ABSTRACT
Background: Drugs are available in many different brands and costs of all brands are different. Patients of depression have to take the antidepressant drug for a long duration. If the cost of a drug is high patient has to pay more money for complete treatment. It can result in noncompliance and treatment failure. This study was aimed to evaluate the cost of antidepressant drugs of different classes and to analyze price variation in various antidepressant drugs available in India. Hence, we decided to do the study of price variations of antidepressant drugs. Methods: We had evaluated the cost of a different class of antidepressant drugs. Current Index of Medical Specialties October-December 2014 and Indian Drug Review 2015 issue 1 drug manuals were used to derive the cost of antidepressant drugs. Data about the cost of antidepressant drugs were collected for all the strength and dosage forms. The maximum price and minimum price for the different antidepressant drugs were identified, and calculation for the percentage of price variation was done. Results: Maximum percentage of price variation in different groups were 900% in reboxetine 2 mg (tricyclic antidepressants group), 495.23% in escitalopram 10 mg (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors group), 318.66% in duloxetine 20 mg capsules (serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors group), 243.58% in moclobemide 150 mg tablet (reversible monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor), 84.93% in bupropion 150 mg sustained-release tablet (atypical antidepressants group). In combination escitalopram 10 mg + clonazepam 0.5 mg shows maximum price variation of 1101.92%. Conclusion: Price variation was wide for antidepressant drugs. Generic drug prescribing can decrease the expenditure of patient on the drug. Prescribers should be provided updated knowledge of the cost of different drugs. Modifications in pharmaceutical policy are required, and prices of the drug should be controlled in effective way for all the drugs.