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File photo Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press/Press Association Images

Epilepsy Ireland 'extremely frustrated' about drug substitution

The group believe generic versions of anti-epileptic drugs could lead to “breakthrough seizures”.

EPILEPSY IRELAND HAVE expressed disappointment that The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill that was passed in the Dáil today does not exclude anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) from substitution.

While the bill has been viewed as a largely positive measure, the group had hoped that it would be amended due to the fact that AEDs are tailored to the needs of individuals and that a change in this balance could result in a breakthrough seizure.

The CEO of Epilepsy Ireland, Mike Glynn, said that government had failed to consider “the needs of over 37,000 people with epilepsy in passing this Bill.”

Given that we are legislating for generic substitution and the evidence that exists in favour of specifically exempting AEDs within it, it has been extremely frustrating to see a series of amendments voted down which would have offered safety and reassurance to people with epilepsy.

Believing that an opportunity had been missed to “enshrine the rights of people with epilepsy”, Glynn said that the group would now begin a campaign to ensure that the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) would not designate AEDs as being interchangeable with generic drugs.

The group want those with epilepsy to insist that their prescribers now write their AED prescription using the regular brand name as opposed to the generic (active ingredient) name, while also ensuring that the pharmacist writes ‘do not substitute’ on their prescription.

Read: A man, woman or child dies from heart disease and stroke every hour in Ireland >

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37 Comments
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    Mute Cecily J. Hoare
    Favourite Cecily J. Hoare
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    Dec 11th 2011, 8:38 PM

    If the Euro has not actually collapsed, then PLEASE change the tense in that headline. At first glance it looks like it *has* happened.

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    Mute Dom Morgan
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    Dec 11th 2011, 8:44 PM

    Noonan looks like the Euro has just collapsed. :) Maybe the author looked at the Euro futures and anticipates carnage. Asia open this morning Euro slightly down. Muted reaction to big plans for ‘fiscal’ union.

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    Mute Liam Ó Broin
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    Dec 11th 2011, 9:46 PM

    That’s what I thought it meant too!!!! :O

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Dec 11th 2011, 11:42 PM

    Thanks Cecily! Changed now.

    7
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    Mute William O'Shea
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    Dec 11th 2011, 6:53 PM

    Only two things:
    1) I sure hope they have a plan B or at the very least are discussing one, and
    2) Would you buy a secondhand car from this fella?

    59
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    Mute Rodger O Waters
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    Dec 11th 2011, 7:09 PM

    Sorry Mr Noonan but trust is officially dead rip

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    Mute Alan Quinn
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    Dec 11th 2011, 8:55 PM

    great comment

    16
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    Mute Ciaran O'Reilly
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    Dec 11th 2011, 6:19 PM

    ” there is certainly no Irish Government expectation, of any collapse in the euro”
    Smart men cause even if one of the countries thought the euro would collapse, then it would all be over and we’d be totally screwed

    54
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    Mute Tim Henchin
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    Dec 11th 2011, 7:53 PM

    Govt’s and multi-national businesses all over the world are readying plans and playing out scenario’s about what will happen if the Euro collapses.

    32
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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Dec 11th 2011, 8:10 PM

    I don’t believe that Noonan believes that. For all our sakes they better have a continguincy in place.
    Launching a new fiat currency would be preferable before the collapse rather than after as it will have crediblity/trust issues.
    Euro cannot be saved without growth and even with all the histrionics and rethoric there has been no credible effort to address this.

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    Mute Jeffery Potbelly
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    Dec 11th 2011, 8:51 PM

    Have just been watching a TV programme with analysis of the Economic situation and the Euro, with all the big loans due next year, the expectations by all the major Economies are that the Euro will most definitely crash… so, is Noonan deaf or just doing the usual and thinking that the rest of us is?

    29
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Dec 11th 2011, 7:23 PM

    Noonan and co whistling past the graveyard….ye keep yer head up yer arses lads…the rest of us will fend for ourselves…

    48
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    Mute pagan
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    Dec 11th 2011, 6:25 PM

    Theres no smoke with out fire.

    45
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    Mute William Grogan
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    Dec 11th 2011, 7:05 PM

    Cliche

    20
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    Mute smithan_irl
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    Dec 11th 2011, 7:20 PM

    A euro in the hand is worth two in the bush

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    Mute Mark Egan
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    Dec 11th 2011, 8:56 PM

    a euro in the hand is worth f##k all

    45
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    Mute Oran Drumgoole
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    Dec 11th 2011, 6:36 PM

    Still hope we have a stockpile of punts.

    There was a chance it could or might still happen. Not to do so is at best incompetent.

    31
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    Mute Francis Stokes
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    Dec 11th 2011, 7:29 PM

    They say the value of our economy will go down 4O per cent if we go back to Irish Pound.They should be talking up the Euro not if this will happen or that will happen.

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    Mute Tim Henchin
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    Dec 11th 2011, 7:46 PM

    The problem with the Euro is based on maths. It is not about talking up or down the currency. It is about people looking at debt vs earning of countries and realizing that the current Euro is not sustainable.

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    Mute Dom Morgan
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    Dec 11th 2011, 8:33 PM

    The value of the economy does not go up and down with the currency. You can’t talk anything up or down – market makers, large players always look at fundaments. If something is rubbish – there is no amount of talk that can help. The Eu handling of the crisis is a case in point – if talk accounted for anything the Euro would be worth two USD today.

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    Mute Dom Morgan
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    Dec 11th 2011, 8:37 PM

    “The Minister for Finance said the euro was a “firm and solid currency” and was “trading well against all the other currencies”.

    Bankruptcy comes slowly and then all at once. The minister of Finance should know how the coupons on Irish bonds went up in a matter of weeks to the unsustainable levels. The same can happen to Euro at any moment in time and can be triggered even by a minor credit event. To ignore the possibility of Euro collaps is pure denial but then again I would not expect him to come out and say that the Irish government is seriously considering the Euro breakup even though everyone knows they are.

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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Dec 11th 2011, 10:02 PM

    It would be on the front page of newspapers across the world if he said euro collapse was a certainty.
    I suspect the end will come via a bank run rather than a sovereign default.

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    Mute Dom Morgan
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    Dec 11th 2011, 10:10 PM

    Bank runs are happening as we speak. Some European banks were experiencing massive withdrawals and were unable to source USD (amazing – USD is the most liquid currency) – that is when the coordinated effort of central banks on USD swap rates took place. Major French banks were downgraded recently. In my opinion the situation is perilous. The most significant outcome from last weeks summit seems to be the commitment of ECB to provide 3-year funding to banks. This way the banks can get long term Euros from ECB at 1% and buy government bonds at much higher rate. Indirectly ECB is thus financing the government debt. This may buy some breathing space.

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    Mute Dublin City
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    Dec 11th 2011, 6:58 PM

    I wish people would stop calling them “punts”. They were always called Irish Pounds – and “pounds” = “puint” in Irish anyway!

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    Mute Dave
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    Dec 11th 2011, 7:29 PM

    Official name of the currency was the Punt.

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    Mute Matthew Mark
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    Dec 11th 2011, 7:56 PM

    I agree. When it was on curculation it was always called ‘pound’. It’s official name was the punt but I never heard that being used in common practice

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    Mute Silent P
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    Dec 11th 2011, 8:12 PM

    If it makes a come back we should all call it the punt. Pound is the UK currency.

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    Mute Dave
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    Dec 11th 2011, 8:28 PM

    It was used in all official reference to the currency. By that logic, we would just name it the “quid” or the “yoyo”.

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    Mute Ciaro
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    Dec 11th 2011, 10:56 PM

    Glad you raised that vital issue.

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    Mute Laura Crowe
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    Dec 12th 2011, 1:13 AM

    Both “one pound” and “punt” get equal billing on the face of the old £1 note.

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    Mute Shauna McDermott
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    Dec 11th 2011, 10:49 PM

    Awful headline lads!

    14
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    Mute Liam Ó Broin
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    Dec 11th 2011, 9:50 PM

    I’m no expert, nor do I claim to be an expert in economics, but I’ll just throw this out there and see what y’all think.

    Noonan *has* to say they aren’t planning for a Euro collapse. He has to, because if he says that he’s got a stockpile of new currency at the mint, the “markets” will see this and pull the plug on the whole thing. Same goes for other countries. They have to “big up” the euro, in the hope that there’s a chance it will be saved.

    He may well be trying to buy time.

    That said he may well be in denial too, but like I said, I’m no expert…..

    14
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    Mute Réada Quinn
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    Dec 11th 2011, 10:00 PM

    If you want to know the truth reread the article except change positive statements to negative ones and vice versa. There is no certainty at the moment coming from that shower.

    It’s time to look around you and remember that this country is made up of people not statistics.

    12
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    Mute Kevin Kelliher
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    Dec 11th 2011, 9:09 PM

    freudian slip on the title…..i wonder

    12
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    Mute stephen corrigan
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    Dec 11th 2011, 10:37 PM

    Michael the headline makes it look like the euro has collapsed!

    11
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Dec 11th 2011, 11:45 PM

    Thanks Stephen! Take your point. Headline has been changed.

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    Mute declan harkin
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    Dec 12th 2011, 12:13 AM

    Anybody notice the drip of sweat coming from Noonan’s chin? Angela Merkel is standing behind him with a Luger

    9
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    Mute John Murray
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    Dec 12th 2011, 12:39 PM

    Then why has the mint is Sandyford been printing punts day and night for the last 5 weeks??
    Answer that Noonan!!!

    4
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    Mute Lynne Underwood
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    Dec 12th 2011, 3:15 AM

    We should call it pooh!! because if it comes back thats all it will be worth for wiping arses ;)

    2
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