Abstract
While time-release (TR) formulations reduce medication complexity, their increased costs may compromise medication affordability.
This study examined how medication complexity and affordability affect the extent of access to TR formulations among adult patients
with depression. Study subjects consisted of adults (≥ 24 years old) with reported diagnoses of depression from the 2010 Medical
Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Antidepressants that offer choices between TR vs. IR (immediate release) were selected. Factors
related to medication complexity and affordability were identified based on the Anderson’s model of health services utilization. A
multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the study hypotheses while controlling for complex survey sampling in MEPS.
A total of 625 working adults with depression had filled prescriptions with TR formulations about 60% of the time. Factors related
to medication affordability and complexity were significantly associated with the extent of access to TR antidepressant formulations.
Identification of those factors associated with the use of TR formulations would contribute to improving access as well as adherence
to antidepressant drug therapy. Clin Trans Sci 2014; Volume #: 1–8