Rise of tranquilizers and sleep medications post-pandemic
Due to the Covid-19 health crisis, levels of anxiety, insomnia, depression and other mental health-related disorders have increased by as much as 25% worldwide, according to a WHO report. As a result of these problems, both tranquilizers and sleep medications have been on the rise, over the past year.
Lack of sleep and its effect on health
Studies show that insufficient sleep decreases attention, concentration and memory. . In addition, lack of sleep also worsens performance and can even be a first symptom of anxiety and depression.
Sleep is a fundamental element for physical and mental health. But it is not enough to comply with a certain number of hours of sleep, it is also necessary to ensure its quality. Studies have shown that when the brain is deprived of sleep for a prolonged period of time, cognitive, memory and mood management problems are generated.
Mild cases of insomnia are commonly treated through natural means or sleep therapies. Acute cases, on the other hand, most of the time generate other problems such as anxiety and therefore require pharmaceutical assistance.
Among the safest prescription drugs to treat insomnia problems are benzodiazepines, which are hypnotic drugs with anxiolytic, muscle-relaxant, anticonvulsant, hypnotic and anesthetic properties. Popular drugs such as clonazepam, diazepam and lorazepam are found under this name.
Although well used, pain relieving drugs are very useful, they should always be prescribed and monitored by a health professional, since a bad consumption or an inadequate mixture of drugs can generate health problems and/or substance abuse disorder.
The boom in antidepressants
According to a study conducted by the Observatory of Addictions and Problematic Consumption, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in Argentina alone, the consumption of psychotropic drugs grew 4 times more than the average of drugs in general. Of these, clonazepam and alprazolam, which are sold by prescription, were among the most sold drugs.
In other countries such as Spain, the consumption of anxiolytics and antidepressants grew by around 6% in the last year, equivalent to 54 million boxes of anxiolytics and 45 million antidepressants prescribed.
The increase in the consumption of these products was also supported by the inclusion of mental health problems in the public health plans of different countries, especially developed countries.
Melatonin as an alternative to drugs
Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced in the brain when it is exposed to darkness, allowing the brain to transition between being awake and asleep; in other words, it is responsible for regulating sleep cycles.Melatonin is popular because it does not create dependence and has a very low risk of generating sleep inertia (waking up groggy or hungover). However, this does not mean that it is free of side problems if abused. Headache, nausea, dizziness and daytime fatigue are some of the adverse effects of its abuse.
A great opportunity for the pharmaceutical industry
As sleep problems and anxiety become increasingly prevalent and treatable in the world, it is imperative that the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries adapt to the new needs of consumers and health systems.
The most common format for drugs such as benzodiazepines and clonazepam is the tablet. However, over time, manufacturers have sought to develop their products in more patient-friendly and convenient formats and have explored suspensions and liquid-filled capsules.
On this point, LFHC (liquid-filled hard capsules) technology has several advantages, both for the patient and the manufacturer.
Advantages for the patient:
- Liquid formulations are more bioavailable than any other format and are therefore more easily absorbed by the body.
- Hard capsules can be of animal (gelatin) or vegetable origin and can therefore be adapted to different market segments, such as the vegetarian market.
- Liquid-filled hard capsules allow high customization, both in color and printing, so manufacturers can differentiate their products in a way that makes them easier for patients to identify. This is not achieved with any other format.
Advantages for the manufacturer
- When encapsulating liquids in hard capsules, it is not necessary to formulate the capsule structure, as is the case with soft capsules. This simplifies the encapsulation process and reduces costs and production times.
- This also makes the process of encapsulation of liquids in hard capsules possible in the manufacturer’s own facilities, without having to outsource the process or hand over the recipe of the formula to an outsider.
- High potency drugs, such as some of the common tranquilizers, perform better in liquid formulations, as they require fewer excipients and are more homogeneous in this medium.
In addition, they involve less risk for the manufacturer’s operators, as they require fewer steps in the mixing of ingredients and generate less risk of toxicity in the air.
Antidepressants and tranquilizers in liquid formulation
Currently, several products to treat insomnia and anxiety are available on the market in liquid formulas; an example of these is clonazepam.Melatonin, on the other hand, is more commonly found in gummies or softgels, but this does not mean that it cannot be formulated in hard capsules. In fact, the development of melatonin in liquid capsule form represents a great opportunity for manufacturers, because of all the advantages mentioned in the previous paragraph.
In conclusion
Sleeping well is essential for health, as a poor routine can generate health problems that can lead to more serious diseases such as anxiety or depression. Despite the fact that the pandemic has increased mental health and sleep problems in the world, different governments and public institutions are developing programs and treatments to counteract this trend.
For this reason, it is the task of the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry to develop products for insomnia and anxiety that adapt to the new needs and lifestyles of patients, being the format of hard capsules filled with liquid one of the most recommended.
References
1El consumo de psicofármacos aumentó 4 veces más que los medicamentos en general debido a la pandemia – DiarioAr https://www.eldiarioar.com/sociedad/coronavirus/consumo-psicofarmacos-aumento-4-veces-medicamentos-general-debido-pandemia_1_8369644.html
2Melatonin. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-melatonin/art-20363071
3Melatonina por forma: ventajas y desventajas de las píldoras, las gomitas y los líquidos – EVERYDAY HEALTH https://www.everydayhealth.com/melatonin/pros-cons-pills-gummies-liquids/
4Cómo afecta la falta de sueño a nuestro cerebro – Clinica NYR https://clinicanyr.com/como-afecta-la-falta-de-sueno-a-nuestro-cerebro/#:~:text=Dormir%20pocas%20horas%20afecta%20adem%C3%A1s,en%20esta%20%C3%A1rea%20del%20
