Every two years, the World Health Organization (WHO) publishes a list of essential medicines, which are chosen because they "satisfy the priority health care needs of the population." Since 1977, the WHO has selected these drugs on the basis of public health relevance, safety and efficacy, and cost-effectiveness. Countries may use the list to help choose which medicines to have on hand at all times and in sufficient amounts for their population. In 2017, there were 433 core and complementary drugs on the list.
The list is arranged by therapeutic area, including a section of medications deemed essential for treating mental and behavioral disorders. Depression is a growing worldwide problem, with low- and middle-income countries accounting for 75% of all suicides. In the Americas region, the average suicide rate is 9.1 per 100,000, with the United States higher than average for the region at 14.3 per 100,000. Check here for a WHO map showing which countries have the highest suicide rates.
Here is the list of drugs from the 2017 WHO Essential Medicine List for mental and behavioral disorders section (subcategories 24.2-24.4), along with associated brand names and links to AskaPatient reviews. Not included in the table below are drugs for substance abuse or psychotic disorders. The WHO stresses that psycho-social (non-drug) treatments are effective for mild depression, while antidepressants might be used for moderate or severe depression. In addition, of the drugs listed below, only Amitriptyline was listed for pediatric use (and only for children aged 8 and up) as a complementary (not core) medicine.
Brand names | Rating | |
Depression | ||
Amitriptyline | Elavil, Limbitrol | 3.2 |
Fluoxetine | Prozac | 3.2 |
Bipolar disorders | ||
Carbamazepine | Tegretol | 3.4 |
Lithium carbonate | Eskalith | 3.7 |
Valproic acid* | Depakene | 1.3 |
Anxiety | ||
Diazepam | Valium | 3.9 |
Obsessive-compulsive | ||
Clomipramine | Anafranil | 3.9 |
*only 5 ratings Satisfaction rating scores from AskaPatient.com: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) 5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)
Sources:
WHO
20th
List of Essential Medicines
Update:
The WHO data shows that in the U.S., the
suicide rate in 2019 was 16.9 per 100,000 population, with a rate
of 25 per 100,000 population for males. The most recent suicide
rates by country and region are posted here:
https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/mental-health/suicide-rates
WHO 22nd List of Essential Medicines (2021). The next edition will be published sometime in 2023.