By: thyroidsufferer@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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Thousands of New Zealands Thyroid patients have been put onto a new formulation of the ONLY approved medication in New Zealand without prior notification of changes. This is contrary to the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers Rights which makes clear that consumers have the right to be fully informed, make an informed choice and give informed consent.
Medsafe seems to be doing everything possible to make unsafe medications available to New Zealanders as a cost saving measure. Could they be trying to save on the National healthcare budget by killing off patients with cheap dangerous drugs?
Many hundreds of these Thyroid patients soon to reach 1000, report significant and debilitating side effects to this drug. Its time for Medsafe to tell the drug manufacturer that the new formulation is not acceptable for many New Zealanders, they should provide an alternative drug.
The Minister of Health has confirmed that hundreds of New Zealanders have reported adverse reactions to the medicine "Eltroxin" to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring so far this year, after GlaxoSmithKlein switched to a new formulation. The Ministry of Health appears to be quite happy to sit and watch these patients suffer.
After hundreds of requests for the government to Do Their Job, and look into this matter Dr. Stewart Jessamine of Medsafe continues to maintain that this poisonous concoction is safe, in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Obviously Dr. Jessamine is happy to sit by and watch his fellow New Zealanders suffer, whilst maintaining the official Get Stuffed attitude, refusing to make another effective, non-lethal medication available to those who desperately require it.
Many of these patients are desperate and very angry at the way they are being treated by the very Government Agency that is employed to protect them. The system is Broken and those at the top need to be held accountable for the pain and misery caused. |
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By: solutionz@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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| Helengrad's legal killers......... |
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By: deerhunter70@ymail.com
7/09/2008
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thyroidsufferer.
Unfortunately, the large drug companies will not deal with pharmac. The reason being that pharmac will not pay for the best drugs available as they think those drugs are too expensive.
Pharmac don't care because they have been instructed by govt to drive down prices.
NZ is a very small market and the drug companies ignore us because of pharmac attitude.
I can tell you that this is not reasonable as the cost of developing drugs is absolutely enormous.
A patent laste for 20 years. The drugs can take up to 15 years to go through all the safety procedures required by govts. The paperwork involved runs into several shipping containers full. The cost can run to 150-500million USdollars. At the end of this gauntlet, there is only 5 years of patent protection left and the drug companies have to recoup their costs and make a return in that short time.
No wonder drugs cost so much!!
Some years ago, pharmac stopped importing a drug that I needed. The substitute had bad side effects so I was forced to import the drug that I needed through the local chemist. This is an alternative but is obviously more costly. You will get the cold shoulder from pharmac but some of the guys at medsafe will give good advice on alternatives. |
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By: jamisonjohn@rocketmail.com
7/09/2008
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| up to 15 years. most take 3 to 5 years. stop missleading |
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By: deerhunter70@ymail.com
7/09/2008
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| by the way, vote the present govt out in November, you might get more sympathy from the new lot !! |
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By: deerhunter70@ymail.com
7/09/2008
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jamisonjohn.
Shut up I am in the business!! |
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By: jamisonjohn@rocketmail.com
7/09/2008
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| lol, so what. you are aso a labour hater |
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By: jamisonjohn@rocketmail.com
7/09/2008
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| also* |
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By: tory.bod@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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About time, NZ needs to know how the government treats those who it supposedly serves.
This is a dangerous situation where children and grandparents are suffering.
Anti depressants are being prescribed, menopause is being suggested, anything but the thyroid, which we should all know is the gland responsible for everyday function, the thing that makes us wee, to the thing that helps us procreate, the thing that makes us be.
Come on Medsafe and Pharmac. Stop letting the dollars rule in this instance and save yourself much money down the road when all these so called " thyroid moaners " end up costing the govt big pingers.
Your call ?
Aint to hard to figure huh ! |
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By: deerhunter70@ymail.com
7/09/2008
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| I would like a change, but this thread is about something other than politics isn't it?? |
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By: tory.bod@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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You have health issues ?
No ?
This is a serious issue |
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By: jamisonjohn@rocketmail.com
7/09/2008
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| go an read yer own posts then deerhunter. you mentioned politics before me |
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By: tory.bod@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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Politics ?
Huh - just want some justice for people who are suffering big time.
Fire the politicians I say.
Let me rule the country for a week - life would be sweet :) |
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By: deerhunter70@ymail.com
7/09/2008
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| yes I did unfortunately. However, the issues with pharmac are serious. They will not listen to individuals and it will take a concerted effort by a number of people before things will change. Why does this have to be ?? |
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By: jamisonjohn@rocketmail.com
7/09/2008
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| because they are a beurocracy. beurocrats arnt concerned with human feelings, mercy, justice etc. they are concerned with doing thier job. |
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By: deerhunter70@ymail.com
7/09/2008
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That is true, but surely it's not like the tax department where things are more black and white.
They are dealing with the health issues of people who might become physically damaged without the right decisions.
the health minister should be the arbiter and take a more humane line don't you think? |
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By: bennettjane@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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| Does anyone know, is this formulation "eltroxin" being used in other countries and are they experiencing the same problems? |
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By: jamisonjohn@rocketmail.com
7/09/2008
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| well deer hunter, id say he will if its that bad. but dont expect anything from the beurocrat thats not part of his job |
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By: tory.bod@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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Mmmm
Tax department - health department ?
= budget
no difference at all
They want our money whatever it takes and dont care too much about human beings.
Kinda makes you want to look further afield like OZ maybe ?
Bottom line is - When did they forget about the people, or, maybe it was never really about us all along ? |
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By: tory.bod@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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and yes, other countries are experiencing this cr*p, just depends an where you live.
NZ I guess doesnt place too much importance on general well being of its citizens.
Thyroid suffers have had enough basically and are not willing to let ANYONE stuff their health any longer. |
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By: bellebyrds
7/09/2008
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| Dear Thyroidsufferer,this is quite a problem isnt it. .(medsafe has a web site)The problem as I understand it is the formulation was changed. The tablets have the necessary ingredients in them but also xtra stuff thats not required . The xtra stuff makes it go into the body slower so the side affects are possibly an underdosing situation.( talk to the pharmacist about it and dr.) The formulation cant be changed as it is the drug company that changed the making of it. No doubt it was all about money and current formula being cheaper but no going back im told. The alternative products are expensive(from the uk) and the supply unable to be guaranteed-I hope this helps. |
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By: tory.bod@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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YES - you are right. BUT, this is something thyroid people are very well aware of. We have done our research and have brains too :)
Its just utter garbage , go ask deprssion people what happened to them when their meds were changed. Oh well, we think we can find a cheaper alternative, go chuck some sawdust in with that drug, she'll be right.
strangely, sawdust dosent gel too well, so you end up not sleeping and try to get on with life.
Much like the thyroid peoples, there are many of us who are now medical misadventures.
I aint on this forum cause I want to bleep on.
I would just like some justice thank you very much :) |
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By: j.holmwood@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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There is a catch 22 situation here. NZ doesnt have the numbers to get better deals from the pharmaceutical companies, so we end up with having a cheaper alternative. The other side of the coin is pharmac purchase fewer drug options at a much greater price, either way the patient will be the loser.
The ever increasing demand on the health dollar is only going to get worse, so how do we pay for it?
1. reduce taxes = user pays
2. increase taxes = user pays
3. medical insurance = user pays
4. treat those who will benefit most
and the rest suffer = user pays with their life.
I am not making light of your situation, I have had meds changed without notification, ended up having adverse reaction.
There is no easy answer or quick fix for this issue, but it is one that definitely needs addressing. |
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By: thyroidsufferer@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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Yes developing drugs is extremely costly, But Thyroxin replacements have been produced and synthesized for decades and they CAN be some of the cheapest drugs to produce.
This BS about synthetic Thyroxin being likened to Herceptin, or some other Super Anti-Cancer Drug is simply ridiculous. There are a number of Safe Effective alternatives out there right now! I have personally sourced my own alternative, but the supply is now dis-continued due to high demand according to those in the know, a seriously retarded situation. I must now source something else most likely Synthroid which I have taken for many years successfully.
The point is that we have a Government agency whose mandate is to source SAFE, EFFECTIVE Drugs for our population. We are paying them and they are simply NOT DOING THEIR JOBS! They are trading and playing with our lives for money.
I was put onto the new formulation of Eltroxin, without my knowledge, luckily I noticed the pill changed. After being stable for many years my Thyroxin levels dropped, my DR asked me to increase the dosage to 3x 100 mcg per day and one extra on weekends, this is a MEGA DOSE! Most people take maybe 1 x 100 mcg per day. I was never informed of a requirement to take this medication on an empty stomach, though I have always done so first thing in the morning. I have been taking this sht as directed for over a year. As a result I have had Constant pressure headaches, and I Never got headaches, constant kidney pain, joint pain, G.I., problems also blurred vision, itchy sore eyes, light sensitivity, when I would go into the sun my skin felt as though I was being stick with hundreds of needles, and the list goes on. I seriously thought I was at the end of my best by date. After a report of the side effects from Madsafe sanctioned version Eltroxin, I put two & two together, the list of symptoms were just like mine.
I Finally went to my DR. and convinced her to write me a script for Gold Shield Eltroxin, and ... |
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By: thyroidsufferer@xtra.co.nz
7/09/2008
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| I Finally went to my DR. and convinced her to write me a script for Gold Shield Eltroxin, and guess what?? After only a few days on that brand, my symptoms started to disappear… Of course according to the simpletons at Medsafe, and PHARMAC this is all just an F-n Coincidence. To Save Face and a few dollars these tax payer supported Government Entities have thrown us under the bus and are willfully POISONING US!!! Isn’t that a Criminal Offense?? Dr Jessamine Don’t Drop the Soap where you are going Mate! I am going to get my pound of flesh from all of these villains, they will not get away with this!!! |
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