Antidepressant use in Scotland has soared to a record level, despite a government pledge to wean patients off drugs such as Prozac.

New figures have revealed that despite the SNP’s manifesto pledge to cut the use of antidepressants, 3.9m prescriptions were issued last year at a cost of more than £40m.

Since 1993, the number has more than tripled and between 2007-8 it rose by 4%.

The figures show increases in every NHS area. Prescriptions rose from 995,638 to almost 1.1m in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The biggest increase was in the Western Isles, where the number of prescriptions rose by 7.7%.

The statistics emerged after The Sunday Times revealed last month that Glasgow’s Milton is the most depressed neighbourhood in Scotland with almost one in five residents on mood-enhancing drugs.

The new figures, published in a parliamentary written answer, have been seized upon by opposition politicians who claim they make a mockery of the government’s pledge to cut the number of prescriptions by 10% by 2009.

They have also called for greater funding for alternative treatments such as counselling, and urgent action to tackle the unemployment and deprivation that is blamed for high rates of depression.

“The health secretary has 12 months to reverse this trend or add mental health to the SNP’s broken promises,” said Ross Finnie, health spokesman for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

In her written response, Shona Robison, the public health minister, said: “We have a published target to reduce the levels of antidepressant prescribing in Scotland and action continues to expand accessible alternatives where appropriate.”

A Scottish government spokeswoman said that the “prime concern” was that patients received the appropriate treatment.

“As a first step we have set a target to reduce the growth in prescribing of antidepressants to zero by 2010.

“Latest figures show an 11% increase in the numbers of mental health staff in the past year, which will result in improved access to talking therapies in NHS Scotland.

“At the same time, it is important to remember that many of these medications have enabled patients to return to normal and high-quality life in the community.”

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