Cost Containment Analyses Between the Leading Anti-Depressant Drugs & Alpha-Stim SCS Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) Technology

Notes and References:

The Alpha-Stim SCS is a prescription medical device classified as a cranial electrotherapy stimulator (CES) indicated for the treatment of anxiety, depression and insomnia. There are 126 human studies encompassing 6,007 research subjects and 29 animal studies of CES (Kirsch, Daniel. The Science Behind Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation, Medical Scope Publishing Company, Edmonton, Alberta, 2^nd Ed. 2002). Side effects are mild and self-limiting primarily consisting of headaches (0.20%) and skin irritation (0.11%). For complete prescribing information see product brochure.

Call (818) 807-2050 Core Medical Consulting for current pricing on all Alpha-Stim products.

Compare this with recurring drug costs needed to approach similar results.

Drug costs are from Brink, Susan. Health on the Border. US News & World Report, June 9, 2003, p. 55.

Monthly dosage and prices for drugs are:

Paxil™ $83.29 for 30, 20 mg tablets,
Prozac™ $136.62 for 30, 20 mg capsules,
and Zoloft™ $114.56 for 30, 100 mg tablets.

Drug costs do not include ongoing physician visits to change drug prescriptions, adjust dosages, treat the side effects of drug therapy, or increasing drug costs over the five year period.

Comparison of Treatment Efficacy Between CES & Drugs

References:

Kirsch I, Moore TJ, Scorboria A, and Nicholls SS. The emperor’s new drugs: an analysis of antidepressant medication data submitted to the FDA. Prevention and Treatment. 2002;5:1-11. Available on the World Wide Web: www.journals.apa.org/prevention/ volume5/pre0050023a.html

Gilula MF, and Kirsch, DL. Cranial electrotherapy stimulation: an alternative to psychopharmaceuticals in the treatment of depression as a stand alone or add-on modality. In process 2003.