These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Out-of-pocket and total costs of fixed-dose combination antihypertensives and their components.
    Author: Rabbani A, Alexander GC.
    Journal: Am J Hypertens; 2008 May; 21(5):509-13. PubMed ID: 18437141.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Many patients are burdened by prescription costs, yet it is not clear whether brand-named fixed-dose combination medicines are less expensive than the sum of the cost of their generic components. METHODS: We used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a rigorously conducted, nationally representative, population-based survey, to examine the out-of-pocket and third party costs associated with the most commonly prescribed, brand-named fixed-dose combination antihypertensive drugs. We compared the out-of-pocket and third party cost for a 30-day supply of each of these combination drugs with the sum of these costs for their individual generic components. RESULTS: Twenty-seven combination antihypertensive medicines were examined. Overall, combination products had higher out-of-pocket costs and lower total costs than did the sum of the costs of their components. For example, the out-of-pocket costs were greater for 24 of 27 combination drugs examined, and the mean increase in monthly out-of-pocket costs associated with combination therapy was $13.38 (95% confidence interval, $12.27-14.50). In contrast, the total cost was lower for 23 of the 27 combination drugs examined, and the mean decrease in monthly total costs was $20.89 (95% confidence interval, $20.10-21.68). CONCLUSIONS: Given patient burden and nonadherence from out-of-pocket prescription costs, the clinical benefits of brand-named fixed-dose combination antihypertensive therapy should be balanced with their greater out-of-pocket costs.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]