Medsafe approves new innovative PTSD treatment

Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Medsafe’s approval of two psychiatrists to prescribe pharmaceutical grade MDMA to eligible patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “PTSD ruins lives and is difficult to treat. MDMA can be very effective at treating it through psychedelic-assisted therapy,” Mr Seymour says. “Recent changes have put New Zealand’s settings in line with Australia, where authorised prescribers have been providing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in clinical settings for some time. “MDMA remains an unapproved medicine, but two experienced psychiatrists have already been granted authority to prescribe it to patients with PTSD. “This is very good news for their patients, who will have been suffering for some time. “There are a number of safeguards in place to ensure MDMA is prescribed safely and appropriately, as part of a psychedelic-assisted therapy approach. “The clinicians will follow their therapeutic protocols and make decisions about whether treatment is appropriate for a patient following a comprehensive clinical assessment. Treatment with MDMA occurs as part of a comprehensive treatment plan and occurs in the prescriber’s clinic. Pa