{"id":710,"date":"2018-11-13T12:36:39","date_gmt":"2018-11-13T12:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/?p=710"},"modified":"2018-11-13T12:36:39","modified_gmt":"2018-11-13T12:36:39","slug":"advice-for-people-who-prescribe-epilepsy-medicine-and-patients-taking-the-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/?p=710","title":{"rendered":"Advice for people who prescribe epilepsy medicine and patient’s taking the drug’s"},"content":{"rendered":"

The MHRA\u2019s guidelines about prescribing epilepsy medicines
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an agency of the Department of Health. In 2017 they updated their guidance on prescribing epilepsy medicines. This followed a review by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) which looked at the evidence on patients switching between different manufacturers\u2019 products of particular epilepsy medicines.
\nCHM advise that epilepsy medicines can be classified into three categories. This classification aims to help prescribers and patients decide whether it is necessary to maintain consistency of supply of a specific company\u2019s product. It is not official policy, but guidance only.
\nThe MHRA\u2019s guidelines about prescribing epilepsy medicines<\/p>\n

Category 1 <\/p>\n

It has been shown that the differences between different drug companies\u2019 products could affect seizure control and\/or side-effects. Prescribers should ensure a specific drug company\u2019s product is always prescribed.<\/p>\n

Category 1 Drugs
\nCarbamazepine
\nPhenobarbital
\nPhenytoin
\nPrimidone<\/p>\n

Category 2
\nWhether to always have a specific drug company\u2019s product should be based on what is right for the individual. Prescribers should talk this through with their patient and\/or carer. They should look at things like seizure frequency and treatment history. They should also take into account how their patient and\/or carer feels about being prescribed different versions of their epilepsy medicine.<\/p>\n

Category 2 Drugs
\nClobazam
\nClonazepam
\nEslicarbazepine
\nLamotrigine
\nOxcarbazepine
\nPerampanel
\nRetigabine
\nRufinamide
\nTopiramate
\nValproate
\nZonisamide<\/p>\n

Category 3<\/p>\n

The likelihood of there being any differences that could affect seizure control and\/or side-effects between different manufacturers’ products is considered to be extremely low. However, prescribers should look at each patient individually, taking into account how they and\/or their carers feel about being prescribed different versions of their epilepsy medicine.<\/p>\n

Category 3 Drugs
\nBrivaracetam
\nEthosuximide
\nGabapentin
\nLacosamide
\nLevetiracetam
\nPregabalin
\nTiagabine
\nVigabatrin<\/p>\n

How to get the same version of your epilepsy medicine<\/strong>
\nThe most reliable way to get the same version is to ask your doctor to write the brand name on your prescriptions. Or, if you want to stay on a particular manufacturer\u2019s generic version, the doctor can write the generic name and the name of the manufacturer on your prescription. Your pharmacist should always try to give you the version your doctor has written on your prescription.
\nIf you take an epilepsy medicine that is in category1, your prescriber should ensure you always have the same version of your medicine. If you take an epilepsy medicine in categories 2 or 3, your prescriber might want to give you a generic prescription. However, the current guidelines say that they should also take into account how you feel about having a different version.
\nAlways consultant a GP or other medical professional before stopping any type of medication. <\/strong> <\/p>\n

Reporting problems with epilepsy medicines<\/strong>
\nIf you think you are getting side-effects from your epilepsy medicine, or they have caused your epilepsy to change, talk to your GP. They can report these issues to the MHRA. You can also report side-effects yourself by completing a Yellow Card. These are available from your GP, pharmacist or the Yellow Card scheme:<\/p>\n

Tel: 0800 731 6789 (10.00am \u2013 2.00pm Monday \u2013 Friday)
\nWebsite: yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk<\/p>\n

Source Epilepsy Action correct as of 13.11.18<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The MHRA\u2019s guidelines about prescribing epilepsy medicines The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an agency of the Department of Health. In 2017 they updated their guidance on prescribing epilepsy medicines. This followed a review by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) which looked at the evidence on patients switching between different manufacturers\u2019 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=710"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":714,"href":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710\/revisions\/714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ipswichepilepsy.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}