PMID: 9161626May 15, 1997Paper

Economic evaluation of famciclovir in reducing the duration of postherpetic neuralgia

American Journal of Health-system Pharmacy : AJHP : Official Journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
D M HuseS K Tyring

Abstract

The economic impact of famciclovir therapy for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in patients with acute herpes zoster was studied. A decision-analytic model of the treatment of herpes zoster and PHN was used to compare the cost of PHN between patients treated with oral famciclovir 500 mg three times daily for seven days and patients not receiving any antiviral therapy. The effects of famciclovir on PHN in the model were based on the results of a randomized, double-blind trial in 419 adult outpatients. The cost of the course of famciclovir therapy (21 tablets) was estimated as the sum of the drug's wholesale acquisition cost and the pharmacy dispensing cost. The cost of treating PHN (physician visits, medications, and miscellaneous nondrug therapy) was estimated by consulting a panel of physicians. According to the model, the cost of treating PHN was $85 lower per famciclovir recipient ($294 for famciclovir versus $379 for no antiviral therapy). The net cost of famciclovir therapy was $23 per patient ($108 for acquisition and dispensing minus the $85 savings). Among patients 50 years of age or older, famciclovir reduced the average cost of PHN by $155 ($414 for famciclovir versus $569 for no antiviral therapy) and yielded a net savin...Continue Reading

Citations

Dec 2, 2004·Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs·Arun ChakrabartyStephen K Tyring
Dec 1, 2002·Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research·Kenneth J Smith, Mark S Roberts
Apr 20, 2007·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·Michael B RothbergKenneth J Smith
Jul 31, 2007·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·Robert H DworkinKevin Hawkins
Sep 25, 2002·Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology·Tricia J BrownStephen K Tyring
Mar 24, 2007·Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics·Michael A O LewisRafael Benoliel

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