Cost variation analysis among different antidepressant drugs used to treat major depressive disorder

The Indian pharmaceutical industry produces drugs on a large scale and standing on 3rd rank bases on the scale of production. Due to this huge scale of production they produce all of the drugs and there are many brands of the same drugs. These brands are having competition between them so cost variation could be seen. Aim:The aim of our study is to find out the cost variation among the antidepressant drugs used in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) that are the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), the serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Materials and Method:The anti-depressant drugs that are manufactured by various Indian pharmaceutical industries are analyzed in that study. The data was collected by the authors from “Current Index of Medical Specialties” (CIMS) online edition, www.drugs.com and Mobile Application of National Pharma Pricing. Results:There are 15 anti-depressant drugs with 63 formulations are available in the marked of India with 1173 brands. Among all the antidepressant drugs, the highest cost ratio and percentage cost variation was found for the fluvoxamine 100 mg followed by amitriptyline 50 mg Nortriptyline 20 mg and clomipramine 75 mg. The highest numbers of brands are for escitalopram 10 mg followed by Sertraline 50 mg and Paroxetine 37.5 mg. Conclusion:It is concluded that there is very high cost variation among the marked preparations of antidepressant drugs used to treat Major depressive disorder (MDD). Keywords: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), The serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), Cost ratio, Percentage cost variation