Up to 500,000 people take antidepressants or anti-anxiety pills in Ireland.

The Irish Examiner says almost 2.3 million prescriptions were written for anxiety and depression drugs in 2012.

330,000 of those were public patients, at a cost of €40m to the State.

The figures are based on analysis of the top five most frequently prescribed antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs under the General Medical Services scheme - Escitalopram (Lexapro), Diazepam (Valium/Anticalm), Alprazolam (Xanax), Venlafaxine (Effexor/Venlofex) and Mirtazapine (Mirap/Mirtazapin).

10% of people in Limerick have been prescribed the pills - the highest number in Ireland - with South Tipperary at 9.9%.

South Dublin had the lowest number - at 4% of the population.

The newspaper also reports that there was an increase in the number of prescriptions for all five drugs written between 2011 and 2012, and a 25% increase for antidepressant Sertraline.

Health Correspondent with the Irish Examiner Catherine Shanahan spoke to Newstalk Lunchtime about the figures:

Originally posted at 8.47am