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Clark
Prince
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 1448
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 Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:28 am Post subject: Exemption for epilepsy from new pharmacy guidelines |
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For UK members.
| Quote: | | From January 2010 pharmacists will be expected to change the brand of drug named on a prescription and replace it with a different generic brand. This is against the epilepsy guidelines from NICE. There is significant evidence from doctors and patients that some people with epilepsy have difficulties when changed between different versions of the ‘same’ drug. Generic brands have to follow ‘bioequivalence’ rules. These allow the amount of active ingredient to vary 80 – 125 %; being given a different brand can mean receiving a different dose. Many anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have a narrow therapeutic window and dose levels have to be finely balanced. A doctor with special interest in epilepsy should change someone’s epilepsy medication, not a pharmacist or health economist. People with epilepsy should receive the same version of their AED unless their doctor prescribes otherwise for medical not financial reasons. The Joint Epilepsy Council is campaigning for an exemption for AEDs. |
Unnecessarily switching between versions of medication can have a profound negative effect on a person’s health and quality of life, can cause breakthrough seizures, worsening of seizures or increased side effects, leading to loss of employment, driving licence, educational opportunity, serious injury or worse.
I've been given three different brands of the same drug and dosage at the same time with no idea that there was a difference between them.
Fortunately I haven't had any side effects and it hasn't got worse but it could ruin people if they end up having to surrender their driving licence or lose their job as a result of a change in their condition.
Please sign the petition here
Thanks for taking the time to read this
Sir Clark
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VJ
Squire
Joined: 22 Jul 2009
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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Please people, sign the petition; this is a problem. I too have been given different brands of anti-epileptic medication and got crazy side effects as a result.
Fortunately my seizure frequency didn't increase but being extra drowsy for no good reason isn't pleasant. As Clark said others are less fortunate.
If anyone wants further background on the petition and the problems taking multiple brands can cause, they can get it here: http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/blog/2009/07/02/petition-gordon-brown-on-epilepsy-medication
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KWSN imcrazynow
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Joined: 15 May 2005
Posts: 2586
Location: Behind you !!
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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It's not letting me sign. I live in the US. I am prior military that had orders to the UK but I never made it there. Any suggestions?
Give me an apartment address. I doubt it will be looked at 20 years in the past. Just make sure the address existed then.
I'm trying.
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KWSN imcrazynow
Prince
Joined: 15 May 2005
Posts: 2586
Location: Behind you !!
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:01 am Post subject: |
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Petition signed and confirmed. Thanks Sir Al!
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VJ
Squire
Joined: 22 Jul 2009
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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| KWSN imcrazynow wrote: | It's not letting me sign. I live in the US. I am prior military that had orders to the UK but I never made it there. Any suggestions?
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Select armed forces from the dropdown box underneath the space for your address. 
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