Trends in the consumption of antidepressant drugs in Lithuania in 2002-2004.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate trends in the use of antidepressant drugs in Lithuania between 2002 and 2004 and to perform cost-minimization and reference price analysis enabling more rational use of financial resources of national health system.


METHODS
The data on sales of antidepressant drugs in Lithuanian over a 3-year period (2002-2004) were obtained from IMS Health Inc. database. Data were calculated by defined daily dose (DDD) methodology and expressed in DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day. DU90% was used as the quality indicator of the drug prescribing. The pharmacoeconomic analysis of antidepressant drugs was performed by cost-minimization and reference price methodology.


RESULTS
The consumption of antidepressants in Lithuanian increased by 30.55% over a 3-year period (2002-2004) reaching the value of 10.00 DDDs/1000 inhabitants/day. Since 2002, the proportion of use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors has increased by 27.82%, and the use of tricyclic antidepressants has declined by 10.78%, while the use of other (newer) antidepressant drugs expanded almost three times. The expenditures of antidepressant drugs have reached 26 million Lt in 2004, of which 68.15% were costs for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Choosing the second lowest price in different antidepressant drug class, it is estimated the possible savings of 4.34 million Lt lowering the total expenses by 16.5% (1 euro=3.4528 Lt).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that the use of total antidepressant drugs continues to increase because of the increased use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other (newer) antidepressant drugs. In comparison with the data in other countries, the consumption of antidepressant drugs in Lithuania is low.
Kadusevicius
Edmundas
E
Department of Theoretical and Clinical Pharmacology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania. e610614@yahoo.com
Mikucionyte
Loreta
L
Maciulaitis
Romaldas
R
Milvidaite
Irena
I
Sveikata
Audrius
A
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017046:Cost Savings; D016527:Drug Costs; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors