Work

Private-Sector Sales Trends of Antidepressants and Antipsychotics in Costa Rica, 2022–2026: An Aggregate Analysis by Active Ingredient

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Aggregated pharmaceutical sales data can characterize apparent medication consumption and changes in market composition, although they do not represent individual prescribing or patient exposure. This study described private-sector sales trends of antidepressants and antipsychotics in Costa Rica from moving annual total (MAT) February 2022 to MAT February 2026. An observational, descriptive, longitudinal study was conducted using aggregated IQVIA sales data. Total defined daily doses (DDDs) sold were analyzed as the primary indicator, complemented by units sold and analyses by therapeutic group and active ingredient. Antidepressant DDDs increased from 15,299,281 to 17,976,312 (+17.5%), whereas antipsychotic DDDs increased from 1,078,635 to 1,476,810 (+36.9%). In 2026, escitalopram and sertraline had the highest DDD volumes among antidepressants, while quetiapine was the leading antipsychotic. Desvenlafaxine was the largest contributor to net antidepressant growth, whereas aripiprazole and lurasidone contributed substantially to antipsychotic growth. Overall, private-sector sales of both therapeutic groups increased, with distinct patterns across active ingredients. These findings provide a baseline for pharmaceutical market surveillance but should not be interpreted as estimates of total national consumption, public-sector utilization, individual prescribing, clinical indications, or actual patient exposure.

Source: Psychoactives

DOI: 10.3390/psychoactives5040027