Supplies of preferred antidepressant brand to run out

Patients paying extra to stay on a brand of antidepressants, after experiencing severe side affects from the switch to a generic brand, are now being told the supply will run out next year. Last year, Pharmac announced it will stop subsidising two brands of antidepressants, Arrow Venlafaxine and Effexor XR, and instead solely fund generic brand, Enlafax-XR. There was an outcry from some patients who had severe reactions to the new drug and now they face another hurdle.