Pharmac is vowing to do better at informing GPs when it switches drugs - usually to save money. The chief coroner has ruled the deaths of six people were not linked to a recent epilepsy medication change, although added she couldn't rule out a link to two of those deaths. The drug buying agency still accepts that not all information about the brand change reached patients. Max Towle speaks to Pharmac's director of operations, Lisa Williams.
Pharmac points out the following safety messages:
- It is critical that people who have been prescribed Logem do NOT stop taking it and that, if they have concerns, they talk about their options with their doctor.
- For most people taking it, Logem works in the same way as the other two lamotrigine brands. Logem has the same active ingredient and is delivered to the body in the same way. This means it will have the same effect as the other brands.
- Logem has been approved for use in New Zealand by Medsafe, the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, who are responsible for ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines.
- Of the 10,000 people who use lamotrigine, approximately 7,500 are taking Logem.
