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. 2008 Aug;14(8):1280-3.
doi: 10.3201/eid1408.080074.

Oseltamivir prescribing in pharmacy-benefits database, United States, 2004-2005

Justin R Ortiz  1 , Laurie Kamimoto, Ronald E Aubert, Jianying Yao, David K Shay, Joseph S Bresee, Robert S Epstein
Affiliations

Oseltamivir prescribing in pharmacy-benefits database, United States, 2004-2005

Justin R Ortiz et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Aug.

Abstract

We reviewed information from a US pharmacy benefits manager database from 2004 through 2005 during periods with little influenza activity. We calculated rates of oseltamivir prescriptions to enrollees. Prescription rates increased significantly from 27.3/100,000 in 2004 to 134/100,000 in 2005 (p<0.05), which suggested that personal stockpiling of oseltamivir occurred.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Weekly influenza activity, oseltamivir prescription rates for enrollees of all ages, and LexisNexis references to avian influenza and oseltamivir, United States, 2003–2006. *World Health Organization and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System collaborating laboratories in the United States. †LexisNexis US News database query for weekly news reports referring to “(avian or bird or H5N1) and (flu or influenza) and (Tamiflu or oseltamivir).”
Figure 2
Figure 2
Oseltamivir prescription rates/1,000 prescribers by specialty, United States, weeks 36–44, 2004 and 2005. Infectious diseases classification includes pediatric and adult infectious diseases specialists. All classifications are mutually exclusive. RR, rate ratio; CI, confidence interval.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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