A bitter pill to swallow for reflux

Temuka Pharmacy will next week give the Minister of Health a 200-signature petition protesting against a gastric reflux treatment that is making its users sick.

On May 1 this year Pharmac, the Government's drug buying agency, stopped funding Losec omeprazole, which is used by 300,000 New Zealanders. Instead it funded Dr Reddy's omeprazole for the treatment of reflux, peptic ulcers and acid-related dyspepsia.

Since the switch, 634 adverse reactions to Dr Reddy's formulation have been recorded nationally.

Temuka pharmacist Allan Campbell has been inundated with patients suffering side effects such as vomiting, diarrhoea and ironically, gastric reflux.

Objecting to the change, he started a petition that now has over 200 signatures, and will be presented to the Minister of Health, Medsafe and Pharmac, Tony Ryall next week.

"A lot of people have just opted to pay for Losec instead which costs them about $11.80 a month.

"Why should they have to pay for it because the Government funded drug is causing these reactions?"

The pharmacist had reported all reactions to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM) and put in an Official Information Act request to see how many people had been affected by the change. "The problem with gastric reflux is if it is not treated, it changes the cell structure of the oesophagus and can be a precursor to cancer."

CARM in Dunedin is New Zealand's national monitoring centre for adverse reactions, and has received 634 notifications of adverse reactions since the brands were swapped over.

Mr Ryall would not comment and referred questions to "the organisation that makes the decision on which drugs to fund, Pharmac".

Pharmac spokesperson Simon England said the Ministry of Health's drug regulatory arm, Medsafe, would guide any decisions to switch funding.

"CARM is an after-market safety monitoring organisation which reports directly to Medsafe.

"We will take action if Medsafe says action is required.

"When you look at the figures, 634 is a small percentage of 300,000 but an adverse reaction is still a reaction.

"Every medicine has its risks and benefits."

Medsafe group manager Dr Stewart Jessamine said reports from CARM had been assessed, which indicated there was a higher rate of adverse events being reported in association with Dr Reddys.

"Although Medsafe is concerned by reports of adverse events in association with any medicine, the reports of adverse events associated with Dr Reddys omeprazole do not show a quality or safety problem with this product.

"The reports indicate adverse events which are similar to those which would be expected from people taking any brand of omeprazole.

"The number of reports being submitted to CARM varies depending on a number of factors, including any media attention given to a medicine. Usually only a small proportion of people experiencing adverse events related to a medicine actually report them to CARM. When there is advertising or media attention, the proportion of people reporting tends to increase, giving the impression of a possible safety problem."

- © Fairfax NZ News