Entresto shortage?: I have been on... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Entresto shortage?

Johnandvirginia profile image
12 Replies

I have been on Entresto for some months with brilliant results. Usually have a problem getting the complete prescription - pharmacist tells me that the drug is rationed to two prescription per pharmacy. This month I am having a real difficulty in getting hold of Entresto at all. Has anyone else had difficulty recently?

What do I do if I can't obtain my supply? Is there a substitue?

Thanks

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Johnandvirginia
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12 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Entresto is a drug used to treat heart failure in some people. From what I understand from the internet there is no direct single drug substitute as entresto is in itself a combination of two drugs . I am sure that your doctor(s) could prescribe a combination of other drugs to help you so best speak to them asap if you are having problems.

Logistics often produce shortages of drugs from time to time which seldom last very long and result from the way companies schedule manufacture in batches and then have to ship them world and country wide.

Johnandvirginia profile image
Johnandvirginia in reply toBobD

Many thanks Bob

Tudee profile image
Tudee in reply toBobD

I have read that there is a shortage as pharmacies are exporting to mainland Europe, at a profit of course

Bridges4 profile image
Bridges4

I have been having problems to get Entresto for the last four months. Have had to wait for a week to get the complete prescription. I am going on holiday for a couple of months at the end of June and am waiting with baited breath to see if I can get what I need.

Entresto has had such a positive effect-I am now NYHA class 1 with normal ejection fraction of 58%! Before the start of treatment I was class 3 with EF of 20%. Incredible result!

As far as I know there is no alternative available for this particular drug but in my case I also have two additional tablets to help my heart function which I have been taking for a longer period; Eplerenone and Ivabradine.

Fingers crossed for the future! Best wishes

Georgemav profile image
Georgemav in reply toBridges4

Hello Bridges4

May I ask how long you have been on Entresto for?Those EF results are good news .Ive only been on it for months with increase of my EF from 21 to 30%.Wishing you continued good health.

Many thanks.

Bridges4 profile image
Bridges4 in reply toGeorgemav

Hi

I have been on Entresto for seven months. I have only heard good reports for this drug and I am so pleased it is working for you.

Thanks for your good wishes and I, in turn, hope you continue to improve. All the very best.

Georgemav profile image
Georgemav in reply toBridges4

Was your increase in EF gradual ?Ive been on full dose for 4months so just wondering if the longer you take it the better the result?

Many thanks again.

Bridges4 profile image
Bridges4 in reply toGeorgemav

Hi Georgemav

I will be on Entresto for life. The transformation seemed to be over a period of 6 months. The last results took my cardio by surprise. He had never seen such a good result with a patient so, perhaps, I've been lucky.

Up to now I have been having an Echo every six or seven months to monitor my heart failure and other issues. What part of the world are you living? -I'm in Essex

Again the best of luck for a full recovery.

Georgemav profile image
Georgemav in reply toBridges4

Hi Bridges4

I live in Newcastle Upon Tyne .Think I will persist with Entresto before deciding upon referral for an ICD.This heart failure thing is so frustrating as I suffer no symptoms whatsoever.Im led to believe medical professionals(mainly heart nurses)put lots of emphasis on EF figures rather than physical well being. Not had any problems with availability although I did have to explain to my pharmacist initially what Entresto was so obviously stool a relatively new drug. Best wishes with your health and may it continue.

Regards

George

pirnough6 profile image
pirnough6

Entresto is for heart failure and is a new drug that has remarkable results. There is no substitute and it is also very expensive. Whilst my husband is having the dosage monitored he is getting his from the hospital. You could talk to your heart failure nurse to see if the hospital can help

Johnandvirginia profile image
Johnandvirginia

Many thanks for your comments. My friendly pharmacist has managed to find 28 tablets in a pharmacy in Suffolk (we are in Essex!!) Will have them by tomorrow afternoon.

MikeM46 profile image
MikeM46

Entresto shortage back Nov-Dec 2023! Very similar situation as 4 years ago. My pharmacy has tried for two weeks to no avail.

I run out this (Sunday ) evening … scary! How will my heart react? (DCM/lbbb and recently diagnosed continuous but unsymptomatic AF) ICD fitted 2016.

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