Posted by Michael Wonder on 15 Nov 2019
PHARMAC backs down on epilepsy drug brand switch
15 November 2019 - PHARMAC has backed down on a controversial drug brand switch affecting patients with epilepsy and mental health conditions after three people died following the change.
The drug buying agency said on Friday it would widen access to the Lamictal and Arrow brands of the medicine Lamotrigine, which Pharmac stopped funding on October 1 other than in exceptional circumstances.
About 11,000 people who mainly have epilepsy - although some have bi-polar - were being switched from Lamictal and Arrow to a generic form of Lamotrigine, Logem.
