COMPARING BRANDS OF GLIBENCLAMIDE(5MG) AND METFORMIN (500MG) SUSTAINED RELEASE(SR) FIXED DOSE COMBINTION (FDC) PREPARATIONS IN HIGHLY COST SENSITIVE INDIAN PATIENTS SCENARIO.
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Keywords
Fixed dose combination of Glibenclamide 5 mg plus Metformin 500 mg SR
Abstract
Background: The objective was to study the yearly cost of each of the four important brands of Fixed Dose Combination of Glibenclamide 5 mg plus Metformin 500 mg SR in Indian market and to study the comparative yearly cost of all the brands.
Methods: Four well-known brands of fixed dose combination of Glibenclamide 5 mg plus Metformin 500 mg SR were selected for cost comparisons. The daily as well as yearly cost of prescription based on once daily use was worked out directly as well as in percentages and presented in the form of tables and figures.
Results: After careful analysis of the data, it was found that the costliest brand, brand D is more than 86 percent costlier than the cheapest brand, brand B and thus the brand preparation selection, can lead to considerable differences in yearly cost burden to the patient.
Conclusions: This significant cost difference between the most expensive and the most affordable brands assumes even further importance since majority of the diabetics need to bear the cost of multiple other drugs prescribed to them, on their own. Thus, it rather becomes a moral task for the prescribing physician to prescribe those medicines which are not taxing financially to his / her patients.
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Dr. Vikram Anant Rajadnya
Department of Pharmacology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.
Dr. Pramod Prabhakar Bhalerao
Department of Pharmacology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.
Dr. Chaitra Vikram Rajadnya
Department of Psychology, The New College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.
Dr. Archana Ganesh Dhavalshankh
Department of Pharmacology, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.