In the United States: 11% of people are taking antidepressants Antidepressants are the third most prescribed medication, and the first among 18- to 44-year-olds Antidepressant use has increased 400% over the past 15 years But many people who use antidepressants shouldn’t be using them, and those who should are not: only one-third of people who should really be on medication are using antidepressants, and more than two-thirds of those who use them are not currently depressed.