The Canadian Epilepsy Alliance says an ongoing shortage of an epilepsy medication is leaving some patients worried they香蕉视频直播檒l start to have seizures again if they switch to an alternative.

The shortage of Teva-clobazam, which began last May, is expected to last until April next year, according to Health Canada香蕉视频直播檚 drug shortages website.

The alliance represents epilepsy organizations across the country and says patients are scrambling to find doses at different pharmacies.

Another version of the drug, Apo-clobazam, is available but experts say some people can香蕉视频直播檛 take the medications interchangeably without risking breakthrough seizures.

Dr. Eduard Bercovici, a Toronto neurologist specializing in epilepsy, says drug shortages can be 香蕉视频直播渄evastating香蕉视频直播� for people relying on them to prevent seizures.

The reason for the Teva-clobazam shortage is listed as 香蕉视频直播渄isruption of the manufacture of the drug.香蕉视频直播�

The manufacturer, Teva Canada, has not responded to an email The Canadian Press sent Wednesday asking for more details.

香蕉视频直播淥ne of the main issues with epilepsy is that it is an unpredictable, unprovoked condition and someone who is well controlled and is taking their medication on a regular basis is going to find it very nerve-racking 香蕉视频直播� to know that they may have a seizure with missing medications,香蕉视频直播� Bercovici said in an interview.

Teva-Clobazam and Apo-Clobazam, manufactured by Apotex, are benzodiazepines that are basically the same, he said.

But for reasons that aren香蕉视频直播檛 clear, Bercovici said, some people with epilepsy are 香蕉视频直播渧ery sensitive香蕉视频直播� and have adverse side effects, including a return of seizures, if they switch between the two versions.

He said that sensitivity can happen with either medication, noting he has many patients who take the Apotex version.

Rev. John Dickinson, a 90-year-old living in Kitchener, Ont., is one of the people who can香蕉视频直播檛 switch between the two and needs the Teva version, his daughter Rebecca Roland said.

Dickinson is a 香蕉视频直播渧ery healthy, very active香蕉视频直播� senior whose only health issue is epilepsy that started after a workplace head injury in the 1980s, said Roland, who also lives in Kitchener.

He was on a brand-name version of clobazam for decades, which controlled his seizures well, she said.

When his drug benefit program told him to switch to a generic version about a decade ago, Dickinson was put on Apo-clobazambut it didn香蕉视频直播檛 control his seizures during the night, she said.

Within a week, his doctor switched him to Teva-clobazam and he hasn香蕉视频直播檛 had any issues with seizures since, Roland said.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really been a lifesaver for him,香蕉视频直播� she said.

But in August, Dickinson香蕉视频直播檚 pharmacy told them they were out of the drug because of the ongoing shortage.

Since then, Roland and other family members have been calling pharmacies around Ontario and driving hundreds of kilometres 香蕉视频直播� from St. Catharines to Bracebridge 香蕉视频直播攖o find whatever doses of Teva-clobazam they can get.

香蕉视频直播滻f you can find a pharmacy that has it, they only have a little bit,香蕉视频直播� she said.

When they learned the shortage was going to extend into next April, Dickinson and Roland became worried they wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be able to keep finding doses and went to his neurologist.

香蕉视频直播漌e were really hoping that there would be an alternate solution to the situation,香蕉视频直播� Roland said.

But there wasn香蕉视频直播檛 香蕉视频直播� except to switch him to the Apotex version of clobazam.

香蕉视频直播淭he neurologist said, 香蕉视频直播榳ell, switch him to the Apo and then if he has a seizure come and see me,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� Roland said.

But she worries that at 90 years of age, switching medications is too high a risk for her father to take.

香蕉视频直播淗e says, 香蕉视频直播榃ell If I have to switch, you know, can you phone me every morning just to make sure I wake up?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� Roland said.

香蕉视频直播淚 think that香蕉视频直播檚 pretty heartbreaking.香蕉视频直播�

According to the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance, about 260,000 Canadians have epilepsy.

Laura Dickson, president of the alliance, said that switching people off of medications that are working for them during a shortage is 香蕉视频直播渁 safety issue.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淧eople that are stabilized on antiseizure medications get their driver香蕉视频直播檚 licenses back and are able to drive,香蕉视频直播� said Dickson, who is also executive director of the Epilepsy Association of Calgary.

香蕉视频直播淭hey also hold jobs where they香蕉视频直播檙e required to obviously perform on a day-to-day basis 香蕉视频直播� so when these shortages occur, people can experience breakthrough seizures impacting various aspects of their lives.香蕉视频直播�