Cost analysis of glaucoma medications

PURPOSE: To provide patients and health care providers with calculated yearly costs of topical glaucoma medications. DESIGN: Prospective, experimental, laboratory study. METHODS: Using the average wholesale price and common dosing patterns, we calculated the theoretical yearly cost of glaucoma medications. RESULTS: Calculated yearly cost ranged from $150.81 for generic timolol maleate 0.5% (Falcon Pharmaceuticals, Ltd, Fort Worth, Texas, USA) to $697.42 for Cosopt (Merck & Co, West Point, Pennsylvania, USA), and as high as $873.98 for a three-times-daily dose of Alphagan P 0.15% (Allergan, Inc, Irvine, California, USA). Among brand name beta-blockers, yearly cost ranged between $203-47 for Timoptic 0.5% (Merck & Co) and $657.24 for Betoptic S (Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, Texas, USA). Generic beta-blockers consistently were more economical than their brand-name counterparts. Yearly cost of prostaglandin analogs ranged from $427.69 for Travatan (Alcon) to $577.62 for Lumigan (Allergan). The two carbonic anhydrase inhibitors Azopt (Alcon) and Trusopt (Merck & Co), yielded similar economic profiles. Alphagan P 0.15% had yearly calculated costs of $559.08 for twice daily dosing per eye. The generic selective alpha(2)-agonist brimonidine tartrate 0.2% (Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals, Tampa, Florida, USA) costs approximately $352.89 and $529.34 per year for the respective two and three drops daily per eye regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Nonselective beta-blockers remain the most inexpensive class of glaucoma medications. Bottle size may impact yearly glaucoma medication expenditures. Costs of glaucoma medications may impact decision making in the medical management of glaucoma.