The Canadian Epilepsy Alliance says an ongoing shortage of an epilepsy medication is leaving some patients worried they91裸聊视频檒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 Canada91裸聊视频檚 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 can91裸聊视频檛 take the medications interchangeably without risking breakthrough seizures.

Dr. Eduard Bercovici, a Toronto neurologist specializing in epilepsy, says drug shortages can be 91裸聊视频渄evastating91裸聊视频� for people relying on them to prevent seizures.

The reason for the Teva-clobazam shortage is listed as 91裸聊视频渄isruption of the manufacture of the drug.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淥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 91裸聊视频� to know that they may have a seizure with missing medications,91裸聊视频� 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 aren91裸聊视频檛 clear, Bercovici said, some people with epilepsy are 91裸聊视频渧ery sensitive91裸聊视频� 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 can91裸聊视频檛 switch between the two and needs the Teva version, his daughter Rebecca Roland said.

Dickinson is a 91裸聊视频渧ery healthy, very active91裸聊视频� 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 didn91裸聊视频檛 control his seizures during the night, she said.

Within a week, his doctor switched him to Teva-clobazam and he hasn91裸聊视频檛 had any issues with seizures since, Roland said.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really been a lifesaver for him,91裸聊视频� she said.

But in August, Dickinson91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� from St. Catharines to Bracebridge 91裸聊视频攖o find whatever doses of Teva-clobazam they can get.

91裸聊视频滻f you can find a pharmacy that has it, they only have a little bit,91裸聊视频� she said.

When they learned the shortage was going to extend into next April, Dickinson and Roland became worried they wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be able to keep finding doses and went to his neurologist.

91裸聊视频漌e were really hoping that there would be an alternate solution to the situation,91裸聊视频� Roland said.

But there wasn91裸聊视频檛 91裸聊视频� except to switch him to the Apotex version of clobazam.

91裸聊视频淭he neurologist said, 91裸聊视频榳ell, switch him to the Apo and then if he has a seizure come and see me,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Roland said.

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

91裸聊视频淗e says, 91裸聊视频榃ell If I have to switch, you know, can you phone me every morning just to make sure I wake up?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Roland said.

91裸聊视频淚 think that91裸聊视频檚 pretty heartbreaking.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频渁 safety issue.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淧eople that are stabilized on antiseizure medications get their driver91裸聊视频檚 licenses back and are able to drive,91裸聊视频� said Dickson, who is also executive director of the Epilepsy Association of Calgary.

91裸聊视频淭hey also hold jobs where they91裸聊视频檙e required to obviously perform on a day-to-day basis 91裸聊视频� so when these shortages occur, people can experience breakthrough seizures impacting various aspects of their lives.91裸聊视频�