ADHD Medication: Strattera Funded in New Zealand
ByIt has just been reported that PHARMAC will be funding Strattera in New Zealand.
Strattera is also known as Atomoxetine – and is a non-stimulant for the treatment of ADHD.
Pharmac funding of Strattera will be `second line`, meaning that they will fund it if both of the stimulant medicines (i.e. ritalin and dexedrine) are not effective for ADHD for the individual, or cause significant side effects.
While I am happy for the `Kiwis`to get access to this new medicine with funding, the set up may actually make it harder for people to get the benefits of Strattera.
Why?
Basically, when people have failed two medications for ADHD already – by definition, they are a harder to treat population. And then they are less likely to respond to another medicine. Research suggests that around 70-75% of treatment naive patients respond to Strattera, whereas only 50-55% of patients who have failed other treatment respond to Strattera.
That said – this is a great first step for PHARMAC, and it will improve treatment of ADHD in New Zealand. That said – I do hope they move to a model where Strattera will be offered first line – so that doctors and patients will have the choice to use this new medication when they think that it suits the patient best.
You can read a news report on this here.
Please share your thoughts below.
Best,
Dr. Kenny
[...] ADHD Medication: Strattera Funded in New Zealand | ADD ADHD Blog.com By Dr. Kenny Handelman It has just been reported that PHARMAC will be funding Strattera in New Zealand. Strattera is also known as Atomoxetine – and is a non-stimulant f. ADD ADHD Blog.com – http://www.addadhdblog.com/ [...]
OMG I am hopeful! Ritalin and Dex were disastrous for me. I have severe inattentive type ADD. I’m not sure I agree with what you say. At least I hope it is wrong. Stimulant medication is contraindicated in people who have an anxiety disorder as well as ADD. The stimulant makes the anxiety much worse. So that is the reason I could not tolerate the stimulants.
I forgot to say I live in New Zealand.
this was tryed on my 6year old son and it did work but the side affects werefar wrosethan the affect of the drug he got mayjor headaches was taken off rubifen and to all of our srupirse it worked and we live in new zealand