ABSTRACT
Newer antipsychotics are relatively costly medicines, although their benefits may make them costeffective in practice. Cost minimisation is a practical option that reduces drug expenditure without compromising patient care or patient quality of life. It involves using the right drug for the most appropriate condition (see Protocols) and using the minimum effective dose in each patient. The table below gives the cost (£/patient/30 days) as of March 2003 of atypicals at their estimated lowest effective dose, their approximate average clinical dose and their licensed maximum dose. The table allows comparison of different doses of the same drug and of different drugs at any of the three doses. It is hoped that the table will encourage the use of lower doses of less expensive drugs, given equality in other respects and allowing for clinical requirements.
