A Cost Analysis on Generic and Brand-name Anti-depression Medications

Abstract

A mental disorder is characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour [1, 2]. In 2019, approximately one in every eight individuals around the world was affected by a mental disorder, with depression and anxiety being the most prevalent conditions [3]. Currently, popular prescribed types of antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) [4]. For such medications, affordability with reasonable cost is critically important alongside their availability for treating depression. In my study, I conducted a quantitative assessment of the cost of generic medications and the corresponding brand names, as reported in the comprehensive CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) database, focusing on commonly used antidepressants. Our findings indicate that the total number of 30-day prescription fills has consistently increased every year since 2013, suggesting that the number of people with depression is rising every year including the pandemic period. Alarmingly, the average cost per prescription fill (total cost divided by number of 30-day fills) for brand-name prescription drugs is significantly higher, ranging from 14 to 71 times more expensive, compared to their corresponding generic counterparts. For instance, Citalopram, a popular generic SSRI medication and the 31 st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States in 2020 [5], costs only $4.65 per fill in the range of 2013 to 2022. In contrast, the corresponding brand-name version, Celexa, marketed by Allergan, Inc., costs $252.32 per fill during the same time period.