RBC: Imports of a number of tranquilizers to Russia have decreased, Russians are forced to go abroad for them

Deliveries of a number of imported prescription tranquilizers to Russia have significantly decreased, the most noticeable drop in the supply of sleeping pills “Somnol” and “Imovan”. This, according to RBC, is evidenced by the data of the analytical company RNC Pharma.

In January-October 2022, Grindex imported almost seven times fewer Somnol packages to Russia than in the entire last year. Sanofi imported three times less Imovan into Russia over the ten months of this year than a year earlier. Supplies of the anxiolytic Zolomax decreased by 2.5 times.

According to analysts, the drop in imports of foreign potent sedatives affected all brands, except for the Frizium palliative tranquilizer. The most affordable tranquilizer sold since the spring of 2020 in the form of a prescription for strictly controlled drugs was the domestic Phenazepam.

According to RBC, from the history of user search queries in Yandex, it follows that the number of queries for the word “sleeping pills” in November almost reached the March maximum.

Moreover, difficulties in obtaining strong sedatives in some cases force Russians to go abroad for them. Alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam are sold by prescription all over the world.

According to Ekaterina Palchikova, a psychiatrist and expert on the Doctor’s Directory platform, the number of Russians’ visits to psychiatrists this year has increased sharply amid the pandemic and rising geopolitical tensions, while the availability of prescription drugs, especially antidepressants and tranquilizers, has decreased.

According to her, some drugs or their forms can only be obtained abroad. In this regard, Russians began to travel abroad – to Turkey, India, Georgia – and purchase medicines there.