The worrying news continues for many of New Zealand epilepsy sufferers.

A fifth death has been confirmed and linked to an epilepsy drug change after Pharmac's decision to cut costs and switch 10,000 patients medication.

Stuff reports that 31-year-old Andre Maddock is the latest victim, leaving his partner and 18 month son behind.

Chief Executive Officer for Medicines New Zealand Dr Graeme Jarvis told Tim Dower that an investigation is currently ongoing into whether Logem, the cheaper drug that patients were switched to, is to cause for the deaths.

He says that it has the same active ingredient. 

"Medicines are safe. They have been shown to be safe and effective, and they have all been approved by Medsafe."

He says that if epilepsy patients are stable on a particular brand of drug, then patients and their doctors would have to look into whether a brand switch is necessary. 

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