Maker wants Xenical available prescription-free

By REBECCA WALSH health reporter

The weight-loss drug Xenical could soon be available from pharmacies without a prescription.

But GPs and groups working with people with eating disorders oppose the move.

They say pharmacists are not as well qualified as doctors to assess an individual's health needs, and worry that people with eating disorders, such as bulimia, could misuse it.

A doctor's prescription is needed for Xenical, which works by preventing the body absorbing fat.

Xenical has been used by about 60,000 New Zealanders since April 1998. The company that makes it, Roche, wants the drug reclassified as pharmacist-only.

It claims that giving direct access to Xenical would lower healthcare costs by reducing the number of doctors visits and the long-term medical complications of obesity, such as heart disease and diabetes.

The Ministry of Health's medicines classification committee met yesterday to discuss the submission. A decision is expected in six weeks.

This month, Australia became the first country to allow over-the-counter sales of Orlistat (branded as Xenical).

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is expecting younger people, especially males, who are less likely to go to the doctor, to take up the drug.


In its submission, Roche said about half of New Zealanders were overweight or obese and that number was expected to grow.

It was confident pharmacists had the training and experience to determine if the drug, which costs about $160 for a month's supply, was appropriate. Only people over 18 and with a body mass index of 30 or more would be able to buy it.

The company would also run education programmes for pharmacists.

Roche acknowledged people suffering from anorexia nervosa or bulimia might be tempted to try Xenical, but they would be identified as unsuitable by pharmacists.

Jane Tyrer, co-ordinator of the Auckland-based Eating Difficulties Education Network, said someone with bulimia could be overweight and appear to fit the criteria.

She questioned whether a pharmacist could ascertain whether Xenical was suitable.

A small New Zealand study showed that three out of 15 women with bulimia would use Xenical to lose weight if they could obtain it without prescription.

Ms Tyrer said Xenical's aggressive marketing campaign meant it could come across looking like a "magic bullet".

Waiuku mother of four Nesia Gaffar took Xenical last year and, in combination with going to the gym, she lost 14kg in two months.

The 39-year-old said Xenical had been great for her and she would recommend it to others.

But she believed it should remain prescription-only as a "safeguard" against getting into the wrong hands.

Dr Peter Foley, chairman of the Medical Association's GP Council, agreed. Although Roche ran a "fairly good" support programme, "dealing with obesity by encouraging people to get a pill from the chemist is just wrong".

Dr Foley said GPs were the best qualified to assess the overall health needs of a patient.

But Pharmacy Guild president Richard Heslop said pharmacists were capable of determining who was suitable for Xenical.