ABSTRACT
Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is an illness which decreases quality of life and is common in society. Pharmacoeconomic evaluation about seasonal alergic conjunctivitis has not been measured in Turkey. The aim of our study is to understand the cost-effective medicines which are used for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis with Turkish data. In our study, effectiveness data from randomized controlled trials done with fluorometholon, epinastin, olopatadin, emedastin and ketotifen were used. Different effectiveness data reported in the trials were reduced to one single dataset. For cost data, direct costs like drug cost and physician meetings were counted in the calculation. Incremental cost effectiveness analysis (ICER) was performed with effectiveness and cost data which were obtained. In cost analysis lowest treatment cost was established by fluorometholon (US$ 38.94) and followed by ketotifen (US$ 43.41),epinastine (US$ 43.60), olopatadine (US$ 44.05) and emedastine (US$ 44.92), respectively. When the drugs compared for incremental cost-effectiveness, emedastine was dominated by ketotifen and emedastine dominated by olopatadine; ketofien could be compared with fluorometholon and olopatadine. Turkish data obtained and analyzed were similar with the literature. Reimburstment foundations can feature preparations which contain olopatadin and epinastin in treatment protocols, in the light of obtained data.
ABSTRACT
Zinc is an essential micronutrient for human health. It is very important for body functions, and they have an interaction potential in several systems, including nervous system. Although there is no global regulation about the daily amounts, it is shown to reduce the incidence of diarrhea and pneumonia. Zinc deficiency is a global problem, especially in developing countries. Zinc has been shown to be effective in treatment of zinc deficiency, Acrodermatitis Enteropathica, protein energy malnutrition (PEM), Wilson disease, pica, diarrhea, unrecovering ulcers etc. Although under 50 mg daily is enough for diarrhea, anemia, infections, immundeficieny etc., higher dosages may be required in Wilson`s disease, pica and acrodermatitis enteropathica up to 220 mg daily. Also it was reported that high dosage of zinc treatment can lead neurotoxity, Alzheimer`s disease or impaired lipid metabolism. So caution should be exercised when prescribing the zinc to the patients who have risk for neurotoxity, Alzheimer`s disease or impaired lipid metabolism.