title: Pharmacoeconomic studies of antidepressants: focus on venlafaxine.
abstract: Newer antidepressants are more expensive in terms of acquisition costs than older drugs. However, cost effectiveness simulations and retrospective analyses of administrative databases of newer antidepressants, including venlafaxine, suggest that the higher acquisition costs may be offset or more than offset by savings of other treatment costs. Because simulations and retrospective studies are vulnerable to multiple methodologic uncertainties, large scale randomized "real-world" cost effectiveness experiments are needed. If venlafaxine in actual practice is more effective or has a more rapid onset of action than SSRIs as suggested by efficacy studies and existing meta-analyses, these effects could translate into pharmacoeconomic advantages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven 06515, USA.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002065:Buspirone / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020280:Sertraline / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D005473:Fluoxetine; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D020280:Sertraline; D002065:Buspirone