Patients are put at risk because the restrictions on drugs made by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme are pushing clinicians to prescribe older, outdated medicines, a Queensland medical researcher argues.

University of Queensland neurologist Christian Gericke said the review process for more recent drugs was “ad hoc” and did not keep up with medical advances.

An epilepsy researcher says more effective drugs to fight the disease should have restrictions on them lifted. Credit:Fairfax Media

Speaking specifically about anti-epileptic drugs, Professor Gericke said a current unrestricted drug, valproate, had several side-effects including causing birth defects.

“Valproate has been virtually banned last year in Europe because of its side-effects,” he said.