Medication complexity and affordability in use of time release antidepressants

Abstract

While time-release (TR) formulations reduce medication complexity, their increased costs may compromise medication affordability. This study examined how medication complexity and affordability affect the extent of access to TR formulations among adult patients with depression. Study subjects consisted of adults (≥ 24 years old) with reported diagnoses of depression from the 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Antidepressants that offer choices between TR vs. IR (immediate release) were selected. Factors related to medication complexity and affordability were identifi ed based on the Andersonfs model of health services utilization. A multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the study hypotheses while controlling for complex survey sampling in MEPS. A total of 625 working adults with depression had fi lled prescriptions with TR formulations about 60% of the time. Factors related to medication affordability and complexity were signifi cantly associated with the extent of access to TR antidepressant formulations. Identifi cation of those factors associated with the use of TR formulations would contribute to improving access as well as adherence to antidepressant drug therapy.

Keywords: access to medication; antidepressant drug therapy; medication affordability; medication complexity.

Figure 1

Variations in use of TR antidepressant by (A) gender and race/ethnicity, (B) affordability factors, and (C) medication complexity factors. Error bars are 95% confidence intervals. Meds = medications; TR = time release; Yrs = years.