Posted by Michael Wonder on 27 Feb 2018
Patients say generic PHARMAC funded version of anti-depressant venlafaxine left them depressed, anxious
28 February 2018 - Some patients say PHARMAC's switch to fund a cheaper, generic brand of anti-depressant has left them struggling with everything from headaches to serious depression - and are urging the government drug-buying agency to start funding their old meds again.
Last September PHARMAC stopped all funding for Effexor XR, the original version of the antidepressant venlafaxine, as well as another brand, Arrow-Venlafaxine - they had been starting to switch people to the new drug for months already.
It now pays for a cheap, generic version called Enlafax XR, which has the same active ingredient and is considered "bioequivalent", meaning the 45,000 New Zealand patients who use venlafaxine should see no difference.
