Message to health professionals from Dr Ken Clark, Acting Medical Director, PHARMAC

We understand that there is a lot of public concern in relation to the lamotrigine brand change. As a result of the feedback we have received, we have streamlined the application process for funding for a specific brand of lamotrigine. We will consider funding applications from prescribers for patients who may have difficulty changing brands due to medical reasons or other concerns.

This includes for individuals that prescribers consider:

• Have not tolerated the change
• Have had breakthrough seizures
• Have had mood destabilisation
• There are clinical concerns about the individual’s ability to manage the change (e.g. previous issues with medication changes, severe anxiety around this brand change)
• That have concerns about their ability to drive

Additional information is available on PHARMAC’s website.

If you have any questions you can contact PHARMAC on 0800 66 00 50 or e-mail enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz

Regards
Ken Clark
Medical Director