Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health

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Volume 8, Issue 3-4, December 2018, Pages 213 - 219

Pattern of Antidepressant Utilization and Cost in Iran from 2006 to 2013 in Comparison with Other Countries

Authors
Fatemeh Soleymani1, 2, 3, Forouzan Taheri3, Elizabeth Roughead4, *, Shekoufeh Nikfar1, 2, Mohammad Abdollahi5
1Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmaceutical Management, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2Pharmaceutical Management & Economics Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3National Committee on Rational Drug Use, Food and Drug Organization, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
4Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
5Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*Corresponding author. Email: Libby.Roughead@unisa.edu.au
Corresponding Author
Elizabeth Roughead
Received 4 March 2018, Accepted 12 September 2018, Available Online 31 December 2018.
DOI
10.2991/j.jegh.2018.06.101How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Antidepressants; drug utilization; pharmacoepidemiology; pharmacoeconomics
Abstract

Antidepressant prescribing patterns have changed globally over the past few years, with conventional drugs including tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors being replaced by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and novel antidepressants. The objective of this study was to assess antidepressant utilization in Iran from 2006 to 2013 and to show Iran’s situation in antidepressant consumption compared with other countries. A cross-sectional study was undertaken using prescription claims data from Iranian insurance agencies. In addition, total antidepressant sales data were obtained from the databank of the national regulatory authority. Medicines were classified according to the Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC-2012 edition) System. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development data were used to compare national results from Iran with other countries. Antidepressant sales were four-fold higher than those of prescribed antidepressants [24 defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 inhabitants/day were sold whereas 6 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day were prescribed in 2013]. The trend in antidepressant prescriptions and consumption showed increasing use of SSRIs (N06AB). Nortriptyline, fluoxetine, and citalopram accounted for more than 60% of all prescriptions each year. The type of adverse reactions with new expensive antidepressants may seem convincing for the growing tendency toward using these medicines, but considering their high costs, health policymakers have to be aware of the risk of overprescription of newer antidepressant. Drivers of over-the-counter purchase of antidepressants need to be explored.

Copyright
© 2018 Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc/4.0/).

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<Previous Article In Issue
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Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume-Issue
8 - 3-4
Pages
213 - 219
Publication Date
2018/12/31
ISSN (Online)
2210-6014
ISSN (Print)
2210-6006
DOI
10.2991/j.jegh.2018.06.101How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2018 Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Fatemeh Soleymani
AU  - Forouzan Taheri
AU  - Elizabeth Roughead
AU  - Shekoufeh Nikfar
AU  - Mohammad Abdollahi
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/12/31
TI  - Pattern of Antidepressant Utilization and Cost in Iran from 2006 to 2013 in Comparison with Other Countries
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 213
EP  - 219
VL  - 8
IS  - 3-4
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/j.jegh.2018.06.101
DO  - 10.2991/j.jegh.2018.06.101
ID  - Soleymani2018
ER  -