A widely used drug, Accuretic, used to control blood pressure, is being recalled after it was found to contain a carcinogen.
Pharmac said nearly 36,000 New Zealanders taking the drug will have to switch treatments, although the health risk was very low.
Pfizer supplies the drug Accuretic, which has also been recalled in other countries, including Australia, Canada and the United States.
Pharmac’s director of operations Lisa Williams said they’ve been working with Pfizer in recent months to see if a replacement would be available.
“Unfortunately, as it is a global problem, there is no alternative brand available in sufficient quantities for New Zealand and that can be verified as free of contamination,” she said.
“This means there is currently no acceptable direct chemical replacement for New Zealanders taking this drug.”
Williams said there were two funded alternatives with adequate supplies, losartan with hydrochlorothiazide and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers.
“First of all, we want to ensure that patients can continue to have access to funded treatments,” she said.
“Medsafe advised us that there is a very low risk to people taking Accuretic, and that they should continue their treatment because the risk associated with suddenly stopping blood pressure medication is greater than that of the contamination.”
People taking Accuretic were advised to see their doctor about an alternative treatment when their next prescription came. Pharmac covers the costs of a visit to the general practitioner and the prescription costs.
“We know that our healthcare industry is under tremendous pressure right now and that switching so many people to alternative treatments will increase that pressure,” Williams said.
“We are asking clinicians to transition their patients to alternative medicines as soon as possible, and we really appreciate the support we know from both clinicians and pharmacists.”