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Margaret McCartney: Second use patents—why do we have to prescribe branded Lyrica for pain?

BMJ 2015; 350 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h2734 (Published 20 May 2015) Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h2734

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Elephants , Castles and Ivory towers

Shyan Goh makes many good points, as usual. Let us assume that "There is no good evidence I am aware of showing pregabalin is any more effective than gabapentin or amitriptyline. ".

I fear he misses the Elephant - that European Law seems to require UK doctors to prescribe only LYRICA for neuropathic pain, since it is the only agent licensed for the indication.

The GMC has warned us all not to dare to contravene this unjust edict, NICE seems to have demurred to this injunction. .

Who now will stand up for our needs for cheap safe and effective medicines ?

Competing interests: I may need medicines, and I still pay taxes.

12 June 2015
Lewis L Sam
retired GP
NHS
Surgery, Newport, Pembrokeshire SA42 0TJ