15 Nov 2019

Mental health patient in limbo as Pharmac drug switch queried

From Checkpoint, 6:15 pm on 15 November 2019

A mental health patient who has been taking Lamotrigine for five years says she is now in limbo, and doesn't know whether to return to her preferred brand or stick with Logem.

Erin lives with bi-polar and says she's had adverse side effects from switching drugs and she's afraid worse ones are to come in the coming days and weeks.

Pharmac could not confirm on Friday that the drug brand Erin was taking, Arrow, will stay in the market, making her decision even harder.

Despite Pharmac saying it has communicated properly with doctors and patients, Erin tells Alex Perrottet that she hasn't been able to get an appointment with a specialist since the drug was changed without notice in September.