Decision delay for proposed primidone brand change

Medicines Decision

We delayed making a decision on the primidone brand change.

Consultation on a proposed change in brand for primidone and gabapentin - June 2021.

What we’re doing

Pharmac is taking more time to work through some new information received during the consultation on a proposal to change the funded brand of primidone. This has delayed a decision on primidone and means the proposed change for primidone will not start on 1 September 2021 as we consulted on.

A decision about the long-term supply of primidone has not been made. We expect to provide you with more detail on the longer-term supply of primidone as soon as we can.

There is enough Apo-Primidone stock currently available for people to continue to be prescribed and take their Apotex brand of primidone as usual.

We have, however, made a decision regarding the brand change for gabapentin and you can read more about it here.

If you have any questions about this you can email us at enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz; or call our toll-free number (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday) on 0800 66 00 50.