AF review funded by Bayer

[CTblood]

I had a letter from my GP surgery asking me to make a telephone appointment to review my AF. It's a 20 minute appointment with a "clinical pharmacist who is working with the practice to discuss my AF and AF management" and is fully funded by Bayer. They also want a recent blood test (liver and kidney function) and blood pressure and weight. I'm on Warfarin so wondering if they are going to ask me to change to DOAC....Has anybody else had a letter from their GP?

[jeanjeannie50]

No, I haven't had a letter. It looks very much like you may end up on Bayer medication! It will be interesting to hear how you get on.

Jean

[CTblood in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I will let you know the outcome, review is at the end of August.

[10gingercats]

I am having a meds. review by ' clinical pharmacist' at our practice next wee. No mention of Bayer or any add on.This a new one for me at my practice.

[CTblood in reply to 10gingercats]

Will let you know how I get on, good luck with your review.

[pusillanimous in reply to 10gingercats]

What exactly is a 'Clinical Pharmacist' if you don't mind my asking?

[10gingercats in reply to pusillanimous]

I have only been told the clinical pharmacist is doing medication reviews to relieve the GP's work load. I wil ask more when I hear from her. It is tele. call chat.

[pusillanimous in reply to 10gingercats]

I would imagine a pharmacist is better qualified to discuss drugs. I don't know how it is in the UK, but I live in South Africa and my pharmacist told me that they train for three years and the average GP only has about 6 months of pharmacology in their degree and she told me it's not unusual for her to pick up conflicting drugs in a prescription

[BobD Volunteer]

Rivaroxaban is Bayer's DOAC so very likely. Have pleasant memories of the Valkyrie from Bayer I met some years ago and I'm still on warfarin. lol 😁

[Hidden]

G'day CTblood,

No letter but earlier this year I had to have a cortisone injection into my right shoulder. My GP did it herself. However only after she and I went head to head. She tried to get me to switch to one of the NOAC's (DOAC's). I refused ... told her, well reminded her, that I was on Warfarin and highly stable too. She said she wasn't happy about doing the procedure in case there was an internal bleed. I reminded her that I had been through a right knee replacement for which I had to stop Warfarin and get my INR down to 0 (zero), WITH NO PROBLEMS!

In the end she agreed to go ahead if I could get my INR down to 1.7 - which I did no problems as I have my own Coaguchek device and do all my INR testing myself at home. My surgery have never had to deal with any Warfarin / INR problems generated by me.

I have one of those tests coming up at the end of August, Bloods, weight and BP - my usual annual event along with a simultaneous INR blood test. I stab my finger, drop some blood onto the surgery Coaguchek device and from the same blood I drop some onto my device and we compare results. Ensures that both our devices are singing from the same hymn sheet.

John

[CTblood in reply to Hidden]

I had a cortisone injection in my shoulder earlier this year, I told the consultant I was on warfarin and he said no problem! Well done for managing your INR.

[CTblood]

I intend to stay on warfarin, I have a genetic bleeding disorder, warfarin is the recommended anticoagulant and it hasn't increased my bleeding.

[Jajarunner in reply to CTblood]

Hello CT, I was recommended apaxiban for the same genetic problem, as you know 😉😘

[Hidden]

Sometimes, I think medics tend to love to blame Warfarin for anything they can get away with ...... because the average man in the street doesn't properly understand it .... these people use it as an easy cop out.

John

[Ppiman in reply to Hidden]

I would say that you are far from being the average man in the street, John. Having worked within the health care industry for many years before becoming a teacher, one aspect that stood out to me was what strange things people get up to and come to their doctors for.

"Industry partnerships" in which a medic or pharmacist funded by private industry seem to be quite common. as the NHS becomes ever more privately funded and run.

Here's an example called "Excellence in AF": oxfordahsn.org/about-us/our...

I'm sure this is the tip of an iceberg.

😮

Steve

[DGET1]

They do that at my GP surgery annually. Apixaban review with the pharmacist.

[CTblood in reply to DGET1]

Thanks for your reply, this seems to be different than my annual review, will let you know.

[pusillanimous]

Weight is interesting, perhaps they are working out that 'a one size does not fit all strategy' Ia 50kgs and take the same dose of Xarelto as my friend who is 80kg.

[Lupaal]

Yes, filled in an online form and having the blood test next week.

[CTblood in reply to Lupaal]

Thanks for reply, will update at end of month

[Lupaal in reply to CTblood]

I'm not on wayfaring by the way, I'm on apixaban, so maybe just a new thing.

[CTblood]

Thanks for your replies. I have regular health checks with my GP surgery but this appears to be with a pharmacist who is linked to Bayer. They said he will not have access to my medical records. My guess is they will try to switch me to a Bayer DOAC, maybe Rivaroxaban, as BoB suggested, as I understand this is cheaper. Will let you know at end of month. Thanks again for your interest.

[waveylines]

Well as he/she are fully funded by Bayer then I would've thought you are not going to get an unbiased review! I assume your GP Surgery has been sucked in by the "free" pair of hands! Big pharma know the NHS is on its knees & clearly are taking full advantage. Lol.....

[CTblood in reply to waveylines]

Yes, that is my cynical opinion. Will let you know at end of month. Thanks for reply.

[waveylines in reply to CTblood]

I really dont know what the GP is up to.....is it a money saving exercise for the NHS, less monitoring, to look at switching you, because if you are happily settled on warfarin & stable why on earth would they think of moving you off it? Why create the extra work!!!!!

My anticoag prob has never been fully resolved, I just bleed less cos I take less. I bruise sooo easily.....big fat deeply coloured bruises that appear from nowhere. My mouth hygiene is wrecked & gingivitis has taken a firm hold thanks to a constant bleeding mouth which only occurred since being on an anti Coag. My teeth are now discoloured and look awful but the fear of a stroke leaves me feeling I cant risk stopping. I foresee a very expensive dental bill shead! Lol....

I cant help feeling that at some point in the future these DOACs will be condemmed........cannot see how a one fit rule works for all! So dont let them pressure you if your settled on Warfarin with no issues like mine. Interestingly when I discussed this all with my GP Warfarin didnt star at all........when I asked he said that wont be any better.....so there you go. Hed let me run around with a risk of stroke then let me even try. Lol....

[KMRobbo in reply to waveylines]

Creeping privatisation....

[Byke]

Hi, I started on the journey of AF 3 years ago. After two admissions to hospital within two months, I was told it is PAF , they gave me medication with no follow up . I have never been seen by my doctor with this. I presume if I have problems I would use 111 as I would not get into my doctors ( that’s if I can get through on the phone) which is what I had to do on both previous occasions, one of which where I had to go into resus.

[LaceyLady in reply to Byke]

DO NOT bother with 111, USELESS! Only ask lists of questions. Any problems ring 999

[waveylines in reply to LaceyLady]

Indeed.......Ive rang 111 three times in the last 5 yrs due to some treatment and each time they tell me to go to A&E. I thought the point of them was to help avoid A&E????

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

HiWhere are you?

I had a review with Auckland DHB (dismantled now) Cardiac Specialist whosaw I was finally CONTROLLED since December with Diltiazem CCB 120mg a.m and 2.5 Bisoprolol at night. PRADAXA 110mg twice daily. Also my throxin 125mg Synthroid before food by 1 hour.

What does Bayer manufacture?

cheers. JOY. 73. (NZ)

[Ivan_the_Terrible in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Through their subsidiary Monsanto herbicides, such as Roundup, and GMOs.

[CTblood in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

I’m in the UK.

[Outtheresinger]

I am on Apixaban but have also been called to the surgery for a similar review. I have not seen a GP since my ablation in March 2020 (not for lack of trying!) it seems strange that we Afibbers are being called for review it must be a money issue! I know from family members who are GPs that Funding is often offered for carrying out specific tests then after a year or two the extra funding is withdrawn but the testing continues. Looking forward to hearing more about this - I am still trying to get an appointment for my check. I have to phone at 8.00 am every morning until I win the lottery of an appointment !

[CTblood in reply to Outtheresinger]

Good luck!

[jenanco]

I had a similar letter from my GP practice which made me rather concerned. When I queried why such a large pharmaceutical company would be advising me on AF and medication I was told that it was just an extra facility on offer. I rejected the offer saying that I have a great relationship with my EP and would not be happy booking a phone consultation with someone who does not know me and who may be given access to my medical records without my permission.

[Tickerprobs]

Howdy CT … I’ve had no letter but I pushed for a change over from Warfarin (been on since 2014) to Apixaban (October gone) and the discolouration and fluid retention in my legs has improved in no uncertain terms. I’m as pleases as punch. 😁😁😁

[CTblood in reply to Tickerprobs]

Great news for you.

[Belle11]

Various studies have found that industry funding can affect the results of research - in favour of the industry's product. Here's one finding - "There was a significant association between the funding source and study outcome (p=.01). The proportion of industry-funded studies with favorable outcomes (88%) was higher than that of publicly and foundation-funded studies (73% and 74%, respectively)." There was a significant association between the funding source and study outcome (p=.01). The proportion of industry-funded studies with favorable outcomes (88%) was higher than that of publicly and foundation-funded studies (73% and 74%, respectively).

Your cynicism seems justified.

[Hilianna]

Interesting. No I have not received a letter about this.

[Ivan_the_Terrible]

It should be mandatory for all such funding for consultations and treatments to be disclosed. I had a run in with my GP because I didn't know he was being paid 25 pounds for every second Covid jab administered. Had I known that I might not have followed his advice and had the second jab, which had bad consequences for me. When you've five thousand patients the cash incentive doesn't encourage questioning. He announced his retirement a few days, after our conversation.

As anti-stroke medication I use black Cumin (nigella sattiva) oil. I might consider Warfarin but Rivaroxaban never.

[2learn]

who is getting what out of this. GP and pharmacist probably get some fee, etc, Bayer make money out of pushing their drugs. What's in it for you, a drug that is being 'sold ' as better but are there clinical trials to prove this and did Bayer pay for those? Be circumspect is my advice.

[notfibbing]

Bayer has clinical trials of a new kind of anticoagulant: Factor XI(a) inhibitor, which has lower bleeding risk than DOACs.I wonder if you are being evaluated for possible inclusion in a trial.

bayer.com/en/pharma/factor-...

[CTblood]

Thanks again for all your replies. I will let you know at end of Aug.

[belindalore]

Hope your UK medical system isn't becoming money over patient like it is so many places here in the USA. Drs like to use the DOACs here because they don't have to bother with the extra testing like with Warfarin. Plus it's cheaper for the insurance companies to not have to pay for all the extra testing. A nurse told me that. But they still need to do away with the one size fits all dosing of the DOACs.

[dunestar]

In a very nice way I would question the GP about the Bayer connection.