The total cost of alternative therapies was also higher with voriconazole as compared with posaconazole. This is logical given the fact that patients receiving voriconazole as initial therapy experienced more overall switching to alternative therapies, which mean that more alternative therapy and costs were consumed. Costs of side effects that did not lead to discontinuation was not included in this study. This is not expected to change the study conclusion, however, because posaconazole has fewer reported side effects than voriconazole. Therefore, accounting for costs of all side effects associated with the two antifungals would have most likely increased the posaconazole economic advantage. These observations highlight the need for prescribers and other decision makers to consider drug acquisition costs as well as secondary costs, such as cost of therapy failure, when determining the most appropriate medication for
The total cost of alternative therapies was also higher with voriconazole as compared with posaconazole. This is logical given the fact that patients receiving voriconazole as initial therapy experienced more overall switching to alternative therapies, which mean that more alternative therapy and costs were consumed. Costs of side effects that did not lead to discontinuation was not included in this study. This is not expected to change the study conclusion, however, because posaconazole has fewer reported side effects than voriconazole. Therefore, accounting for costs of all side effects associated with the two antifungals would have most likely increased the posaconazole economic advantage. These observations highlight the need for prescribers and other decision makers to consider drug acquisition costs as well as secondary costs, such as cost of therapy failure, when determining the most appropriate medication for