A questionnaire survey conducted by the academic society revealed that while the supply of medicines continues to be in short supply nationwide, many doctors in the field take measures to prescribe different medicines for the main treatments for epilepsy. rice field.


There is also a report that "the patient's condition became unstable" after switching medicines, and the academic society is demanding the recovery of supply as soon as possible.

[Details] No medicine ... From generics to original products Why?

Which medicine is it?

why?

How long will it last?

Click here for what you know and what you should be aware of.

Regarding the supply of pharmaceuticals, last year, manufacturers of low-priced generic drugs discovered manufacturing problems one after another, and orders to suspend operations affected the shipment of more than 3,000 pharmaceuticals. It continues to be difficult to obtain the medicines of.



Of these, the "Japan Epilepsy Society" conducted a questionnaire to member doctors about the effects of "carbamazepine" and "sodium valproate", which are therapeutic agents that suppress epilepsy attacks, on patients, and by the 3rd of last month, 576 from all over Japan. We received the answers.

You can even decline the prescription of medicines ...

In the questionnaire, more than half of the doctors, 55%, answered that they "may be aware of the unstable supply situation."



When asked about specific measures in multiple answers,


▼ 54% "choose a different drug for newly prescribed patients"


▼ 36% "shorten the number of days prescribed at one time"


▼ Twenty-six percent said they were "attempting to discontinue their prescription or switch to another drug."



In addition, 11% of doctors answered that they actually declined or adjusted the prescription,


▼ 11% with carbamazepine,


and 20% with sodium valproate.



Regarding the effects on patients, some respondents freely stated that


"the condition became unstable after switching drugs" and


"the seizures became uncontrollable."

Concerns about seizures when changing to another drug

At "Kanenaka Neurosurgery" in Nakano-ku, Tokyo, where many patients with epilepsy are examined, about a year ago, when there were many consultations from patients and pharmacies that "prescription drugs are not available", it was a week. It means that it has come to be sent about 3 times.



One of the main antiepileptic drugs, the original drug of "sodium valproate", is the most frequently consulted drug, and it may be necessary to change the prescription to another drug with the same active ingredient because it cannot be secured. about it.



Dr. Naosuke Kinnaka said, "I am concerned that suddenly changing to another drug when the condition is stable may induce seizures even if the active ingredient is the same. It will be a burden on the patient, but I try to go around many pharmacies and find them as much as possible. "

Patient "I can't help but feel anxious"

"In my case, I don't know when an unconscious seizure will occur," said Hitoshi Murakuni, a 73-year-old patient who developed epilepsy 12 years ago and is taking medicine every day at this clinic. I don't have it, but thanks to the medicine, I can spend my daily life without having seizures. I've managed to do it for now, but I'm worried if I can't get the medicine. " Was there.

Is supply insecurity prolonged? Expert "Consult with your doctor"

Professor Riki Matsumoto of the Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, who conducted the questionnaire survey and is the chairman of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Committee of the Japan Epilepsy Society, said, "While supply insecurity occurs frequently in clinics, large-scale medical institutions are relatively stable. Therefore, it is considered that "uneven distribution of inventory" is occurring. The government and pharmaceutical companies are demanding the early resolution of the distribution turmoil, but it may be prolonged, and patients are a little worried. If there is, I would like you to consult with your doctor and deal with it. "

[Details] Administrative Dispositions of Pharmaceutical Companies What's happening to manufacturers one after another?

An unprecedented supply shortage of medicines began with the discovery of manufacturing problems and fraud at generic drug manufacturers.

I've summarized what's happening.

Post form

We are looking for information from those who know the actual situation of pharmaceuticals and those who are in trouble because they cannot get the usual medicines.