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Russo PA, Smith MW, Namjoshi M. Health care costs for schizophrenia patients started on olanzapine versus risperidone. American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. 2005 Mar 15; 62(6):610-5.
PURPOSE: The change in direct medical costs for schizophrenia patients who were started on olanzapine or risperidone and who were privately insured was studied. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 1996-1999 data from the databases representing the health care experiences of individuals employed by large organizations and their dependents was performed. The sample included all individuals with a drug claim for olanzapine or risperidone, a claim with a schizophrenia diagnosis within 90 days of the drug claim, no claim for the same drug in the prior six months, and continuous health-plan enrollment for 12 months before and after the prescription. RESULTS: The sample included 162 patients initiated on olanzapine and 119 patients initiated on risperidone. Demographic and clinical profiles were not significantly different between groups. Annual schizophrenia-related prescription and outpatient costs increased following initiation on olanzapine or risperidone compared with the pre-initiation period. This was partially offset by a decrease in inpatient expenditures. Olanzapine initiators had higher outpatient drug expenditures than risperidone initiators in the 12 months following initiation (adjusted means, $2105 versus $1934) (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups in total schizophrenia-related payments ($5251 versus $4950). CONCLUSION: The total health care expenditure related to treating schizophrenia was similar between privately insured patients who were initiated on olanzapine and patients who were started on risperidone.