Coroner probes deaths linked to epilepsy drug

It is the first part of a two-part inquest, set to continue in February, 2021.

A grieving father tearfully recounted finding his daughter dead in bed after having a seizure, after only one other seizure in the previous two years, following a change in her epilepsy medication.

Gary Loye’s daughter Krystal Loye, 35, died in February, while at the home she shared with her father in Rotorua. Her death is one of six subject to an inquest by chief coroner Deborah Marshall which began at the Auckland District Court yesterday, probing whether changing to Logem, a generic form of the anti-convulsant drug lamotrigine, caused or contributed to their deaths.

Last year, a change in Pharmac funding resulted in 11,000 New Zealanders having their medication switched – a move which has seen seven deaths reported to the Centre for Adverse Reports Monitoring (CARM) as possibly linked to the change.

Loye, who had an intellectual disability and epilepsy since she was a baby, had been largely seizure-free for two-three years before her death, save for one seizure in August, 2019, which her father says was not uncommon when she was sick.

Loye said he received very little information about the brand change, including any potential side effects or adverse reactions.

This week, Marshall will hear from the families of six patients as part of an ongoing investigation into the cause and circumstances of the deaths, and whether the brand change affected seizure control.

The deceased include Ricky Blackler, a 24-year-old scaffolder, Reuben Brown, a 27-year-old farmer, Loye, sales representative Andre Maddock, 40, student William Oliver, who was 26, and Jessica Reid, a 23-year-old animal groomer at a pet store.

Pharmac initially funded three brands of anticonvulsant drug lamotrigine, also used to treat bipolar disorder: Lamictal, Arrow-Lamotrigine and Logem.

From October 1, Pharmac has funded Logem only, other than in exceptional circumstances.

The brand switch is now at the centre of hundreds of adverse reaction reports, with people reporting convulsions or increased convulsions while on the drug, as well as memory loss, twitching, headaches, confusion and mood issues.

It is the first part of a two-part inquest, set to continue in February, 2021.