Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers for the week ending 01 July 2022 Accuretic (quinapril and hydrochlorothiazide) tablets: Supply issue From August 2022, Accuretic supply in New Zealand will begin to be disrupted. People using Accuretic must get a new prescription to change to an alternative high blood pressure medicine. Clinicians should move their patients to a suitable alternative medicine as soon as possible. We really appreciate the support that we know both clinicians and pharmacists will provide to their patients. There is more information on the Pharmac website about the issue and what support is available. We will continue to update healthcare professionals and the public through our website, adding relevant information as it becomes available.
Bespoke exceptional circumstances process for lamotrigine closing: current approvals extended indefinitely Pharmac changed the funded brand of higher strength lamotrigine in 2019. In response to feedback, a bespoke exceptional circumstances process was put in place. There are now more than 2,600 people using the Lamictal or Arrow-Lamotrigine brands of lamotrigine through this process (out of a total of almost 15,000 people taking lamotrigine). We are confident that people who were taking lamotrigine at the time of the brand change that needed to stay on their existing brand have been granted approvals so we are closing the process on 1 September 2022. To ensure people with current approvals can continue to access their current brands, all approvals will be automatically extended indefinitely (no renewal applications will be needed). Logem will remain the only higher strength brand of lamotrigine (25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg) listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule at this time. Detailed information is available on the Pharmac website.
We want you! Expressions of Interest for Pharmac’s Advisory Committees Pharmac is looking for new members for our Advisory Committees. Do you work in primary care and bring a commitment to and understanding of te Tiriti in healthcare? Pharmac’s Advisory Committees provide us with specialist knowledge and expertise within specific clinical areas, such as diabetes, cancer, and mental health. You can find more information about Advisory Committees roles and responsibilities on the Pharmac website. If you are interested in being involved in Pharmac’s clinical advice network, please send an email to advisorycommittees@pharmac.govt.nz letting us know your specific clinical area(s) of interest .
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