QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Résumé Extracto Full Text PDF Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Articles Ahead of Print [Order Reprint] Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Liu, G. G Articles by Luo, X. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Liu, G. G Articles by Luo, X.

PHARMACOECONOMICS

Cost Comparisons of Olanzapine and Risperidone in Treating Schizophrenia

Associate Professor, Division of Pharmaceutical Policy and Evaluative Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

Shawn X Sun, PhD

Post-Doctoral Fellow, Division of Pharmaceutical Policy and Evaluative Sciences, University of North Carolina

Dale B Christensen, PhD

Professor and Chair of the Division of Pharmaceutical Policy and Evaluative Sciences, University of North Carolina

Xuemei Luo, PhD

Research Associate, Center for Clinical Effectiveness, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Raleigh, NC

Reprints: Gordon G Liu PhD, Division of Pharmaceutical Policy and Evaluative Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7360, fax 919/966-8486, ggliu{at}unc.edu

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on the healthcare costs associated with olanzapine and risperidone in treating schizophrenia.

DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: Published English-language pharmacoeconomic studies on olanzapine and risperidone obtained through a MEDLINE search (1990–May 2003) were selected. Additional studies were identified from a manual search of the references of retrieved articles.

DATA EXTRACTION: Based on the identified studies, data were extracted on various treatment costs associated with the use of antipsychotic drugs, concomitant drugs from other classes, inpatient care, outpatient care, and emergency care. Emphasis was placed on studies directly comparing olanzapine and risperidone.

DATA SYNTHESIS: Both olanzapine and risperidone were generally associated with a trend of decrease in total medical costs compared with typical antipsychotics. When directly comparing the drugs, some studies found significant cost savings in favor of olanzapine and some suggested risperidone to save total costs. Still others showed no significant difference in total costs between the 2 drug regimens.

CONCLUSIONS: While both olanzapine and risperidone appear to be more cost saving than typical antipsychotics, the literature offers no conclusive evidence to determine the comparative advantage of one versus another in terms of total cost outcomes. Major factors that contribute to the inconclusive findings may include across-study variations in populations, design, outcome measures, dosage, severity of illness, inclusion criteria, and statistical methodologies.

Key Words: antipsychotics, cost, olanzapine, risperidone, schizophrenia

Published Online, December 5, 2003. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1C485