ABSTRACT
One-third to half of patients taking clozapine suffer from refractory symptoms despite adequate treatment. Among other adverse effects, clozapine-induced hypersalivation (CIH) occurs in approximately half of all patients. This is a case of a 30-year-old male with refractory schizophrenia; in this patient, the remission of residual positive symptoms, as well as the reduction of CIH, was achieved by treatment with clozapine augmented with amisulpride.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-utility of first and second-generation antipsychotics for treatment of schizophrenia. METHODS: A five-year Markov model was constructed based on a survey of the records of patients seen in 2006 at a psychosocial care center in the municipality of Florianopolis, Southern Brazil. Costs were evaluated from the perspective of the Sistema Unico de Saúde (SUS - Unified Healthcare System). Utility was measured in quality-adjusted life years obtained in the literature. RESULTS: The Markov model indicated risperidone and haloperidol utilization before olanzapine as the most cost-effective alternatives. CONCLUSIONS: Antipsychotic agents haloperidol and risperidone are more cost-effective than olanzapine. Strategies prioritizing the use of antipsychotics with better cost-effectiveness could optimize resource allocation without necessarily compromising the health of patients treated through the Sistema Unico de Saúde.
Subject(s)
Antipsychotic Agents/economics , Benzodiazepines/economics , Drug Costs , Haloperidol/economics , Risperidone/economics , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Benzodiazepines/therapeutic use , Brazil , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Haloperidol/therapeutic use , Humans , Markov Chains , Medication Adherence , Olanzapine , Quality of Life , Quality-Adjusted Life Years , Recurrence , Risperidone/therapeutic useABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Avaliar as relações de custo-utilidade entre medicamentos antipsicóticos de primeira e segunda gerações no tratamento da esquizofrenia. MÉTODOS: Foi construído um modelo de Markov de cinco anos, a partir de um levantamento em prontuários de pacientes atendidos em um centro de atenção psicossocial em Florianópolis (SC), 2006. Os custos foram avaliados sob a perspectiva o Sistema Único de Saúde. As utilidades foram medidas em anos de vida ajustados pela qualidade obtidas na literatura. RESULTADOS: No modelo de Markov, a alternativa mais custo-efetiva foi a utilização de risperidona e haloperidol antes de olanzapina. CONCLUSÕES: Os antipsicóticos haloperidol e risperidona apresentaram melhor relação de custo-efetividade quando comparados à olanzapina. Estratégias que priorizem a utilização de antipsicóticos com melhor relação de custo-efetividade podem otimizar recursos, sem necessariamente implicar prejuízos à saúde dos pacientes atendidos no Sistema Único de Saúde.
