A Retrospective Pharmacoeconomic Study of Risperidone versus Olanzapine

Suh, Guk Hee; Lee, Tae Jin

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The study aims to compare daily treatment costs of risperidone and olanzapine in the Korean RODOS data. METHODS: Retrospective inpatient chart review yielded pharmacoeconomic data of 1096 patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. RESULTS: The mean+/-SD daily effective dose of olanzapine treatment was 14.9+/-5.3 mg compared to 5.1+/-1.8 mg for risperidone. Use of concomittant neuroleptics was higher in olanzapine group (risperidone 29%;olanzapine 35%;p=0.034), while use of other concomitant drugs was higher in risperidone group (risperidone 97%;olanzapine 90%;p<0.001). The mean+/-SD total costs of all inpatient drugs was significantly higher (p<0.001) for olanzapine (338, 431 Korean Won+/-289, 884) than risperidone (114, 775 Korean Won+/-97, 835). Although this difference in the average total costs in part reflects the longer treatment duration for olanzapine compared to risperidone (52 day versus 43 day), the cost difference remained when looking at costs on a daily basis and when correcting the baseline differences. The mean+/-SD daily costs of all inpatient drugs was significantly higher (p<0.001) for olanzapine (9, 407 Korean Won+/-10, 767) than risperidone (4, 475 Korean Won+/-4, 312). CONCLUSION: When both olanzapine and risperidone are considered appropriate, it is desirable to choose risperidone first in terms of the pharmacoeconomic consideration of the cost of these drugs.