title: Price variation in the most commonly prescribed ear drops in Southern California.
abstract: To evaluate the variability and discrepancies among the most commonly prescribed ear drops sold at pharmacies in southern California.
  
  
  
  Prospective study evaluating 11 commonly used ear drops to treat otologic disorders.
  
  
  
  Randomly selected drug stores in three major counties in Southern California (Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego) were included. Mean, range, minimum, and maximum prices for each drug were calculated and analyzed. The median income of pharmacy ZIP code was also cross-referenced.
  
  
  
  Data were collected from 108 pharmacies. The mean prices are noted for each of the individual drugs: Cortisporin (brand) 10 mL, $82.70; neomycin, polymyxin B sulfates, and hydrocortisone (Cortisporin-generic) 10 mL, $34.70; ofloxacin (generic) 10 mL, $99.95; sulfacetamide (generic) 15 mL, $40.18; Ciprodex (brand) 7.5 mL, $194.44; Cipro HC (brand) 10 mL, $233.32; Vosol (brand) 15 mL, $120.75; acetic acid (Vosol-generic) 10 mL, $116.55; VosolHC (brand) 10 mL, $204.14; acetic acid/aluminum acetate (Domeboro-generic) 60 mL, $22.91; and Tobradex (brand) 5 mL, $166.47.
  
  
  
  There is significant variability among the prices of ear drops across Southern Californian pharmacies, which can be a financial burden to patients paying out of pocket or with high deductibles. A state-mandated, publically accessible report of drug prices may help decrease variability and cost by promoting competition among pharmacies. Price negotiations by governmental payers may assist in reducing prices. In the treatment of otologic disorders, clinicians can help reduce costs for patients by prescribing generic ear drop medications and cheaper alternatives when clinically appropriate.
  
  
  
  4. Laryngoscope, 127:1780-1784, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moshtaghi
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Yarah M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Haidar
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Yaser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ghavami
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Afsheen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moshtaghi
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sahyouni
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Harrison W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, U.S.A.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Hamid R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Djalilian
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions / Q000191:economics; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions
keywords: Ear drop; otic drop; ototopic; pharmacy; price variation