such as those used to treat diabetes and thyroid problems, and including steroids and contraceptives.

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