UPDATE: Centurion patients speak out on meds shortage

Two Centurion residents are among those suffering from depression and struggling for vital medication.

The residents, who requested not to be named, have been affected by the nationwide shortage of antidepressants since August.

“How will I afford to get my medication and what if the shortage lasts until next year?” one resident told Rekord this week.

The resident, who waited in a queue for hours two months ago only to be told that antidepressant Citalopram was out of stock, was advised to get a prescription for the drug from a family doctor.

“I will now have to get my medicine from a private pharmacy instead of a state hospital,” he said.

“I was not financially able to buy my antidepressants from another pharmacy so I was forced to ration my meds, halving my dose to make them last.

“As my body was not getting the full dose, my moods and emotions started changing.”

READ MORE: UPDATE: Antidepressant supply issues persist for Centurion patients

The resident said he was angry because he had been on antidepressants for years and had finally got his system used to the dosages only to have to half the dosage for fear of running out.

A second resident had the same experience when only half of her Rivotril prescription was filled in August.

“ I had to contact a private doctor to pay for a prescription,” she said.

“Despite the fact that I cannot afford to purchase my medicine privately I cannot just stop using my medicine.

“This caused a bigger financial strain on my family and even more on my mental health.”

The health department previously said it was attending to the issue.

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

Maja said stock was coming in and being distributed to the various facilities and the department was monitoring the situation together with the provincial departments.

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