The use of branded acne medications increased in dermatology offices that accepted free drug samples, concluded a study recently published in JAMA Dermatology. The study also found that free samples of acne drugs led to a 2-fold increase in prescription costs in private offices.
Examining patients who received a prescription for acne vulgaris or rosacea, researchers at Stanford University compared prescribing patterns between private dermatology offices that accepted free drug samples and dermatology clinics at academic medical centers without samples. The researchers chose acne medications because many free samples are given out and there are numerous generic alternatives to branded medications available.
The researchers uncovered dramatic differences between the 2 settings. In private offices, branded medications and branded generics included nearly 80% of all prescribed drugs. Yet, in academic clinics without samples, only 17% of written prescriptions were branded. As a result, the total retail cost of prescriptions for acne drugs was estimated to be $465 nationally at private offices compared with $200 at academic centers.
The authors concluded that the “benefits of free samples in dermatology must be weighed against potential negative effects on prescribing behavior and prescription costs.”
Hurley M, Stafford R, Lane A. Characterizing the relationship between free drug samples and prescription patterns for acne vulgaris and rosacea. JAMA Dermatol. 2014;150(1):487-493.
Acne is Major Cause of Teen Anxiety
Norwegian researchers examined the social anxiety symptoms of teenagers and found that acne was one of the top contributors.
A total of 8,388 adolescents age 13 to 18 participated in the study by completing self-report questionnaires that measured both social anxiety and other variables. The study included a clinical group and a community group, with a slightly higher percentage of girls than boys with a mean average age of about 15 years old.
The results found that social anxiety symptoms were higher among girls than boys in the clinical group compared with the community group. The top social anxiety triggers were academic problems, bullying, eating issues, acne and general anxiety and depression across the study groups.
Ranoyen I, Jozeflak T, Wallander J, Lydersen S, Indredavik M. Self-reported social anxiety symptoms and correlates in a clinical (CAP) and a community (Young-HUNT) adolescent sample. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. Published online ahead of print May 4, 2014.
The use of branded acne medications increased in dermatology offices that accepted free drug samples, concluded a study recently published in JAMA Dermatology. The study also found that free samples of acne drugs led to a 2-fold increase in prescription costs in private offices.
Examining patients who received a prescription for acne vulgaris or rosacea, researchers at Stanford University compared prescribing patterns between private dermatology offices that accepted free drug samples and dermatology clinics at academic medical centers without samples. The researchers chose acne medications because many free samples are given out and there are numerous generic alternatives to branded medications available.
The researchers uncovered dramatic differences between the 2 settings. In private offices, branded medications and branded generics included nearly 80% of all prescribed drugs. Yet, in academic clinics without samples, only 17% of written prescriptions were branded. As a result, the total retail cost of prescriptions for acne drugs was estimated to be $465 nationally at private offices compared with $200 at academic centers.
The authors concluded that the “benefits of free samples in dermatology must be weighed against potential negative effects on prescribing behavior and prescription costs.”
Hurley M, Stafford R, Lane A. Characterizing the relationship between free drug samples and prescription patterns for acne vulgaris and rosacea. JAMA Dermatol. 2014;150(1):487-493.
Acne is Major Cause of Teen Anxiety
Norwegian researchers examined the social anxiety symptoms of teenagers and found that acne was one of the top contributors.
A total of 8,388 adolescents age 13 to 18 participated in the study by completing self-report questionnaires that measured both social anxiety and other variables. The study included a clinical group and a community group, with a slightly higher percentage of girls than boys with a mean average age of about 15 years old.
The results found that social anxiety symptoms were higher among girls than boys in the clinical group compared with the community group. The top social anxiety triggers were academic problems, bullying, eating issues, acne and general anxiety and depression across the study groups.
Ranoyen I, Jozeflak T, Wallander J, Lydersen S, Indredavik M. Self-reported social anxiety symptoms and correlates in a clinical (CAP) and a community (Young-HUNT) adolescent sample. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. Published online ahead of print May 4, 2014.
The use of branded acne medications increased in dermatology offices that accepted free drug samples, concluded a study recently published in JAMA Dermatology. The study also found that free samples of acne drugs led to a 2-fold increase in prescription costs in private offices.
Examining patients who received a prescription for acne vulgaris or rosacea, researchers at Stanford University compared prescribing patterns between private dermatology offices that accepted free drug samples and dermatology clinics at academic medical centers without samples. The researchers chose acne medications because many free samples are given out and there are numerous generic alternatives to branded medications available.
The researchers uncovered dramatic differences between the 2 settings. In private offices, branded medications and branded generics included nearly 80% of all prescribed drugs. Yet, in academic clinics without samples, only 17% of written prescriptions were branded. As a result, the total retail cost of prescriptions for acne drugs was estimated to be $465 nationally at private offices compared with $200 at academic centers.
The authors concluded that the “benefits of free samples in dermatology must be weighed against potential negative effects on prescribing behavior and prescription costs.”
Hurley M, Stafford R, Lane A. Characterizing the relationship between free drug samples and prescription patterns for acne vulgaris and rosacea. JAMA Dermatol. 2014;150(1):487-493.
Acne is Major Cause of Teen Anxiety
Norwegian researchers examined the social anxiety symptoms of teenagers and found that acne was one of the top contributors.
A total of 8,388 adolescents age 13 to 18 participated in the study by completing self-report questionnaires that measured both social anxiety and other variables. The study included a clinical group and a community group, with a slightly higher percentage of girls than boys with a mean average age of about 15 years old.
The results found that social anxiety symptoms were higher among girls than boys in the clinical group compared with the community group. The top social anxiety triggers were academic problems, bullying, eating issues, acne and general anxiety and depression across the study groups.
Ranoyen I, Jozeflak T, Wallander J, Lydersen S, Indredavik M. Self-reported social anxiety symptoms and correlates in a clinical (CAP) and a community (Young-HUNT) adolescent sample. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. Published online ahead of print May 4, 2014.
