Christodoulas Moisa just made it to Wanganui Hospital minutes before collapsing into anaphylactic shock (a life-threatening allergic reaction.
"I had just taken my anitibiotic capsule, and I reckon it nearly killed me," he said yesterday.
A few weeks ago Mr Moisa, an asthmatic, had a chest infection so went to his doctor. After having his prescription for an antibiotic filled at a local pharmacy, he went home to bed.
Within 15 minutes of taking the semi-synthetic antibiotic Cefaclor, he started feeling extremely unwell, he said. But because it was the second time he had been prescribed the antibiotic drug, made by India's biggest pharmaceutical company, Ranbaxy Laboratories, he thought he should just turn over and try to sleep.
"Thank God I didn't. I knew something was really wrong. I was scratching and scratching myself. It was weird, and it wasn't like I wasn't used to taking antibiotics. I've taken them a lot, being asthmatic."
The itching all over his body was driving him mad so he leapt in his car and took off to the hospital.
He told the receptionist he was having some kind of horrible reaction to an antibiotic he'd just taken, he said.
"They took me in straight away and starting asking me questions, then my tongue started swelling up and I couldn't talk, and it was diffcult to breath.''
It was six hours later before he came to, after numerous shots of adrenaline.
"It saved my life. The hospital staff were just marvellous.''
His GP phoned him, very concerned, after being contacted by the hospital, and a claim was lodged with ACC, he said.
"The reason I'm telling my story is that it may help others who have had a bad experience too.''
This week the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned more than 30 generic drugs made by Ranbaxy, three of which are funded by Pharmac.
The drugs are the antibiotic Cefaclor, (the drug Mr Moisa took), the anti-viral Aciclovir and a syrup form of Amoxicillin prescribed to about 1000 children nationwide every day.
The Health Ministry was looking overseas for reassurance about the safety of the drugs that could have been contaminated during production at Ranbaxy.
But if that reassurance does not come, then Medsafe (the ministry arm responsible for regulating drugs) could ban further imports from the Indian company.
A Wanganui pharmacist, who didn't want to be named, said Mr Moisa had obviously had a serious allergic reaction to Cefaclor.
"But that doesn't necessarily mean it was contaminated. It means he had an allergic reaction."
New Zealand Medical Association chairman, Peter Foley, said that, in the meantime, anyone prescribed the drugs over the next few days should continue to take them. New Zealand had a three-month supply of the drugs, which allowed sufficient time to make a decision about whether more should be allowed in, Dr Foley said.
"At the moment, the drugs that are in this country are completely safe and should be used." But Mr Moisa is not convinced.
The week after his reaction, he suddenly developed painful neuralgia in the side of his face.
"I could hardly talk, it was so painful. It's getting better now, but it's still not right, and I think it's all linked."
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