Pharmac fast-tracking new thyroid medication

The provision of a second subsidised thyroid medication has moved a step closer with Pharmac annoucing it is starting consultation on making the Goldshield brand available.

Pharmac medical director Dr Peter Moodie said yesterday an effort was being made to ensure an advance shipment of the Goldshield brand of levothyroxine was available from early November, subject to the consultation phase and Medsafe approval.

The Government-agencies Pharmac and Medsafe have fast-tracked the introduction of an alternative drug for people suffering from hypothyroidism after problems with a reformulation of the only subsidised drug, GlaxoSmithKline's Eltroxin.

The reformulation has caused debilitating side effects for hundreds of people. Many were unaware the drug they had taken safely for years was the reason for their ill health because they were not informed of changes to the drug.

Since The Southland Times highlighted the problem in June there have been about 1100 complaints about Eltroxin to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring.

Dr Moodie said the Goldshield brand would be supplied in this country by its Australasian distributor Boucher & Muir. The drug's New Zealand distributor pulled out of the market last month after being overwhelmed by demand.

There was usually a four to five-month lead-in time for a new pharmaceutical to be available because of manufacturing, shipping and other issues, he said.

However, Pharmac was making an effort to ensure the drug was available sooner. Once more information was available, it would keep people informed about timelines, Dr Moodie said.

Gore pharmacy La Hoods has sourced supplies of Goldshield directly from the manufacturer in the United Kingdom.

Last month owner Mark La Hood said he had been overwhelmed by demand for the drug. About 70,000 people were prescribed Eltroxin for their thyroid condition.

- © Fairfax NZ News