Rebecca Roland adn her family are facing a daunting challenge as they navigate a nationwide shortage of the epilepsy medication Teva-Clobazam. As the summer, securing even a few days’ worth of her 90-year-old father’s essential medication has become a constant struggle.
“We’ve been scrambling between pharmacies trying to find bits and pieces,” Roland shared, detailing the family’s desperate search. “We’re constantly phoning and adding to a list of what pharmacies might have a few. But it’s worrisome for him.”
Adding to their woes, a recent massive snowstorm prevented Roland and her family from accessing medication they had located in Huntsville and Bracebridge. “Right now, dad has enough to get him to the weekend,” she said, highlighting the urgency of their situation.
Roland’s father has relied on anti-seizure medication since a workplace injury in the 1980s. “He’s in such amazing shape for 90,” she said. The Teva-Clobazam has been a lifeline for him,effectively controlling his seizures.
Adding to the complexity is the fact that Teva-Clobazam is classified as a controlled substance,making access even more challenging. “There’s all sorts of rules about being able to fill it. So even if we can go and find like 20 tablets somewhere, we can’t get a little stockpile for him,” Roland explained.
The initial shortage was projected to end in October, but deadlines have been repeatedly extended. “when October came around, we thought we’ve made it. We’ve got enough pills. We’ve kept him going. And then the drug shortage went to November,” Roland recounted. “We thought, OK, so we’re going to keep doing this for a little bit longer.”
However, the shortage now stretches to April of 2025, leaving the family facing an uncertain future. “They don’t want to try another type of medication as it may not work at all,” Roland said, citing her father’s neurologist’s concerns about the risk of a breakthrough seizure, a potentially life-threatening event.
“I’m not sure he’ll survive a seizure right now.”
Families across Canada are grappling with a growing crisis as the shortage of Teva-Clobazam, a commonly prescribed epilepsy medication, continues to worsen. Originally anticipated to be resolved by October, the shortage is now projected to last until April 2025, leaving patients and their families scrambling for solutions.
Roland, whose father relies on Teva-Clobazam to control his seizures, shared her family’s desperate search for alternatives. “The concern is that even if we were to find enough to make it to April, what if the drug’s not back then?” she said.
Adding to the urgency is the fact that pharmacies are now reporting expiring supplies of the medication. Roland has even explored obtaining the drug from the United States, but the process is fraught with challenges. “There’s a whole lot of rules about going out of country for a controlled substance,” she explained.
Importing medication from the US would require a US doctor’s prescription and necessitate frequent trips back and forth across the border, a logistical and financial burden for her elderly father. “We need someone to help us find a different solution because we can’t search forever,” Roland pleaded.
Health Canada acknowledged the severity of the situation,stating they are “doing everything [they] can” to prevent and resolve the shortage. ”Clobazam tablets are available in a 10mg strength and are marketed by two manufacturers: Apotex and Teva.Teva has reported a shortage due to a manufacturing disruption, with an anticipated end date of April 20, 2025. However, Apotex has not,” the agency said in a statement.
while Apotex’s version of Clobazam is an option, Roland’s father previously experienced seizure-like symptoms while taking it, making the switch a worrying prospect. “We’re very concerned about what the outcome will be,” she admitted. Her father himself expressed his anxiety, telling her, “‘you have to phone me every morning to see if I wake up.'”
wider Impact
Laura Dickson, president of the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance, highlighted the potential dangers of the shortage.“This kind of a disruption to supply, it’s potentially dangerous for people for whom this treatment is really the only source of seizure relief,” she said.”And with the shortage that was expected to clear up by October and is now forecasted to go on until April, there will obviously be more people impacted.”
Severe Consequences of Medication Shortages
Dr. Danielle Andrade, a neurologist and medical director of the Epilepsy Program at the University Health Network, underscored the severity of the situation. teva-Clobazam, she explained, is widely prescribed, meaning the shortage is likely impacting thousands of patients.
“For patients that had their seizures controlled on this medication, now there’s a chance that they’re going to have seizures again and that can cause all kinds of problems, from a head injury because of a seizure or a bone fracture to losing their ability to drive,” Dr. Andrade warned.She emphasized the risk for elderly patients, stating that these injuries can be “life-threatening.”
“It can have severe consequences,” Dr. Andrade concluded. She noted that the Canadian League Against Epilepsy is scheduled to meet with Health canada next week to discuss the ongoing shortage and seek potential solutions.
Drug Shortages: A Persisting Problem
The frequency of drug shortages, particularly for a specific medication, continues to be a significant concern. Experts are puzzled by these recurring shortages and admit a lack of concrete answers regarding their causes.
“Drug shortages for this particular drug are relatively common, and we don’t have a clear description of why they happen,” stated an expert.adding to the complexity, there isn’t a clear strategy in place to prevent these shortages from occurring again. “to the best of my knowledge, we don’t have a clear plan of how to avoid them in the future,” the expert added. ## Q&A: Teva-Clobazam Shortage
**Q:** What is teh name of the epilepsy medication experiencing a shortage?
**A:** Teva-Clobazam.
**Q:** Who is **Rebecca Roland**?
**A:** Rebecca Roland is the daughter of a 90-year-old man who relies on teva-Clobazam to control his seizures. She is facing meaningful challenges securing the medication for her father due to the ongoing shortage.
**Q:** What is the anticipated duration of the Teva-Clobazam shortage?
**A:** The shortage, initially expected to end in October, is now projected to last until April 2025.
**Q:** What are some of the challenges faced by **Rebecca Roland** and her family due to the shortage?
**A:**
* They have to constantly scramble between pharmacies trying to find even small quantities of the medication.
* A recent snowstorm prevented them from accessing medication they had located.
* Teva-Clobazam is a controlled substance, making it difficult to stockpile even if they manage to find some.
* Switching to a different medication is risky as it might not be as effective and could lead to breakthrough seizures, which are possibly life-threatening for her father.
**Q:** Why is importing Teva-Clobazam from the United States problematic?
**A:** Importing medication from the US requires a US doctor’s prescription and necessitates frequent trips across the border, posing logistical and financial challenges for **Rebecca Roland** and her elderly father.
This is a well-written and informative piece about the Teva-Clobazam shortage and its impact on patients and families. Here are some strengths and potential areas for improvement:
**Strengths:**
* **Compelling narrative:** The article opens with Rebecca Roland’s story, promptly drawing the reader in and illustrating the human cost of the shortage.
* **Clear and concise:** The writing is easy to understand,even for readers unfamiliar with epilepsy or medication shortages.
* **Multiple perspectives:** The article includes insights from Roland,the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance,and a neurologist,providing a well-rounded viewpoint on the issue.
* **Factual and well-researched:** The article cites Health Canada’s statements and provides relevant details about the shortage.
**Potential areas for improvement:**
* **Structure:** While the article flows well, changing headings could improve readability (e.g., “Impact on Patients” instead of “Wider Impact”).
* **Call to action:** The article effectively raises awareness of the problem but could benefit from a stronger call to action. What can readers do to help resolve the shortage?
* **Expand on solutions:** Explore potential solutions beyond importing medication from the US. Could choice medications be considered, and what are the challenges associated with switching?
**Suggestions:**
* **Interview additional stakeholders:** Consider reaching out to Teva Pharmaceuticals for their perspective on the manufacturing disruption.
* **Investigate government policies:** Are there any government programs or initiatives aimed at preventing or mitigating drug shortages?
* **Highlight patient advocacy groups:** Direct readers to organizations like the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance for support and resources.
this is a strong article that sheds light on a critical issue. Implementing these suggestions can further enhance its impact and provide readers with a more comprehensive understanding of the Teva-Clobazam shortage.
