Cost variation among anxiolytic drugs

Background: Indian pharmaceuticals market stands third and thirteenth largest in terms of value and volume in the Global Pharmaceutical Industry respectively. Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental illnesses affecting more than 15% of the population at some point in their life span. Treatment of anxiety disorders usually follows a long term treatment. Cost of the treatment is an important factor determining the adherence to the treatment.Methods: Data relevant to various brands of anxiolytic drug available in the Indian market particular drug obtained from “Current Index of Medical Specialties” (CIMS) October 2017 - January 2018 was used to calculate the cost ratio and percentage cost variation.Results: There are 16 anxiolytic drugs in the form of 44 different formulations and 384 brands available in the Indian market. Among anxiolytic drugs, highest cost ratio and percent cost variation is for diazepam 5mg, followed by alprazolam 1mg and hydroxyzine 10mg. Highest number of brands of anxiolytic drugs available in Indian market are for clonazepam 0.5mg followed by alprazolam 0.5mg and escitalopram 10mg.Conclusions: In Indian market, there is availability of large number of brands with wide and variable cost variations among the various brands of the anxiolytic drugs