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Trends in Outpatient Prescription Drug Use and Related Costs in the US

1998–2003

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Abstract

Objective

To present a brief synopsis of trends in the number of prescriptions and retail costs of outpatient drugs dispensed in the US between 1998 and 2003.

Methods

Data were extracted from IMS Health, the National Prescription Audit Plus™ and the National Disease and Therapeutic Index™ databases.

Results

In 1998, 2.7 billion outpatient prescriptions were dispensed versus 3.6 billion in 2003. This equates to a 33.3% increase over the 6-year period. Of the top 20 most dispensed drugs by volume, 40% were launched in the 1990s or 2000s. Retail costs for the total market of dispensed outpatient prescription drugs were $US96.1 billion in 1998 and $US196 billion in 2003, a 104% increase. Of the top 20 most dispensed drugs by retail cost, all were tradename drugs and were launched in the 1990s or 2000s.

Conclusions

These data indicate a large increase in the US over a short time period in dispensed outpatient prescriptions and their associated retail costs.

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Fig. 1
Table I

Notes

  1. The use of trade names is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.

References

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript contains the views of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official position of the Food and Drug Administration or the US Government.

Diane Wysowski initiated the study, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript. Laura Governale obtained and analysed the data and edited the manuscript. Joslyn Swann obtained and reviewed the data and edited the manuscript. Data were purchased by the FDA from IMS Health through contract no. 223-00-5501. The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this short communication.

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Wysowski, D.K., Governale, L.A. & Swann, J. Trends in Outpatient Prescription Drug Use and Related Costs in the US. Pharmacoeconomics 24, 233–236 (2006). https://doi.org/10.2165/00019053-200624030-00003

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00019053-200624030-00003

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