Medicines and Therapies

Pharmac has been forced to delay the upcoming brand switch for the antidepressant fluoxetine and remove its stat dispensing status after its new supplier experienced manufacturing issues

The COVID-19 epidemic has caused Douglas Pharmaceuticals delays of about a month to medicine and raw-materials supplies 

The reclassification of codeine-containing medicines will go ahead this year after the final objection to the change was determined to be invalid. 

Promisia CEO Rene de Wit has slammed a new study examining the toxicity of a herbal extract found in the company’s natural dietary supplement Arthrem, following a reports of liver harm (hepatotoxicity)

The Medicines Classification Committee has received a single objection to the recommendation made at its 63rd meeting last year that all codeine-containing medicines should be reclassified as prescription medicines

Only three countries pay less for generic drugs than New Zealand, a UK study of medicine prices in 50 countries shows

The availability of pharmaco­genomic testing is limited in New Zealand, but a University of Otago study points to its efficacy for psychiatric drugs in particular

Medsafe has issued a warning after a patient taking the anticoagulant dabigatran experienced vasculitis

The migraine treatment Cafergot will no longer be approved for use in New Zealand from May next year

Pharmac has backed down on a controversial drug brand switch affecting patients with epilepsy and mental health conditions after three people died following the change