Prescriber Checkup
The Doctors and Drugs in Medicare Part D
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HERBERT VANDENBERG M.D.
615 S TRENTON ST
Ruston | Louisiana | 71270
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At A Glance: This Prescriber in 2015
Self-Reported Primary Specialty
Rank: 23 out of 214
Rank: 24 out of 214
How Does This Prescriber Compare to Peers?
In the same specialty and state. Caveats »
this specialty
in Louisiana lower than average
Antipsychotics
Comparisons are not shown because this provider has fewer than 100 patients who are 65 and older.
30 of this provider’s 85 patients who are 65 and older filled at least one prescription for an antipsychotic drug.
Antibiotics
This provider prescribed antibiotics to at least one but fewer than 11 patients, so Medicare redacted the exact figure. Comparisons are not shown.
Risky Drugs for Seniors
Comparisons are not shown because this provider has fewer than 100 patients who are 65 and older.
11 of this provider’s 85 patients who are 65 and older filled at least one prescription for a potentially inappropriate drug.
Opioids
This provider prescribed opioids to at least one but fewer than 11 patients, so Medicare redacted the exact figure. Comparisons are not shown.
Brand Name Drugs
21% of this provider’s prescriptions were for brand-name drugs, compared to an average of 14%.
Prescription Price
$118 was the average price of a prescription from this provider, compared to $107 among peers.
Prescriptions per Patient
23 is the average number of prescriptions (including refills) per patient, compared to an average of 15.
How This Provider’s Patients Compare
Doctors often say their patients are sicker or more complex than those of their peers. The measure displayed below, used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, takes into account patients’ characteristics to estimate whether they are expected to have above-average Medicare spending. It considers patients’ age, sex, diagnoses from the past year and other factors. This provider’s score below takes into account all patients.
This Provider's History
A comparison of this provider’s prescribing in Part D since 2012. All years may not be shown if there is insufficient data.
Cost of Claims
$605K
2012
$590K
2013
$723K
2014
$802K
2015
Number of Claims
5,940
2012
5,940
2013
6,088
2014
6,804
2015
This Prescriber's Drugs
The table below list this provider’s drugs, the number of prescriptions and how many went to seniors. Drugs are ranked by volume and compared with the rank for all providers in the same specialty and state. The list below includes only those drugs for which this provider wrote 50 or more prescriptions.
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An opioid drug. More » Prescription opioids (painkillers) can help alleviate certain kinds of pain in the short term but carry serious health risks.
An antibiotic drug. More » Used to treat bacterial infections but are often prescribed incorrectly to treat viral infections, such as chest colds or the flu.
An antipsychotic drug. More » Antipsychotics are frequently given to dementia patients, though it increases their risk of death.
A risky drug for seniors. More » The American Geriatrics Society has said this drug is "potentially dangerous" for seniors and might be inappropriate.
This provider is among the top 10 prescribers of this drug in the country.
This provider’s prescriptions for this drug were for more days than those of peers. More » Because of this, his or her prescription count may be lower.
This provider’s prescriptions for this drug were for fewer days than those of peers. More » Because of this, his or her prescription count may be higher.
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This Drug's Rank
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Name | Total Prescriptions Filled with Refills |
Prescriptions to 65+ |
Patients Receiving this Drug | Category | For this Prescriber | For this Prescriber's Peers |
|
DIVALPROEX SODIUM ER
Treats seizures (epilepsy).... + Treats seizures (epilepsy). Source: National Library of Medicine |
621
prescriptions, 9% of all prescriptions |
92
prescriptions. |
70
patients, 23% of all patients |
1 | 13 | |
|
RISPERIDONE
Treats schizophrenia and ce... + Treats schizophrenia and certain problems caused by bipolar disorder. Source: National Library of Medicine |
369
prescriptions, 5% of all prescriptions |
21
prescriptions. |
44
patients, 15% of all patients |
P | 2 | 5 |
|
CLONIDINE HCL
Clonidine is used alone or ... + Clonidine is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure. Source: National Library of Medicine |
367
prescriptions, 5% of all prescriptions |
69
prescriptions. |
46
patients, 15% of all patients |
3 | 57 | |
|
OXCARBAZEPINE
Used alone or together with... + Used alone or together with other medicines to treat seizures caused by epilepsy in adults and children 2 years of age and older. Source: National Library of Medicine |
307
prescriptions, 5% of all prescriptions |
40
prescriptions. |
38
patients, 13% of all patients |
4 | 25 | |
|
OLANZAPINE
Treats psychotic mental dis... + Treats psychotic mental disorders, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). Source: National Library of Medicine |
270
prescriptions, 4% of all prescriptions |
42
prescriptions. |
27
patients, 9% of all patients |
P | 5 | 11 |
| GUANFACINE HCL |
230
prescriptions, 3% of all prescriptions |
18
prescriptions. |
54
patients, 18% of all patients |
R 10 | 6 | 87 |
|
DIVALPROEX SODIUM
Treats seizures (epilepsy).... + Treats seizures (epilepsy). Source: National Library of Medicine |
229
prescriptions, 3% of all prescriptions |
32
prescriptions. |
30
patients, 10% of all patients |
7 | 20 | |
|
TRAZODONE HCL
Trazodone is used to treat ... + Trazodone is used to treat depression. Source: National Library of Medicine |
211
prescriptions, 3% of all prescriptions |
55
prescriptions. |
31
patients, 10% of all patients |
8 | 2 | |
|
SEROQUEL XR
Treats schizophrenia and sy... + Treats schizophrenia and symptoms of bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). Source: National Library of Medicine |
208
prescriptions, 3% of all prescriptions |
30
prescriptions. |
30
patients, 10% of all patients |
P | 9 | 29 |
|
CITALOPRAM HBR
Citalopram is used to treat... + Citalopram is used to treat depression. Source: National Library of Medicine |
185
prescriptions, 3% of all prescriptions |
42
prescriptions. |
32
patients, 11% of all patients |
10 | 17 | |
|
NAMENDA XR
Used to treat the symptoms ... + Used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Source: National Library of Medicine |
176
prescriptions, 3% of all prescriptions |
131
prescriptions. |
21
patients, 7% of all patients |
11 | 43 | |
|
ZIPRASIDONE HCL
Used to treat the symptoms ... + Used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions). Source: National Library of Medicine |
168
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
36
prescriptions. |
16
patients, 5% of all patients |
P | 12 | 24 |
|
LAMOTRIGINE
Treats certain types of sei... + Treats certain types of seizures and mood disorders. Source: National Library of Medicine |
160
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
31
prescriptions. |
23
patients, 8% of all patients |
13 | 18 | |
|
TOPIRAMATE
Helps control and prevent c... + Helps control and prevent certain kinds of seizures. Source: National Library of Medicine |
150
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
19
prescriptions. |
22
patients, 7% of all patients |
14 | 36 | |
|
LEVOTHYROXINE SODIUM
Levothyroxine, a thyroid ho... + Levothyroxine, a thyroid hormone, is used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Source: National Library of Medicine |
126
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
39
prescriptions. |
22
patients, 7% of all patients |
15 | 39 | |
|
ESCITALOPRAM OXALATE
Escitalopram is used to tre... + Escitalopram is used to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder (excessive worry and tension that disrupts daily life and lasts for 6 months or longer). Source: National Library of Medicine |
115
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
20
prescriptions. |
18
patients, 6% of all patients |
16 | 12 | |
|
DONEPEZIL HCL
Donepezil is used to treat ... + Donepezil is used to treat dementia (a brain disorder that affects the ability to remember, think clearly, communicate, and perform daily activities and may cause changes in mood and personality) associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD; a brain disease that slowly destroys the memory and the ability to think, learn, communicate and handle daily activities). Source: National Library of Medicine |
110
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
83
prescriptions. |
21
patients, 7% of all patients |
17 | 37 | |
|
LATUDA
Used to treat the symptoms ... + Used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions). Source: National Library of Medicine |
109
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
5
prescriptions. |
13
patients, 4% of all patients |
P | 18 | 35 |
|
RIVASTIGMINE*
Used to treat mild to moder... + Used to treat mild to moderate dementia (memory loss and mental changes) associated with Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. Source: National Library of Medicine |
109
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
97
prescriptions. |
12
patients, 4% of all patients |
18 | 84 | |
|
QUETIAPINE FUMARATE
Quetiapine is used to treat... + Quetiapine is used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions). Source: National Library of Medicine |
105
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
11
prescriptions. |
18
patients, 6% of all patients |
P | 20 | 1 |
| THIORIDAZINE HCL |
96
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
5
prescriptions. |
13
patients, 4% of all patients |
P R | 21 | 125 |
|
AMANTADINE
Treats or prevents the flu ... + Treats or prevents the flu (influenza type A). Source: National Library of Medicine |
93
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
23
prescriptions. |
11
patients, 4% of all patients |
22 | 83 | |
|
HALOPERIDOL*
Treats symptoms of mental a... + Treats symptoms of mental and emotional disorders. Source: National Library of Medicine |
91
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
33
prescriptions. |
14
patients, 5% of all patients |
P | 23 | 23 |
|
AMITRIPTYLINE HCL
Amitriptyline is used to tr... + Amitriptyline is used to treat symptoms of depression. Source: National Library of Medicine |
83
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
21
prescriptions. |
13
patients, 4% of all patients |
R | 24 | 42 |
|
ZONISAMIDE
Treats partial seizures in ... + Treats partial seizures in adults with epilepsy. Source: National Library of Medicine |
76
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
17
prescriptions. |
17
patients, 6% of all patients |
25 | 131 | |
| HALOPERIDOL DECANOATE |
74
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
12
prescriptions. |
14
patients, 5% of all patients |
P | 26 | 76 |
|
NUEDEXTA
Used to treat pseudobulbar ... + Used to treat pseudobulbar affect (PBA; a condition of sudden, frequent outbursts of crying or laughing that can not be controlled) in people with certain conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease; condition in which the nerves that control muscle movement slowly die, causing the muscles to shrink and weaken) or multiple sclerosis (a disease in which the nerves do not function properly and patients may experience weakness, numbness, loss of muscle coordination and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control). Source: National Library of Medicine |
72
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
48
prescriptions. |
<11 | 27 | 60 | |
|
NAMENDA
Treats dementia (memory los... + Treats dementia (memory loss and mental changes) that is a sign of Alzheimer's disease. Source: National Library of Medicine |
67
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
50
prescriptions. |
16
patients, 5% of all patients |
28 | 53 | |
|
SERTRALINE HCL
Sertraline is used to treat... + Sertraline is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (bothersome thoughts that won't go away and the need to perform certain actions over and over), panic attacks (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks), posttraumatic stress disorder (disturbing psychological symptoms that develop after a frightening experience), and social anxiety disorder (extreme fear of interacting with others or performing in front of others that interferes with normal life). Source: National Library of Medicine |
63
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
15
prescriptions. |
11
patients, 4% of all patients |
29 | 8 | |
|
PROPRANOLOL HCL
Propranolol is used to trea... + Propranolol is used to treat high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, heart disease, pheochromocytoma (tumor on a small gland near the kidneys), and certain types of tremor. Source: National Library of Medicine |
63
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
0
prescriptions. |
<11 | 29 | 56 | |
|
ABILIFY
Treats schizophrenia, bipol... + Treats schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Source: National Library of Medicine |
62
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
15
prescriptions. |
<11 | P | 31 | 26 |
|
FLUOXETINE HCL
Fluoxetine is used to treat... + Fluoxetine is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (bothersome thoughts that won't go away and the need to perform certain actions over and over), some eating disorders, and panic attacks (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks). Source: National Library of Medicine |
61
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
26
prescriptions. |
<11 | 32 | 9 | |
|
LITHIUM CARBONATE
Lithium is used to treat an... + Lithium is used to treat and prevent episodes of mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood) in people with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder; a disease that causes episodes of depression, episodes of mania, and other abnormal moods). Source: National Library of Medicine |
61
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
0
prescriptions. |
<11 | 32 | 30 | |
|
METFORMIN HCL
Metformin is used alone or ... + Metformin is used alone or with other medications, including insulin, to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Source: National Library of Medicine |
56
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
21
prescriptions. |
<11 | 34 | 58 | |
|
MIRTAZAPINE
Treats depression. + Treats depression. Source: National Library of Medicine |
53
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
39
prescriptions. |
<11 | 35 | 10 | |
|
RISPERDAL CONSTA
Treats schizophrenia and ce... + Treats schizophrenia and certain problems caused by bipolar disorder. Source: National Library of Medicine |
53
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
0
prescriptions. |
<11 | P | 35 | 50 |
|
DULOXETINE HCL
Duloxetine is used to treat... + Duloxetine is used to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; excessive worry and tension that disrupts daily life and lasts for 6 months or longer). Source: National Library of Medicine |
52
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
5
prescriptions. |
<11 | 37 | 6 | |
|
LEVETIRACETAM
Used to help control certai... + Used to help control certain types of seizures caused by epilepsy. Source: National Library of Medicine |
50
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
5
prescriptions. |
<11 | 38 | 98 | |
About This Data
Prescribing data from Medicare’s prescription drug benefit, known as Part D, was compiled and released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency that oversees the program. The data for 2015 includes more than 1.4 billion prescriptions written by nearly 1.4 million doctors, nurses and other providers. This database lists about 447,000 of those providers who wrote 50 or more prescriptions for at least one drug that year. More than three-fourths of these prescriptions went to patients 65 and older; the rest were for disabled patients. Methodology »
Incorrect Info?
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Caveats
- No comparisons are shown if there are fewer than 20 prescribers in the state share this specialty.
- Comparisons do not take into account the medical conditions of patients. Medications for certain conditions do not have generic alternatives, so patients would receive more expensive brand name drugs.
- This provider's address and specialty information was last updated on July 8, 2007.
- Comparisons are based on each provider’s current address, not necessarily where he or she worked during the time period covered in this database.
- In rare circumstances, providers' prescription tallies may be inflated. Sometimes providers are credited with prescriptions written by colleagues (this happens in long-term care facilities) or are victims of fraud involving theft of their provider number.