Financial Burden of Drugs Prescribed for Cancer-Associated Symptoms.
JCO Oncol Pract
; 18(2): 140-147, 2022 02.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34558297
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The financial toxicity of anticancer drugs is well-documented, but little is known about the costs of drugs used to manage cancer-associated symptoms.METHODS:
We reviewed relevant guidelines and compiled drugs used to manage seven cancer-associated symptoms (anorexia and cachexia, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, constipation, diarrhea, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, cancer-associated fatigue, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting). Using GoodRx website, we identified the retail price (cash price at retail pharmacies) and lowest price (discounted, best-case scenario of out-of-pocket costs) for patients without insurance for each drug or formulation for a typical fill. We describe lowest prices here.RESULTS:
For anorexia and cachexia, costs ranged from $5 US dollars (USD; generic olanzapine or mirtazapine tablets) to $1,156 USD (brand-name dronabinol solution) and varied widely by formulation of the same drug or dosage for olanzapine 5 mg, $5 USD (generic tablet) to $239 USD (brand-name orally disintegrating tablet). For chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, costs of duloxetine varied from $12 USD (generic) to $529 USD (brand-name). For constipation, the cost of sennosides or polyethylene glycol was <$15 USD, whereas newer agents such as methylnaltrexone were expensive ($1,001 USD). For diarrhea, the cost of generic loperamide or diphenoxylate-atropine tablets was <$15 USD. For exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, only brand-name formulations were available, range of cost, $1,072 USD-$1,514 USD. For cancer-associated fatigue, the cost of generic dexamethasone or dexmethylphenidate was <$15 USD, whereas brand-name modafinil was more costly ($1,284 USD). For a 4-drug nausea and vomiting prophylaxis regimen, costs ranged from $181 USD to $1,430 USD.CONCLUSION:
We highlight the high costs of many symptom control drugs and the wide variation in the costs of these drugs. These findings can guide patient-clinician discussions about cost-effectively managing symptoms, while promoting the use of less expensive formulations when possible.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Temas:
Geral
/
Tipos_de_cancer
/
Outros_tipos
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Neoplasias
/
Antineoplásicos
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
/
Health_economic_evaluation
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
JCO Oncol Pract
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Mongólia