UPDATE: Antidepressant supply issues persist for Centurion patients

Despite assurances that a nationwide shortage of antidepressant medication was being addressed, local patients remain worried.

Members of a local support group said they were still experiencing problems getting their selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medicine.

The issues, which started in August, included patients being turned away from various clinics and state hospitals in and around Centurion.

Support group leader Lizl Joosten said it appeared the issues were still being experienced by members of the group this week.

“When we visit the clinics and hospitals we are either told there are no more meds available or we are directed to private pharmacies,” Joosten said.

DA Gauteng health spokesperson Jack Bloom told Rekord the crisis was still ongoing.

“It is really very distressing,” said Bloom.

Bloom previously said the shortage included SSRIs Fluoxetine and Citalopram.

“It is very serious and can even be life-threatening.”

READ MORE: UPDATE: Antidepressant meds shortage being addressed – health department

However, the health department said it was addressing the issue.

“Most of the supply issues have been resolved,” said department spokesperson Popo Maja.

“Stock is coming in and being distributed to the various facilities.”

“The department is monitoring the situation together with the provincial departments.”

The department previously linked the shortages of certain antidepressants and antipsychotics to “a range of supplier problems”.

These included a shortage of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, production problems and industrial action at local production facilities.

To address this shortage, the department identified stock from other manufacturers which it then purchased.

“Unfortunately, other manufacturers do not produce the high volumes used and their quantities will be limited,” the department said.

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