A 2020 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Prohibits substitution of prescribed epilepsy drugs by pharmacists without prior notification to and written consent of physician and patient.

This New Jersey bill requires pharmacists to obtain written consent from both the prescribing physician and the patient (or their parent/guardian/spouse) before substituting any brand or generic anti-epileptic drug for epilepsy treatment. It prohibits pharmacists from changing the prescribed drug formulation, manufacturer, or brand without this prior notification and consent. The law directly affects epilepsy patients, their doctors, and pharmacists by mandating collaborative decision-making for medication substitutions. The policy aims to prevent potential risks from switching anti-epileptic drugs, which can impact seizure control due to sensitivity in drug concentrations. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Health Committee after introduction on January 13, 2026.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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Total actions
1
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Shama Haider
Shama Haider
DDemocratic
NJ
37