Pharmacoeconomic implications of preference toward reference- versus generic-brand antidepressants in primary care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The prevalence of depression is gradually increasing worldwide with an increasing utilization of antidepressants. Nevertheless, despite their lower costs, generic-brand antidepressants were reported to be less prescribed. We aimed to examine the costs of reference- versus generic-brand antidepressant prescriptions in primary care practice.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included electronic prescriptions for adult patients that contained antidepressants (World Health Organization's Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code: N06A), which were generated by a systematically selected sample of primary care doctors (n = 1431) in Istanbul in 2016. We examined the drug groups preferred, the reference- versus generic-brand status, and pharmacotherapy costs.

SUBMITTER: Gultekin O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11464804 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature