Amlodipine: a pharmacoeconomic review.

OBJECTIVES

To review the pharmacoeconomic impact of the use of amlodipine in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.

METHODS

A review of the available outcome trials evaluating the clinical effectiveness of amlodipine in hypertensive patients or in patients with CAD or diabetic nephropathy was carried out to identify pharmacoeconomic studies that quantified the economic impact of using amlodipine instead of another treatment.

RESULTS

A combined analysis of two trials comparing angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) with a calcium channel blocker amlodipine suggested that amlodipine provided more protection against stroke and myocardial infarction than ARBs. In addition, in keeping with previous meta-analyses, calcium channel blockade with amlodipine also prevented more stroke than angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and old drug classes. Pharmacoeconomic analysis conducted in the US and Europe demonstrated that the use of amlodipine resulted in fewer hospitalisations and the need for fewer invasive surgical procedures in the short and long term and at a modest incremental cost. The use of amlodipine resulted in improved clinical outcomes as well as slight savings in cost.

CONCLUSIONS

Amlodipine is not only cost effective, but predicted to be cost saving when compared with usual care, warranting its consideration as an agent of choice in patients with CAD.