Price Differences Between Otic and Ophthalmic Drops.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pharmacology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Otic drops are frequently prescribed in otolaryngology.
• Some otic formulations are prohibitively expensive for patients.
• Ophthalmic drops are sometimes substituted to reduce patient costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the cost difference between otic and ophthalmic drops.
• To evaluate the economic viability of using ophthalmic drops in otologic care.

Main Methods:

• Telephone surveys of 83 pharmacies across three major US cities (New York City, Chicago, Portland).
• Evaluation of pricing for common otic and ophthalmic formulations over a 6-week period.
• Comparison of per-milliliter costs for specific drug combinations, including ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone, neomycin/polymyxin B sulfates/hydrocortisone, acetic acid, and ofloxacin.

Main Results:

• Significant price disparities were observed between otic and ophthalmic formulations.
• Ofloxacin ophthalmic drops ($11.00/mL) were substantially cheaper than otic drops ($31.00/mL).
• Ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone otic was the most expensive ($38.00/mL), while neomycin/polymyxin B sulfates/hydrocortisone otic was the least expensive antibiotic option ($11.60/mL).

Conclusions:

• Clinically appropriate ophthalmic drops represent a more cost-effective alternative to otic drops.
• The safety profile of ophthalmic drops supports their consideration for otologic use.
• Healthcare providers can leverage these findings to reduce patient out-of-pocket expenses.