House Bill 361

“Anti-Seizure Drug Notification”

(an Amendment to the Pharmacy Practice Act)

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

On May 5, 2008, House Bill 361, “Anti-Seizure Drug Notification,” (an amendment to the Pharmacy Practice Act of 2004 [section 58-17b-605,]) will become effective as a Utah state law. It is important that you be aware of this bill, particularly if you are prescribing seizure control medication to epilepsy patients in Utah . It is equally important that you inform your patients of this bill. The following provides a basic summarization of the amendment, and the problem-at-hand.

H.B. 361

  • H.B. 361 requires a prescribing physician to be involved in the process by writing prescriptions for anti-seizure drugs – “Dispense as Written;”
  • In situations where a pharmacist is unable to fill a prescription as written, a pharmacist is required to notify the prescribing physician prior to making a substitution;

Problem

  • Epilepsy is a disorder that can be controlled through proper and consistent medication;
  • Once a physician has controlled seizures in an epilepsy patient, it is critical that such a patient remain on the prescribed medication in order to avoid having a “break-through” seizure that can result in severe injury or death to the patient or others;
  • Although there are medications that may qualify as “drug equivalent” under FDA guidelines, controlling seizures in an epileptic patient requires a narrower range of medication to achieve therapeutic equivalence rather than just “drug equivalence;”
  • There have been numerous documented cases where an epileptic patient’s prescription of anti-seizure medication has been substituted for a different anti-seizure medication that has resulted in “break-through” seizure for the patient. This has occurred where substitution has been from a brand-name drug to a generic, as well as the substitution of one generic for another generic;
  • “Break-through” seizures can be avoided if a physician is made aware of a proposed substitution;

For complete information about H.B. 361, visit www.le.utah.gov.