Advice - reimburse naldemedine (Rizmoic®) for the treatment of constipation due to the use of strong analgesics (opioids)
The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to reimburse naldemedine (Rizmoic ®) from the basic health care package. This medicinal product can be used in certain patients with constipation due to the use of strong analgesics. If the Minister adopts our advice, naldemedine will be included in the Medicine Reimbursement System (GVS). Only then will this medicinal product be reimbursed from the health care insurer's basic health care package.
Naldemedine is intended for certain people with constipation due to the use of strong analgesics (opioids)
Naldemedine is the active substance. The brand name is Rizmoic®. The medicinal product is a tablet that you swallow.
The medicinal product can be used in certain patients with opioid-induced constipation (OIC). People with OIC suffer from constipation due to the use of opioids. These are strong painkillers. The use of strong painkillers can cause their bowels to move more slowly. And more liquid is extracted from the faeces. This results in dry, hard faeces and constipation. As a result, people with OIC suffer from bloating, nausea and abdominal pain. Naldemedine counteracts the action of opioids in the intestines.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of naldemedine
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport to reimburse naldemedine (Rizmoic ®) from the basic health care package. The recommendation is to include the medicinal product in List 1A of the GVS, in a newly formed cluster with naloxegol. For naldemedine, the standard dose is set at 0.2 mg and for naloxegol at 25 mg.
For more information on the GVS and the Lists 1A, 1B and 2, see page ‘Reimbursement of extramural drugs (GVS)’.
More information or questions?
If you have any questions about this advice, please send your question to the National Health Care Institute via warcg@zinl.nl. If you have questions about the reimbursement of a medicinal product, the personal expenses or whether you should pay a contribution, please ask your health insurance provider.
How did the advice come about?
The Scientific Advisory Board advises the National Health Care Institute about the assessment. The Minister makes the final decision whether or not to reimburse the medication from the basic health care package.
Explanation about the reimbursement of medicinal products
Naldemedine is an outpatient medicinal product. Outpatient means: medicines for home use that can be obtained at the pharmacy with a prescription from a physician. They are only reimbursed from the basic health care package if they are listed in the GVS.