The Canadian Epilepsy Alliance says an ongoing shortage of an epilepsy medication is leaving some patients worried theyB次元官网网址檒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 CanadaB次元官网网址檚 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 canB次元官网网址檛 take the medications interchangeably without risking breakthrough seizures.

Dr. Eduard Bercovici, a Toronto neurologist specializing in epilepsy, says drug shortages can be B次元官网网址渄evastatingB次元官网网址� for people relying on them to prevent seizures.

The reason for the Teva-clobazam shortage is listed as B次元官网网址渄isruption of the manufacture of the drug.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淥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 B次元官网网址� to know that they may have a seizure with missing medications,B次元官网网址� 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 arenB次元官网网址檛 clear, Bercovici said, some people with epilepsy are B次元官网网址渧ery sensitiveB次元官网网址� 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 canB次元官网网址檛 switch between the two and needs the Teva version, his daughter Rebecca Roland said.

Dickinson is a B次元官网网址渧ery healthy, very activeB次元官网网址� 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 didnB次元官网网址檛 control his seizures during the night, she said.

Within a week, his doctor switched him to Teva-clobazam and he hasnB次元官网网址檛 had any issues with seizures since, Roland said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really been a lifesaver for him,B次元官网网址� she said.

But in August, DickinsonB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址� from St. Catharines to Bracebridge B次元官网网址攖o find whatever doses of Teva-clobazam they can get.

B次元官网网址滻f you can find a pharmacy that has it, they only have a little bit,B次元官网网址� she said.

When they learned the shortage was going to extend into next April, Dickinson and Roland became worried they wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to keep finding doses and went to his neurologist.

B次元官网网址漌e were really hoping that there would be an alternate solution to the situation,B次元官网网址� Roland said.

But there wasnB次元官网网址檛 B次元官网网址� except to switch him to the Apotex version of clobazam.

B次元官网网址淭he neurologist said, B次元官网网址榳ell, switch him to the Apo and then if he has a seizure come and see me,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Roland said.

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

B次元官网网址淗e says, B次元官网网址榃ell If I have to switch, you know, can you phone me every morning just to make sure I wake up?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Roland said.

B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 pretty heartbreaking.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址渁 safety issue.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淧eople that are stabilized on antiseizure medications get their driverB次元官网网址檚 licenses back and are able to drive,B次元官网网址� said Dickson, who is also executive director of the Epilepsy Association of Calgary.

B次元官网网址淭hey also hold jobs where theyB次元官网网址檙e required to obviously perform on a day-to-day basis B次元官网网址� so when these shortages occur, people can experience breakthrough seizures impacting various aspects of their lives.B次元官网网址�