Cost-Effectiveness of Venlafaxine XL Compared with Diazepam in the Treatment of Generalised Anxiety Disorder in the United Kingdom

This study used decision modelling to compare the cost-effectiveness of venlafaxine XL (Efexor XL) to that of diazepam to treat non-depressed patients suffering from generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), from the perspective of the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS). Starting treatmen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The European journal of health economics 2005-06, Vol.6 (2), p.136-145
Main Authors: Guest, J. F., Russ, J., Lenox-Smith, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anti-Anxiety Agents - economics
Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use
Antidepressants
Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - economics
Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - therapeutic use
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety Disorders - drug therapy
Cost analysis
Cost estimates
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cyclohexanols - economics
Cyclohexanols - therapeutic use
Decision making models
Diazepam - economics
Diazepam - therapeutic use
Disorders
Drug therapy
Economics, Pharmaceutical
General practice
Generalized anxiety disorder
Health care costs
Health economics
Health services
Humans
Medications
Original Papers
Placebos
Psychological counseling
Relapse
State Medicine
United Kingdom
Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
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Summary:This study used decision modelling to compare the cost-effectiveness of venlafaxine XL (Efexor XL) to that of diazepam to treat non-depressed patients suffering from generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), from the perspective of the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS). Starting treatment with venlafaxine XL instead of diazepam significantly increased the expected probability of being in remission by 83% at 6 months (from 16.8% to 30.7%), and the expected probability of relapsing at 6 months was decreased by 79% (from 16.9% to 3.5%). The expected 6-month NHS cost of using venlafaxine XL to treat GAD was estimated to be £353 compared to £311 with diazepam. Hence starting GAD treatment with venlafaxine XL (75 mg per day) instead of diazepam (5 mg three times per day) is clinically more effective and the cost-effective strategy for managing non-depressed patients suffering from GAD in the UK.
ISSN:1618-7598
1618-7601
DOI:10.1007/s10198-004-0272-z