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Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)) Apr 2010In this article, we provide information on patient-reported side effects from a cross-section of real-world patients. Specifically, data on side effects were tabulated...
In this article, we provide information on patient-reported side effects from a cross-section of real-world patients. Specifically, data on side effects were tabulated for patients taking one of the following attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medications: amphetamine and dextroamphetamine; atomoxetine; dexmethylphenidate; isdexamfetamine; and methylphenidate. Forty-eight percent of the approximately 325 patients surveyed reported having experienced a side effect as a result of taking an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication. Most common side effects mentioned included loss of appetite, sleep problems, and mood disturbances. Only 21 percent of side effects were considered very bothersome or extremely bothersome. Regardless of how bothersome the side effects were, only 20 percent of patients mentioned the side effects to their prescribing physicians.
PubMed: 20508803
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Medical Economics Jul 2013To assess treatment adherence in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients initiated on Lisdexamfetamine (LDX) vs other FDA-approved stimulants and... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVE
To assess treatment adherence in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients initiated on Lisdexamfetamine (LDX) vs other FDA-approved stimulants and non-stimulant medications.
METHODS
ADHD patients initiated on an ADHD medication (index medication) were selected from a large US administrative claims database. Based on age and previous treatment status, patients were classified into treatment-naïve children and adolescents (6-17 years old), previously treated children and adolescents, treatment-naïve adults (over 18 years old), and previously treated adults. Furthermore, based on their index medication, patients were classified into seven mutually exclusive treatment groups: LDX, atomoxetine (ATX), osmotic release methylphenidate hydrochloride long acting (OROS MPH), other methylphenidate/dexmethylphenidate long acting (MPH LA) and short acting (MPH SA), and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine short acting (AMPH SA) and long acting (AMPH LA). Treatment adherence (proportion of days covered by the index medication ≥0.8) over a 12-month period was compared across treatment groups using multivariate logistic regression models.
RESULTS
In children and adolescents, LDX patients were more likely to be adherent compared to patients in each of the other treatment groups, except in treatment-naïve patients where LDX patients had a similar likelihood (p = 0.6925) and were less likely (p = 0.0004) to be adherent compared to ATX and OROS MPH patients, respectively. In adults, the LDX treatment group was also more likely to be adherent compared to each of the other treatment groups, except compared to AMPH LA, where statistically insignificant differences were observed (previously treated: p = 0.6471, treatment-naïve: p = 0.0733).
LIMITATIONS
ADHD severity information was not available in the database. Accordingly, this study did not control for ADHD severity.
CONCLUSION
Overall, LDX-treated patients demonstrated a better treatment adherence compared to patients initiated on other ADHD medications, except for AMPH LA in adult and OROS MPH and ATX in treatment-naïve children and adolescents.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Dextroamphetamine; Family Health; Female; Humans; Insurance Claim Review; Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medication Adherence; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution; United States
PubMed: 23621503
DOI: 10.3111/13696998.2013.800524 -
Journal of Medical Economics Nov 2013To compare treatment persistence in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) of patients initiated on lisdexamfetamine (LDX) vs other ADHD medications.
OBJECTIVE
To compare treatment persistence in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) of patients initiated on lisdexamfetamine (LDX) vs other ADHD medications.
METHODS
A large US administrative claims database was used to select ADHD patients who initiated an ADHD medication (index treatment) during/after 2007. Patients were classified, based on age and previous treatment status, as treatment-naïve or previously treated children and adolescents (6-17 years) and treatment-naïve or previously treated adults (18 years and older). Furthermore, patients were classified into seven mutually exclusive treatment groups, based on their index treatment: LDX, atomoxetine (ATX), osmotic-release methylphenidate hydrochloride long-acting (OROS MPH), other methylphenidate/dexmethylphenidate short-acting (MPH SA) and long-acting (MPH LA), and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine short acting (AMPH SA) and long-acting (AMPH LA). Treatment persistence, analyzed through discontinuation (interruption of the index treatment for ≥30 consecutive days), was compared between treatment groups using multivariate Cox proportional hazards. Patients were followed until first treatment discontinuation or up to 12 months after the initiation of the index treatment, whichever occurred first.
RESULTS
Among children and adolescents, LDX patients had a significantly lower discontinuation rate compared to other treatment groups (range hazard ratios [HRs]; 1.04-2.26; all p < 0.05), except when compared to treatment-naïve patients on ATX and OROS MPH, where no statistically significant differences were found and where LDX had a higher risk of discontinuation, respectively. Among adults, LDX patients had a significantly lower discontinuation rate compared to patients in other treatment groups (range HR; 1.14-1.86; all p < 0.05), except for the comparison with AMPH LA patients, where differences were not statistically significant.
LIMITATIONS
This study did not control for ADHD severity.
CONCLUSION
LDX-treated patients were associated with higher persistence compared to patients initiated on other ADHD medications, except for the comparisons with OROS MPH and ATX treated patients in treatment-naïve children and adolescents and AMPH LA-treated patients in adults.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Amphetamines; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Child; Comorbidity; Dextroamphetamine; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Insurance Claim Review; Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate; Male; Medication Adherence; Retrospective Studies; United States; Young Adult
PubMed: 24004347
DOI: 10.3111/13696998.2013.839947 -
PloS One 2021Patient access and adherence to chronic medications is critical. In this work, we evaluate whether disruptions related to Covid-19 have affected new and existing...
Patient access and adherence to chronic medications is critical. In this work, we evaluate whether disruptions related to Covid-19 have affected new and existing patients' access to pharmacological therapies without interruption. We do so by performing a retrospective analysis on a dataset of 9.4 billion US prescription drug claims from 252 million patients from May, 2019 through August, 2020 (about 93% of prescriptions dispensed within those months). Using fixed effect (conditional likelihood) linear models, we evaluate continuity of care, how many days of supply patients received, and the likelihood of discontinuing therapy for drugs from classes with significant population health impacts. Findings indicate that more prescriptions were filled in March 2020 than in any prior month, followed by a significant drop in monthly dispensing. Compared to the pre-Covid era, a patient's likelihood of discontinuing some medications increased after the spread of Covid: norgestrel-ethinyl estradiol (hormonal contraceptive) discontinuation increased 0.62% (95% CI: 0.59% to 0.65%, p<0.001); dexmethylphenidate HCL (ADHD stimulant treatment) discontinuation increased 2.84% (95% CI: 2.79% to 2.89%, p<0.001); escitalopram oxalate (SSRI antidepressant) discontinuation increased 0.57% (95% CI: 0.561% to 0.578%, p<0.001); and haloperidol (antipsychotic) discontinuation increased 1.49% (95% CI: 1.41% to 1.57%, p<0.001). In contrast, the likelihood of discontinuing tacrolimus (immunosuppressant) decreased 0.15% (95% CI: 0.12% to 0.19%, p<0.001). The likelihood of discontinuing buprenorphine/naloxone (opioid addiction therapy) decreased 0.59% (95% CI: 0.55% to 0.62% decrease, p<0.001). We also observe a notable decline in new patients accessing these latter two therapies. Most US patients were able to access chronic medications during the early months of Covid-19, but still were more likely to discontinue their therapies than in previous months. Further, fewer than normal new patients started taking medications that may be vital to their care. Providers would do well to inquire about adherence and provide prompt, nonjudgmental, re-initiation of medications. From a policy perspective, opioid management programs seem to demonstrate a robust ability to manage existing patients in spite of disruption.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Antidepressive Agents; Antipsychotic Agents; COVID-19; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Contraceptive Agents, Hormonal; Datasets as Topic; Drug Prescriptions; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; Medication Adherence; Pandemics; Retrospective Studies; United States
PubMed: 33793663
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249453 -
Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy : JMCP 2012Although not indicated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) are commonly prescribed for children with ADHD. The treatment...
Comparative treatment patterns, resource utilization, and costs in stimulant-treated children with ADHD who require subsequent pharmacotherapy with atypical antipsychotics versus non-antipsychotics.
BACKGROUND
Although not indicated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) are commonly prescribed for children with ADHD. The treatment patterns, resource utilization, and costs associated with AAPs relative to non-antipsychotic medications have not been evaluated for children with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
To compare treatment patterns, resource utilization, and costs to U.S. third party payers between stimulant-treated ADHD children who switch to or augment their stimulant treatment with AAPs (risperidone, aripiprazole, quetiapine, olanzapine, ziprasidone, paliperidone, and clozapine) compared with non-antipsychotic medications (atomoxetine, clonidine immediate-release (IR), guanfacine IR, dexmethylphenidate, mixed amphetamine salts, methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, and dextroamphetamine).
METHODS
Patients with at least one ADHD diagnosis (ICD-9-CM codes 314.00 or 314.01) and at least one stimulant medication claim between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009, were identified from a large U.S. commercial medical/pharmacy claims database. Patients were classified into the AAP cohort if they had a claim for an AAP following a stimulant fill or into the non-antipsychotic cohort if they had a claim for a non-antipsychotic medication after a stimulant fill and no AAP claims. The index date was defined as the date of the first fill of the AAP or a randomly selected eligible non-antipsychotic medication. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they were aged 6-12 as of the index date and had at least 18 months of continuous eligibility. Patients were excluded if they had a psychiatric diagnosis for which AAPs were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or commonly used. Patients in the non-antipsychotic group were matched 1:1 to patients in the AAP group using a propensity score generated from a logistic regression that included demographics, treatments, resource utilization, and comorbidities during the 6 months prior to the index date. All outcomes were measured during the 12 months following the index date. Treatment patterns were compared using Kaplan-Meier (KM) estimates and Cox proportional hazards models. Annual resource utilization was compared using McNemar's test and Poisson regression. Costs were estimated from the perspective of U.S. third-party payers and were adjusted to 2010 dollars using the medical component of the Consumer Price Index. Both all-cause and mental health-related costs were examined and compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.
RESULTS
Of the 22,622 patients with ADHD identified to have used AAPs after a stimulant, 15,664 (69%) patients did not have a psychiatric diagnosis for which AAPs were FDA-indicated or commonly used. Among the 84,558 patients using non-antipsychotics after a stimulant, 81,397 (96%) did not have such psychiatric diagnoses. A total of 2,127 children in the AAP cohort and 16,508 children in the non-antipsychotic cohort met all of the study inclusion criteria. After propensity score matching, 1,857 children (358 switchers and 1,499 augmenters) were included in each of the matched cohorts. The baseline characteristics were well balanced between the matched cohorts. In the 12 months post-index date, children treated with AAPs were more likely to experience switching (KM: 17.2% vs. 10.4% at 12 months; HR = 1.75) and augmentation (KM: 43.4% vs. 22.4% at 12 months; HR = 2.62) than the non-antipsychotic group (both P less than 0.001). Rates of discontinuation were similar between groups (KM: 71.8% vs. 71.7% at 12 months; HR = 0.98, P = 0.600). The AAP cohort also had higher mean numbers of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and outpatient visits (0.08 vs. 0.03, 0.34 vs. 0.25, 14.1 vs. 12.7 per patient, respectively; event rate ratios = 2.61, 1.33, and 1.11, respectively; all P less than 0.001). The AAP group also incurred higher all-cause mean medical, prescription drug, and total health care costs compared with the non-antipsychotic group ($3,090 vs. $2,238; $3,844 vs. $2,509; $6,934 vs. $4,748, respectively; all P less than 0.001). Patients in the AAP group also incurred higher mean total, medical, and drug costs related to mental health ($5,057 vs. $2,859; $1,555 vs. $964; $3,502 vs. $1,895, respectively; all P less than 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Stimulant-treated children with ADHD who switched to or augmented with AAPs versus non-antipsychotics had significantly greater rates of subsequent augmentation and health care resource utilization as well as higher total health care costs. Further research and/or drug utilization reviews may be warranted to fully evaluate the clinical and economic outcomes of pediatric ADHD patients who are receiving AAPs.
Topics: Adolescent; Antipsychotic Agents; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Child; Child, Preschool; Drug Costs; Female; Health Care Costs; Health Resources; Humans; Insurance Claim Review; Male; Managed Care Programs; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution
PubMed: 23206211
DOI: 10.18553/jmcp.2012.18.9.676