ADHD Prescriptions Increase 24.5 Percent After Aussie Coverage
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Australian authorities report prescriptions for drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder rose by 24.5 percent after the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme decided to cover the drugs. Alza's Concerta (methyphenidate hydrochloride), a long-acting stimulate, and Eli Lilly's Strattera (atomoxetine hydrochloride), a non-stimulant, were put on the PBS formulary after the agency decided to cover ADHD beginning last April. The cost of Concerta to patients dropped 80 percent as a result. But the government is about to release the results of a review of the advisability of covering the drugs in the wake of questions raised about the amount of psychiatric drugs prescribed for children. (Click here for more