scholarly journals A COST VARIATION ANALYSIS STUDY OF DRUGS USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA AVAILABLE IN THE INDIAN MARKET

Author(s):  
VIBHA RANI ◽  
SAILAXMI VENEPALLY

Objectives: The objectives of the study are to evaluate the cost variation and cost ratio of different brands of the drugs used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: The cost of alpha-blockers and 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors used in the treatment of BPH was noted from CIMS (Oct 2019–Jan 2020), Drugs Update, and Medline. The differences between the maximum and minimum cost of various brands of the same drug were analyzed and percentage variation in the cost was calculated. The results of the study were expressed in absolute numbers and percentages. Results: All the drugs used in the treatment of BPH are only available in tablet and capsule forms, in 10 different dosages and in 242 different brand names, of which 10 mg alfuzosin and 2.5 mg finasteride have the highest (518) and lowest (14) percentage of cost variation, while 0.4 mg tablet form of tamsulosin is available in the maximum number of brands-41. Conclusion: This pharmacoeconomic study reveals that there is wide variation in the cost of most of the drugs used in the treatment of BPH. Therefore, it is very much essential for both government and pharmaceutical companies to make combined efforts to reduce the cost of these drugs, which will reduce the economic burden on the patients and also reduce the overall health care costs.

Author(s):  
Pramod Kumar Manjhi ◽  
Sunil Kumar Singh ◽  
Chakrapani Kumar ◽  
Akhilesh Kumar Rana

Background: Antitussive-expectorants are among the most frequently prescribed drugs by physicians in clinical practice. Upper respiratory tract infections, such as common cold, acute pharyngitis and acute trachea-bronchitis, are the most common of all communicable diseases and significantly increase OPD burden. This study aimed to assess the rational use, cost ratio, and percentage cost variations in different brands of the commonly prescribed antitussive-expectorants available in the Indian market.Methods: The cost of antitussive-expectorant manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies was obtained by using drug today Jan-April 2021 vol 2. The maximum and minimum price was noted down, cost ratio and percentage cost variation of the individual formulation were analysed.  Results: Analysis of cost ratio and percentage cost variation for each formulation of the antitussive-expectorants drug, syrup (100 ml) chlorpheniramine (2 mg), dextromethorphan (10 mg), phenylephrine (5 mg) combinations show the highest cost ratio and percentage cost variation as 5.30 and 430.25 respectively, and syrup (100 ml) dextromethorphan (10 mg), guaifenesin (100 mg), phenylephrine (25 mg), chlorpheniramine (4 mg) combinations show lowest cost ratio and percentage cost variation as 1.17 and 17.69 respectively.Conclusions: There was a wide variation in the cost of different brands of antitussive-expectorant drugs available in the Indian market. So, clinicians should be aware of rational use and variations in cost to reduce the treatment cost and increase patient compliance.


Author(s):  
Kajal S. Gupta ◽  
Milind L. Pardeshi ◽  
Rajesh S. Hiray

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder requiring lifelong treatment. Due to rapid expansion of urbanization, unhealthy diet habits and sedentary lifestyle, the incidence of DM is increasing. The chronic nature of DM causes significant personal suffering and economic difficulty to families. The was aimed at investigating the cost difference in various brands of the same oral anti-diabetic drug.Methods: The minimum and the maximum cost in rupees (INR) of a particular anti-diabetic drug manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies were obtained from current index of medical specialties (CIMS) website, Indian drug review (IDR) 2021 issue and National pharmaceutical pricing authority-pharma sahi daam. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were noted for each brand.Results: Amongst single drug therapy, metformin 500 mg sustained release showed highest price variation (3668%). Minimum cost variation was found with glipizide 2.5 mg (65%). Amongst the fixed dose combinations, highest cost variation was seen with glimepiride 2 mg+metformin 1000 mg (2703%) while minimum cost variation was found with repaglinide 1 mg+voglibose 0.3 mg (29%).Conclusions: A noticeable cost variation was found in different brands of the same anti-diabetic drug. Prescribing a more expensive brand when a cheaper one is available can burden the patient financially and thus reduce patient compliance. In addition, the Government should also include more anti-diabetic drugs under the price control policy to ensure that affordable and efficacious medicines are available to all.Background:  Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder requiring lifelong treatment. Due to rapid expansion of urbanization, unhealthy diet habits and sedentary life style, the incidence of DM is increasing .The chronic nature of DM causes significant personal suffering and economic difficulty to families. The present study aims at investigating the cost difference in various brands of the same oral anti-diabetic drug.Methods: The minimum and the maximum cost in rupees (INR) of a particular anti-diabetic drug manufactured by various brands were obtained from Current Index of Medical Specialties (CIMS) website, Indian Drug Review (IDR) 2021 issue and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority – Pharma sahi daam. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were noted for each brand.Results: Amongst single drug therapy, Metformin 500mg Sustained Release showed highest price variation (3668%). Minimum cost variation was found with Glipizide 2.5mg (65%).Amongst the fixed dose combinations, highest cost variation was seen with Glimepiride 2mg + Metformin 1000mg (2703%) while minimum cost variation was found with Repaglinide 1mg + Voglibose 0.3mg (29%). Conclusions: A noticeable cost variation was found in different brands of the same anti-diabetic drug. Prescribing a more expensive brand when a cheaper one is available can burden the patient financially and thus reduce patient compliance. In addition, the Government should also include more anti-diabetic drugs under the price control policy to ensure that affordable and efficacious medicines are available to all. Keywords: Anti-diabetic agents, Cost variation, Pharmaco-economics, Adherence, Brands   Background:  Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder requiring lifelong treatment. Due to rapid expansion of urbanization, unhealthy diet habits and sedentary life style, the incidence of DM is increasing .The chronic nature of DM causes significant personal suffering and economic difficulty to families. The present study aims at investigating the cost difference in various brands of the same oral anti-diabetic drug.Methods: The minimum and the maximum cost in rupees (INR) of a particular anti-diabetic drug manufactured by various brands were obtained from Current Index of Medical Specialties (CIMS) website, Indian Drug Review (IDR) 2021 issue and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority – Pharma sahi daam. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were noted for each brand.Results: Amongst single drug therapy, Metformin 500mg Sustained Release showed highest price variation (3668%). Minimum cost variation was found with Glipizide 2.5mg (65%).Amongst the fixed dose combinations, highest cost variation was seen with Glimepiride 2mg + Metformin 1000mg (2703%) while minimum cost variation was found with Repaglinide 1mg + Voglibose 0.3mg (29%). Conclusions: A noticeable cost variation was found in different brands of the same anti-diabetic drug. Prescribing a more expensive brand when a cheaper one is available can burden the patient financially and thus reduce patient compliance. In addition, the Government should also include more anti-diabetic drugs under the price control policy to ensure that affordable and efficacious medicines are available to all. Keywords: Anti-diabetic agents, Cost variation, Pharmaco-economics, Adherence, Brands   Background:  Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder requiring lifelong treatment. Due to rapid expansion of urbanization, unhealthy diet habits and sedentary life style, the incidence of DM is increasing .The chronic nature of DM causes significant personal suffering and economic difficulty to families. The present study aims at investigating the cost difference in various brands of the same oral anti-diabetic drug.Methods: The minimum and the maximum cost in rupees (INR) of a particular anti-diabetic drug manufactured by various brands were obtained from Current Index of Medical Specialties (CIMS) website, Indian Drug Review (IDR) 2021 issue and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority – Pharma sahi daam. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were noted for each brand.Results: Amongst single drug therapy, Metformin 500mg Sustained Release showed highest price variation (3668%). Minimum cost variation was found with Glipizide 2.5mg (65%).Amongst the fixed dose combinations, highest cost variation was seen with Glimepiride 2mg + Metformin 1000mg (2703%) while minimum cost variation was found with Repaglinide 1mg + Voglibose 0.3mg (29%). Conclusions: A noticeable cost variation was found in different brands of the same anti-diabetic drug. Prescribing a more expensive brand when a cheaper one is available can burden the patient financially and thus reduce patient compliance. In addition, the Government should also include more anti-diabetic drugs under the price control policy to ensure that affordable and efficacious medicines are available to all. Keywords: Anti-diabetic agents, Cost variation, Pharmaco-economics, Adherence, Brands         


Author(s):  
S. Nagaraja Prasad ◽  
Vedavathi H.

Background: Schizophrenia is a disorder of relatively high point prevalence, low incidence and high disability. It accounts for nearly 1.5-3% of total national expenditure on health care. There is a gross variation in the cost of various branded and generic versions of antipsychotics available in India. This can lead to decreased patient compliance. The present study was undertaken to highlight this variation in the cost of various preparations of antipsychotics (branded and generic) available in India.Methods: Cost ratio and Percentage variation in cost of various antipsychotics available were calculated by standard formulae and analysed.Results: There is a very high variation in the cost of various antipsychotics available in India. The highest variation in cost ratio was seen with risperidone 2mg, 3mg and olanzapine 10mg, while the highest percentage cost variation was seen with risperidone 3mg, 4mg, 1mg; olanzapine 2.5mg, 5mg, 50mg, 100mg; levosulpiride 25mg and chlorpromazine 20mg. The lowest percentage cost variation was seen with Flupenthixol 3mg and Amisulpiride 300mg.Conclusions: There is a definite need to further strengthen the Drug Price Regulatory Mechanisms with regard to antipsychotics available in India in order to improve the patient compliance and thus cure rates of this burdensome and costly illness.


Author(s):  
Shukrath Chandrappa ◽  
Kavitha Rajarathna

Background: Ocular drug delivery is a complex drug delivery system, and topical administration being the most frequently employed route of drug delivery in eye diseases. Many topical eye preparations are sold under brand names. The variation in the costs of the same drug and inadequate information on quality and bio-equivalence makes it difficult for the physician to prescribe the most cost-effective treatment. The objective of this study was to analyse the cost variation in different brands of commonly used topical eye preparations in India.Methods: The minimum and the maximum cost in Rupees (INR) of particular topical eye preparations manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies in the same strength were noted. The percentage cost variation and cost ratio were calculated for each brand.Results: The costs of the total of 19 topical eye preparations available in 26 different formulations in India were analysed and a substantial variation in cost was observed. Of 19 drug formulations studied, the percentage cost variation of 10 drug formulations was more than 100% out of which one had more than 1000% variation. Cost ratio was also observed to be very high and 10 drug formulations had this ratio more than two.Conclusions: There is a wide variation in the prices of different brands, so there is an urgent need to raise the awareness of physicians about cost variation to lower the financial burden on patients.


Author(s):  
Shakeel Ahmad Mir

Background: Worldwide, Hypertension is estimated to cause 7.5 million deaths, about 12.8% of the total of all deaths. This accounts for 57 million disability adjusted life years (DALYS) or 3.7% of total DALYS. Globally, the overall prevalence of hypertension in adults aged 25 and over was around 40% in 2008.Despite its benefits, treatment of hypertension is costly. Direct medical spending to treat hypertension totalled $42.9 billion in 2010, with almost half ($20.4 billion) in the form of prescription medications. Being, a silent disease, adherence to antihypertensive drugs is poor. One of the important factors of poor adherence to antihypertensives is the cost of the drugs. There is wide cost variation among different brands of the same antihypertensive drug. Clinician’s awareness of cost of therapeutics is poor. The costly brand of same generic drug is proved to be in no way superior to its economically cheaper counterpart.Methods: The minimum and the maximum cost in Rupees (INR) of a particular antihypertensive agent manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies in the same strength were noted. The cost of 10 tablets/capsules was calculated. The cost ratio and percent cost variation were calculated for each brand.Results: The cost variation observed in the present study was as high as 2337.50 % for Hydralazine. Other significantly high cost variations found in the present study were: 1315.25% (Telmisartan+Hydrochlorthiazide), 870.58% (Amlopdipine), 558.34% (Amlodipine+Atenolol), 537.68% (Valsartan), 394.44% (Metoprolol), 344.44% (Enalapril), 316.22% (Propranolol), 300% (Lisinopril), 290.90% (Carvedilol), 289% (Cilnidipine), 271.99% ( Labetolol), 268.04% (Indapamide), 256.31% (Losartan), 255.19% (Irbesartan), 226% (Methyldopa), 223.04% (Frusemide), 209.78% (Nitrendepine), 192.08% (Terazosin), 189.25% (Atenolol), 142.42% (Bisoprolol) and 120.51% (Felodipine).Conclusions: Financial constraints are a reality in almost all aspects of medicine. Doctors must consider drug costs to their patients. Increasing pharmaceutical costs negatively impacts patients. Given the increasing healthcare costs, there is growing interest in rational prescribing, which takes costs of medication into account.


Author(s):  
Shreenivas P. R. ◽  
S. Nagaraja Prasad

Background: India is one of the largest Tuberculosis (TB) burden countries in the world. Although Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme provides free cost of therapy, sometimes patient get treated by private practioners. This can sometimes lead to irregular course of treatment due to decreased patient compliance. This in turn may lead to multi drug resistance among TB bacilli. One of the reasons for decreased patient compliance is cost of therapy. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the cost of therapy of various anti-TB drugs and their combinations available in India.Methods: The maximum and minimum cost in rupees (INR) of all anti-TB drugs manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies was noted. The cost of 10 tablets/capsules or their fixed dose combinations (FDCs) was calculated. The cost ratio and percentage price variation were calculated for each brand and compared.Results: Percentage variation in cost of oral anti-TB drugs marketed in India was highest in ethambutol 400mg (474.51), cycloserine 250mg (384.61), ethambutol 800mg (321.84) and rifampin 450mg (258.45). The lowest percentage cost variation was seen with pyrazinamide 225mg (10.04), ethambutol 1000mg (18.82) and rifampin 100mg (22.78). Among the FDCs lowest percentage cost variation seen with rifampin 150mg +isoniazid 75mg+pyrazinamide 400mg (0.16) and highest percentage cost variation is seen with rifampin 450mg+isoniazid 300mg+pyrazinamide 750mg+ethambutol 800mg (232.73).Conclusions: There is a significant variation in the cost of different brands of oral anti-TB drugs and their FDCs available in India. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) should take more proactive steps for bringing down the prices of first line anti-TB drugs and the clinicians prescribing them should be aware of the price variation among the various brands of anti-TB drugs available in India.


Uro ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 82-98
Author(s):  
Antonio La Torre ◽  
Caterina Palleria ◽  
Irene Tamanini ◽  
Andrea Scardigli ◽  
Tommaso Cai ◽  
...  

This is a critical review of the current literature data about sexual dysfunction as a potential side effect related to drugs commonly used for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. In this narrative review, we analyzed data from the literature related to the development of sexual dysfunctions during the treatment of BPH or LUTS. Both α-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) can induce erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory disorders and a reduction in sexual desire. The sexual side effect profile of these drugs is different. Among the α-blockers, silodosin appears to have the highest incidence of ejaculatory disorders. Persistent sexual side effects after the discontinuation of finasteride have been recently reported; however, further studies are needed to clarify the true incidence and the significance of this finding. However, most of the published studies are affected by a weak methodology and other important limitations, with only a few RCTs available. Therefore, it is desirable that future studies will include validated tools to assess and diagnose the sexual dysfunction induced by these medications, especially for ejaculation and sexual desire disorders.


Author(s):  
Prashant Wadagbalkar ◽  
Poonam Patel ◽  
Swati V. Raipurkar

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the most prevalent cause of death and disability in developed and developing countries. There is a wide variation in the prices of antihypertensive drugs marketed in India. Thus, a study was planned to find out variation in cost in the ACE Inhibitors available in India either as a single drug or in combination and to evaluate the difference in cost of various brands of the same ACE Inhibitors and ARBs by calculating percentage variation in cost in Indian rupees.Methods: Minimum and maximum costs in rupees (INR) of antihypertensive agents manufactured by different companies, in the same strength and dosage forms were obtained from “current index of medical specialties” January April 2016 and Drug Today October-December 2016. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were calculated for each generic antihypertensive agent (ACE Inhibitors and ARBs).Results: This study shows that there is a wide variation in the prices of different brands of same ACE Inhibitors and ARBs in Indian market.Highest cost variation 400% is for Lisinopril (2.5mg), followed by Enalapril (10mg) 394.16%, Telmisartan (20mg) 322.22%.Conclusions: There is a wide difference in the cost of different brands of ACE Inhibitors and ARBs available in India. They have important role in management of hypertension particularly if associated with other morbidities like diabetes. The clinicians prescribing these drugs should be aware of these variations in cost so as to reduce the cost of drug therapy and increase the patient adherence to the therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-50
Author(s):  
Bilal Chughtai ◽  
Sirikan Rojanasarot ◽  
Kurt Neeser ◽  
Dmitry Gultyaev ◽  
Stacey L. Amorosi ◽  
...  

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most prevalent and costly chronic conditions among middle-aged and elderly men. Prostatic urethral lift (PUL) and convective water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT) are emerging minimally invasive surgical treatments as an alternative to traditional treatment options for men with moderate-to-severe BPH. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of PUL and WVTT for men with BPH using long-term clinical outcomes. Methods: The cost-effectiveness and budget impact models were developed from a US Medicare perspective over a 4-year time horizon. The models were populated with males with a mean age of 63 and an average International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of 22. Clinical inputs were extracted from the LIFT and Rezum II randomized controlled trials at 4 years. Utility values were assigned using IPSS and BPH severity levels. Procedural, adverse event, retreatment, follow-up, and medication costs were based on 2019 Medicare payment rates and Medicare Part D drug spending. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSAs) were performed. Results: At 4 years, PUL was associated with greater retreatment rates (24.6% vs 10.9%), lower quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) (3.490 vs 3.548) and higher total costs (US$7393 vs US$2233) compared with WVTT, making WVTT the more effective and less costly treatment strategy. The 70% total cost difference of PUL and WVTT was predominantly driven by higher PUL procedural (US$5617 vs US$1689) and retreatment (US$976 vs US$257) costs. The PSA demonstrated that relative to PUL, WVTT yielded higher QALYs and lower costs 99% and 100% of the time, respectively. Conclusions: Compared to PUL, WVTT was a cost-effective and cost-saving treatment of moderate-to-severe BPH. These findings provide evidence for clinicians, payers, and health policy makers to help further define the role of minimally invasive surgical treatments for BPH.


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