Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSCampaign to stop introduction of generic epilepsy drugs
Nurses are being asked to back a campaign to stop government implementing generic alternatives for epilepsy medication.
The National Society for Epilepsy (NSE) is asking nurses for their support, in making sure that all anti-epileptic drugs are exempt from the government’s proposals to introduce cheaper generic versions of prescription drugs.
NSE spokesperson Angie Kind said: “Prescribing nurses are aware that by cutting costs through swapping a branded anti-epileptic drug to a generic version may provoke seizures or side effects. This could actually end up costing the government more money than it saves.
“Just one breakthrough seizure, can be devastating for a patient and may cause serious injury and harm, rob someone of their driving licence and affect their job.”
The campaign urges nurses working with people with epilepsy, such as specialist epilepsy nurses, to reinforce the message that switching from branded to generic anti-epileptic drugs or vice versa, can have huge implications for their wellbeing.
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Readers' comments (1)
Anonymous | 1-Mar-2010 11:46 am
Drug names are difficult enough, patients regularly ask for repeat prescriptions because they don't recognise the packaging names. They quite rightly err on the side of caution and don't take the medication with the resulting negative effects. I do medication reviews at home with elderly patients and their younger carers enough confusion and waste exists don't introduce more. I wonder what the savings actually are when we add up the human cost!
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