Brand Change for Acetazolamide 250 mg Tablets
28 May 2025
The currently funded brand of acetazolamide 250 mg tablets, Diamox, will be replaced by Medsurge – Acetazolamide.
Stock of the both the Diamox and Medsurge Acetazolamide brands are currently available. Once remaining stock of the Diamox brand has been exhausted, Medsurge Acetazolamide will be the funded brand of Acetazolamide 250 mg Tablets.
From 1 September 2025 the Diamox brand will be delisted from the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
For information see website:
https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/medicine-funding-and-supply/medicine-notices/acetazolamide
lamotrigine update
Pharmac is pleased to let you know that the 2,600+ people currently accessing Lamictal or Arrow-Lamotrigine under the bespoke exceptional circumstances process can remain on their original funded brand.
This process was set up in 2019 following the funded brand change to Logem. They are confident that in that time approvals have been granted for people who were taking lamotrigine at the time of the brand change and needed to stay on their existing brand.
They are therefore closing this process on 1 September 2022 and all current exceptional circumstances approvals will be extended indefinitely.
Pharmac want to make sure that people taking lamotrigine, their whānau, and their healthcare professionals know what’s happening with the brands.
More information is available on: pharmac.govt.nz/lamotrigine
Lamictal packaging update
Update on Lamictal packaging : please see brand information and video from global GSK team
Lamictal brand of lamotrigine dispersible tablets 25mg, 50mg and 100mg formulations are undergoing package change from a simple blister pack to child-resistant blister packaging.
Lamictal Blister Leave Behind Information Sheet
submissions to pharmac
Epilepsy New Zealand works to ensure New Zealanders living with epilepsy have access to medications necessary for them to live their best lives. This involves engaging with PHARMAC on a regular basis.
medication update : phenobarbitone 15gm tablet brand change

IBE & ILAE Joint Statement on Coronavirus Vaccine
The following statement was provided by the International Bureau for Epilepsy and the International ...

Research collaboration between New Zealand and Japan
Research offers new hope for people living with seizures A research collaboration involving the Univ...

International Information
WHO REPORT – DISCRIMINATION A KEY BARRIER TO QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY Discrimi...