r00fie1
Well-known member
Im certain there are people either with epilepsy, have a family member or friend who has experienced epilepsy - and realise just how important the correct medication is. Without it, peoples lives can quite easily be put at high risk of harm and even death.
Although this particular medication effects a tiny percentage of those whose epilepsy is medically controlled, it nevertheless is critical for those people who need it to function effectively every day.
The Epilepsy Society [ https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/ ] and Epilepsy Action [ https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/ ] have been providing information and advice for patients and professionals about the possible shortages of prescribed medications once Britain leaves the EU. Anti - Epileptic medications are expensive and not always available generically. Brands like "Lamictal" [Lamotrigine] are not the same as Lamotrigine which is made outside of the Brand license. Some of the micro-ingredients vary by a percentage, but this can make the person more vulnerable and prone to hyper-epileptic activity. So its really critical that medications are available on demand.
Its not always easy to appreciate, but there are over 500K people in the UK who have differing degrees of epilepsy. Often marginalised and misunderstood.
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www.telegraph.co.uk
Parents warned it would be 'very dangerous' to change children's medication after the end of the transition period
By Tony Diver 20 December 2020 • 6:50pm
Epileptic children have been informed their supply of medicinal cannabis from Europe will be cut off in January after the end of the Brexit transition period.
Up to 40 children with severe epilepsy could be left without medication that their parents currently import from the Netherlands.
The end of the transition period means that UK prescriptions cannot be fulfilled by pharmacies or dispensaries in the EU.
Officials from the Department for Health wrote to parents of children with severe epilepsy this week, informing them their supply would be cut off and advising them to take “urgent action” to secure access to cannabis available in the UK.
The letter, seen by The Telegraph, warns that “prescriptions issued in the UK can no longer be lawfully dispensed in an EU Member State” after January 1.
But parents have warned that changing their children’s medication to another brand could cause their condition to worsen.
Dozens of families turned to Dutch providers for the cannabis oil after it was legalised in the UK in November 2018.
One of the children affected by the export ban is Alfie Dingley, one of the first children to receive an NHS prescription to treat his rare form of epilepsy.
Since taking Bedrolite, the cannabis oil available from the Netherlands, Alfie’s seizures have all but stopped.
His mother, Hannah Deacon campaigns for access to medicinal cannabis with the End Our Pain group.
She accused the Government of not giving parents enough time to make alternative arrangements.
“If I have to forcibly move him from that product to another CBD oil, that could mean that he ends up in hospital with hundreds of seizures, which is life or death,” she said.
“There is no guarantee it will work. It is very dangerous, what they are asking us to do.”
Although this particular medication effects a tiny percentage of those whose epilepsy is medically controlled, it nevertheless is critical for those people who need it to function effectively every day.
The Epilepsy Society [ https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/ ] and Epilepsy Action [ https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/ ] have been providing information and advice for patients and professionals about the possible shortages of prescribed medications once Britain leaves the EU. Anti - Epileptic medications are expensive and not always available generically. Brands like "Lamictal" [Lamotrigine] are not the same as Lamotrigine which is made outside of the Brand license. Some of the micro-ingredients vary by a percentage, but this can make the person more vulnerable and prone to hyper-epileptic activity. So its really critical that medications are available on demand.
Its not always easy to appreciate, but there are over 500K people in the UK who have differing degrees of epilepsy. Often marginalised and misunderstood.
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Brexit blow for parents of epileptic children as supplies of cannabis oil cut off from January
Parents warned it would be 'very dangerous' to change children's medication after the end of the transition period
www.telegraph.co.uk
Brexit blow for parents of epileptic children as supplies of cannabis oil cut off from January
Parents warned it would be 'very dangerous' to change children's medication after the end of the transition period
By Tony Diver 20 December 2020 • 6:50pm
Epileptic children have been informed their supply of medicinal cannabis from Europe will be cut off in January after the end of the Brexit transition period.
Up to 40 children with severe epilepsy could be left without medication that their parents currently import from the Netherlands.
The end of the transition period means that UK prescriptions cannot be fulfilled by pharmacies or dispensaries in the EU.
Officials from the Department for Health wrote to parents of children with severe epilepsy this week, informing them their supply would be cut off and advising them to take “urgent action” to secure access to cannabis available in the UK.
The letter, seen by The Telegraph, warns that “prescriptions issued in the UK can no longer be lawfully dispensed in an EU Member State” after January 1.
But parents have warned that changing their children’s medication to another brand could cause their condition to worsen.
Dozens of families turned to Dutch providers for the cannabis oil after it was legalised in the UK in November 2018.
One of the children affected by the export ban is Alfie Dingley, one of the first children to receive an NHS prescription to treat his rare form of epilepsy.
Since taking Bedrolite, the cannabis oil available from the Netherlands, Alfie’s seizures have all but stopped.
His mother, Hannah Deacon campaigns for access to medicinal cannabis with the End Our Pain group.
She accused the Government of not giving parents enough time to make alternative arrangements.
“If I have to forcibly move him from that product to another CBD oil, that could mean that he ends up in hospital with hundreds of seizures, which is life or death,” she said.
“There is no guarantee it will work. It is very dangerous, what they are asking us to do.”