ECONOMIC-EVALUATION OF FAMCICLOVIR IN REDUCING THE DURATION OF POSTHERPETIC NEURALGIA

The economic impact of famciclovir therapy for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in patients with acute herpes tester was studied. A decision-ana lytic model of the treatment of herpes tester and PHN was used to comp are the cost of PHN between patients treated with oral famciclovir 500 mg three times daily for seven days and patients not receiving any an tiviral therapy. The effects of famciclovir on PHN in the model were b ased on the results of a randomized, double-blind trial in 419 adult o utpatients. The cost of the course of famciclovir therapy (21 tablets) was estimated as the sum of the drug's wholesale acquisition cost and the pharmacy dispensing cost. The cost of treating PHN (physician vis its, medications, and miscellaneous nondrug therapy) was estimated by consulting a panel of physicians. According to the model, the cost of treating PHN was $85 lower per famciclovir recipient ($294 for famcicl ovir versus $379 for no antiviral therapy). The net cost of famciclovi r therapy was $23 per patient ($108 for acquisition and dispensing min us the $85 savings). Among patients 50 years of age or older, famciclo vir reduced the average cost of PHN by $155 ($414 for famciclovir vers us $569 for no antiviral therapy) and yielded a net savings of $47 per patient. A model for the use of famciclovir to treat acute herpes tes ter showed that the cost of such therapy was largely offset by savings in the cost of treating this complication.