The trend became clear after the release last week of new smoking cessation guidelines. Health Ministry figures show antidepressant use has nearly doubled in the past decade, with almost two million prescriptions written for the drugs each year.
Now the guidelines, produced by Auckland University's Clinical Trials Research Unit, show that two antidepressants - nortriptyline (marketed here as Aventyl) and bupropion (Zyban) - have proved to be as, or more, effective as nicotine replacement therapy, and thousands of smokers are taking them.
More than 62,000 prescriptions for nortriptyline, a Government subsidised drug, were written last year.
Nortriptyline is recorded by the Government drug funding agency Pharmac in its expenditure as an antidepressant.
Ben Youdan, director of anti-smoking lobby group ASH, said bupropian - the fourth most prescribed "anti-depressant" in the United States last year - and nortriptyline, were now primarily used as stop- smoking treatments.
Dr Chris Bullen, a co-author of the guidelines, said there was no information available to show what bupropian and nortriptyline were specifically prescribed for.
Butt out
* Of the 23 per cent of New Zealanders who smoke, a third have tried at least once to quit over the last year. A quarter of this group used aids: Zyban, 7 per cent; nicotine gum, 35 per cent; patches, 68 per cent.
* Smoking is the single greatest cause of premature death in New Zealand. It is directly linked to 5000 deaths each year.
* Half of all continuing smokers will die from smoking an average 14 years early.
Comment: So the propaganda says.
* New Zealand is one of only a few countries offering Government-funded nicotine replacement therapy.
Side effects of nortriptyline:
fast, pounding, or uneven heart rate;
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
confusion, hallucinations, or seizure (convulsions);
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;
tremors;
extreme thirst with headache, nausea, vomiting, and weakness;
feeling light-headed or fainting; or
urinating less than usual or not at all.
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite;
constipation or diarrhea;
weight changes;
dry mouth, unpleasant taste;
weakness, lack of coordination;
numbness or tingly feeling;
Blurred vision, headache, ringing in your ears;
mild skin rash;
breast swelling (in men or women); or
increased sweating.