ADD ADHD Blog.com » ADHD New Zealand http://www.addadhdblog.com A blog about Attention Deficit Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:26:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 ADHD Medication: Strattera Funded in New Zealand http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-medication-strattera-funded-in-new-zealand/ http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-medication-strattera-funded-in-new-zealand/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:53:10 +0000 Dr. Kenny Handelman http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=471 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 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

©2012 ADD ADHD Blog.com. All Rights Reserved.

.

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

]]> http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-medication-strattera-funded-in-new-zealand/feed/ 6 Concerta in New Zealand http://www.addadhdblog.com/concerta-in-new-zealand/ http://www.addadhdblog.com/concerta-in-new-zealand/#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:43:36 +0000 Dr. Kenny Handelman http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=234 Pharmac has just announced that it will now cover the once daily Concerta for ADHD.
You can read the news release here.
Concerta is a once daily, long acting medication for ADHD.
Prior to this, Pharmac was only funding the generic Rubifen for ADHD, and occasionally it would cover the name brand Ritalin, as described here.

The funding for Concerta will allow for the prescriptions of this long acting medication only if the other two approved medicines don’t work effectively.

This is a step forward, though ideally, all would have access to Concerta.

To our New Zealand friends (i.e. Kiwis), please share your thoughts and comments below.

Best,
Dr. Kenny

p.s. to read about the dosing of concerta, visit: Concerta Dosage.

©2012 ADD ADHD Blog.com. All Rights Reserved.

. ]]> http://www.addadhdblog.com/concerta-in-new-zealand/feed/ 2