title: Influence of angiotensin II receptor blocker combination tablet prescription on drug number and cost.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Combination therapy using an angiotensin II receptor blocker is expected to promote medication adherence and alleviate economic burden among patients by reducing the number of drugs taken, and thereby to lower associated medical costs. In the present retrospective study, we conducted a survey on the use of angiotensin II receptor blocker-containing combination tablets as anti-hypertensive drugs, in particular angiotensin II receptor blocker/diuretic and angiotensin II receptor blocker/calcium channel blocker combinations, in order to investigate the number of prescribed drugs and drug cost.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective study of patients who visited the outpatient clinic of GifuMunicipalHospital and received anti-hypertensive agents between June 2006 and December 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No reductions in the number of prescribed drugs or drug cost were seen following a change in prescription to an angiotensin II receptor blocker/diuretic. Patients receiving an angiotensin II receptor blocker/calcium channel blocker had a significant reduction in the number of prescribed drugs and a slight decrease in drug cost.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, a reduction in the number of prescribed drugs and a decrease in economic burden were not observed after prescription of angiotensin II receptor blocker-containing combination tablets. In order to assess the usefulness of angiotensin II receptor blocker combination tablets, further studies are necessary to investigate their hypotensive effects, safety profile, and other factors.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teramachi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tachi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Secomedic Hospital, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ino
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Gifu Municipal Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizui
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Gifu Municipal Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Chitoshi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.affiliation: Community Health Support and Research Center, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
keywords: Angiotensin II receptor blocker; combination therapy; hypertension