A BENDIGO man expects to pay more than four times more for his depression medication after the drug was deregistered in Australia.
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Jonathan Darke initially feared he would not be able to access the medication at all.
It has been the only one to effectively treat his depression, after years trying a variety of drugs.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Association has since secured a supply of the same drug-type - phenelzine sulfate - from an overseas supplier.
But Mr Darke said it would cost $175 per month, instead of the $40 a month he paid for NARDIL, which was covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Phenelzine is an early antidepressant, dating from the 1960s.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Association instructed it should only be prescribed for patients who had failed to respond to other depression medications.
Mr Darke said the difference in costs between his current prescription and the non-PBS drug was quite big.
A cleaner, he said he was not getting much work because COVID-19 regulations had closed sites.
Mr Darke said it was not ideal for people using the medication for anxiety and depression, to be "held hostage" to businesses driven by profit.
He has been using NARDIL for just over two years.
It followed about 18 years trying different medications. Some helped a bit, but made him robotic.
So Mr Darke conducted his own research suggesting to his psychiatrist he try NARDIL.
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The drug has worked, but side effects mean it's not something Mr Darke would choose to take lightly.
"This medication it's a lifeline for me to lead a normal life," he said.
"To live with chronic anxiety all the time. I tended to avoid things because the only time I felt okay was when I was at home. My life became trapped between the four walls. I was very limited in what I could do.
"Now I feel like how I imagine other people are. I don't have trouble doing things. It's changed my life.
"If you were a diabetic and they said to you, 'Sorry insulin isn't going to be made any more, you've got to take this instead. It won't work as well, you'll probably get a bit sick now and then, but too bad'. How would that go down?"
A Department of Health spokesperson said pharmaceutical companies made decisions about supply of drugs.
The spokesperson said Link Pharmaceuticals advised the Therapeutic Goods Association on April 2 it would discontinue its supply of NARDIL due to "manufacturing issues".
"Medicine shortages and discontinuations can occur for many reasons and unfortunately, an uninterrupted supply chain can never be guaranteed," the spokesperson said.
"The Department of Health does not have the regulatory power to obligate sponsors to market a product in Australia."
The spokesperson said the TGA had recently authorised a supply of an overseas registered phenelzine sulfate.
Individual patients could access overseas supplies of phenelzine on an case-by-case basis, the spokesperson said.
Link Pharmaceuticals did not respond to a request for comment.
If you or a loved one are in need of assistance:
- Call Bendigo Health's Mental Health Regional Triage Service on 1300 363 788.
- Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au
- Talk to a GP
For urgent assistance, call 000.
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