Study, 2003
Which SSRI medication costs the least to treat PMDD?
Sertraline costs less than other SSRIs for treating PMDD. Paroxetine and citalopram were more expensive; fluoxetine was also more expensive but the difference was less clear.
What they did
Researchers examined insurance claims from 14 managed care plans in the US from 1998 to 1999. They studied 1,413 women newly diagnosed with PMDD who started SSRI medication. They tracked treatment costs over 6 months.
What they found
Fluoxetine and sertraline were the most commonly chosen medications. When adjusting for age, insurance plan, and other factors, women taking paroxetine had higher treatment costs than sertraline users. Women on citalopram also had higher costs. Fluoxetine was more expensive but the difference was not as clear.
What it means for you
If cost is a concern, sertraline may be a good first choice for PMDD medication. This study looked only at insurance claims and costs, not how well the medications worked or their side effects. Results are from 1998-1999 and may not reflect current prices or practices.
1,413
women studied
6 months
duration of cost tracking
14
managed care insurance plans
About the study
- Original title
- Comparison of managed care charges among patients treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Endicott J, McLaughlin TP, Grudzinski AN
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical psychiatry
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 1,413
- What was tested
- Four SSRI medications: citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v64n1216
Topics
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