Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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670. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to directing that medications such as sumatriptan be available without prescription which will enable speedier access to treatment for persons suffering from migraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18006/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Sumatriptan is a medicine for the acute treatment of migraine. In Ireland it is currently subject to prescription but may be supplied by a pharmacist on an emergency basis without a prescription.

The Irish Medicines Board is currently conducting a review of a number of prescription medicines which may be suitable for supply in Ireland on a non-prescription basis. One of the focuses of this review is consideration of medicines currently available on a non-prescription basis in other EU member states. As sumatriptan is supplied as an "over the counter medicine" in pharmacies in the UK and in other member states it will be included in this review which is likely to be completed this year.