Drugs recall and shortages.

[seasider18]

Seems like relying on overseas companies for drugs is again a problem both here and in America where it seems that some will not be available until February 2018.

gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/d...

[sleeksheep]

Your link goes to a July,2013 drug withdrawal.

Is that what you meant by again?

[jeanjeannie50]

Gosh that's awful. I had some pills from that maker in the summer, not the ones on the list however. Thank goodness checks are being made on producers.

[pip_pip]

Hi. This report is 2013. Going backwards is not the answer.

Phil

[seasider18 in reply to pip_pip]

Sorry I read the American report and then looked for a UK one and did not notice the date on it,

accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/...

[Polski in reply to seasider18]

This seems to relate to Atenolol only, because of a shortage of an active ingredient. It may only apply to America which will have different supply chains from elsewhere. Fortunately February is not so far away!

[Offcut]

Surely it does not take 5 years to find another supplier?

[CDreamer]

There was a report on Radio 4 about the rise in price and shortages of various generic drugs but as I was rushing out I didn’t really take it all in so thanks for the post. I did catch that the prices were rising by as much as x60 though which is very scary.

I have experienced this problem with a drug called Pyridostigamine bromide, as did many other people in the UK because the UK manufacturer ceased production. The branded drug was still freely available BUT the pharmacist could not be paid for the more expensive branded drug unless the GP had specifically written the brand on the script. This caused a lot of problems for people who rely on this drug.

Unfortunately, I believe, as the UK leaves European Union more and more companies will move to Europe simply because of the freedom of movement and consistent standards requirements.

[seasider18 in reply to CDreamer]

Pharmacies buy from the cheapest source available. Even with the Pound low against the Euro they still are when it's a generic one.

[CDreamer in reply to seasider18]

And that has caused a problem with Dabigatran which is manufactured in Germany - because really only Rowlands stock it now - at least in our area - because Rowlands are owned by the distributed of Dabigatran - Phoenix.

Tesco Pharmacy told me they don’t hold stocks and now don’t intend to supply it. (It’s Hubble who takes it).

[seasider18 in reply to CDreamer]

Many drugs are not held in stock even by Boots who are the biggest. I use Kamsons who have about fifty branches in the South East and can always get anything by the next day.