Thankyou re- changing medication brand

[Teresa156]

Hi All,

Thankyou to all of you who told me your experiences of changing medication brand after you’d started a box from a different supplier. The pharmacist at my Doctor’s Surgery called yesterday and told me he’d put a new prescription through to my local chemist for the preferred brand of Colcichine, to get me over this pericardial issue I have, which was great news.

However, my local chemist tell me they don’t have it in stock and ‘get what they are given’ which I don’t necessarily believe. They haven’t filled me with hope in getting it from their suppliers today, so I’ll be asking for the prescription back and looks like I’ll be ringing around other Chemists in the area. Hopefully, I’ll get there in the end. My prescription is for another 60 pills, so have to get it right this time. Meanwhile, I’m putting up with the stomach issue as I need to take the medication.

Thankyou again.

[jeanjeannie50]

Boots the chemist have no problems getting any of the named prescription medications I like. I used to have an awful problem with the pharmacy I used before.

Jean

[Teresa156 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean, I think I’ll try them first. Might save a lot of ringing around. I’m sure it’s not as difficult as my Chemist are saying it is to get a preferred supplier. I always get the same supplier for my bisoprolol so I don’t know why this is difficult. I did notice that the brand I want was more expensive than the one they gave me, ( when I hunted through Google at suppliers and this medication ) so I think this might have something to do with it.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Teresa156]

I think some pharmacies have agreement contracts with certain suppliers.

[BobD Volunteer]

Believe it or not I found Tesco's very helpful when my local pharmacist was unable to supply an item, prescribed to me. You don't actually get the prescription back, it just goes into the on line system for others to find.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to BobD]

I would have my prescription printed out and given to me by the pharmacy that couldn't supply what I needed.

[Teresa156 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Unfortunately it didn’t work out like that, I wish it had Jean. I called them yesterday to ask if they had it in stock before I went there and they told me they didn’t, but would try and get it from their supplier. Then my husband went to collect another of my prescriptions about an hour later and asked about it - they told him ‘ ‘they were waiting to hear back’ 😳 Not ideal. I’m not going to let them keep my prescriptions again like this, as it’s not the first time. I don’t think they like it when their customers go elsewhere. I should have gone in there myself this morning, I was going to leave it until afternoon, then forgot how they close early. They always close for lunch every day too 😳. They’re quite old fashioned like that.

I live and learn unfortunately….

[Teresa156]

Thanks Bob, that’s a good idea, as there’s a superstore quite local to us too.

[DawnTX in reply to Teresa156]

I just had a similar problem with my jardiance. it is true they get what they get sometimes if you need a specific brand and your doctor does write the prescription they can order it, but I think they all seem to like to keep the cheaper stuff on hand. They didn’t even bother telling me I was so angry. I had seven. They put a sticky note in the bag about it not even telling me they would no longer carry it. It evidently is just their decision not the medication being out or discontinued. My insurance has mail order and sent my meds out to me, but I had to go without any until that happened. Not a good thing and very unprofessional of the pharmacy in my opinion.

always stick to your guns if it’s that important and it makes you sick push them. They are not going to do anything otherwise just like everything else they all want to put the money in their pocket I have become very jaded at the attitudes out there. The pharmacy normally is a nice good old-fashioned family one that I enjoyed but after this I’ll stick with the big one that gets me my medication they can even express it if necessary.

best of luck when we are sick we shouldn’t have to chase our meds around also having had pericarditis several times I know the sooner you get that into you the better I realize that you are continuing it you want to keep that going so you don’t have a relapse on it just remember we are all here with you and understand

[Teresa156 in reply to DawnTX]

Thanks Dawn,

I’ll make sure I get it one way or another 😊 unfortunately I forgot that our Chemist close at midday today (Saturday) and I thought they would call me. I can’t pick up my prescription now until Monday 😔

Very annoying.

[JaneChapple in reply to Teresa156]

You could try phoning 111. I've read of other people getting their meds sorted that way. It shouldn't be necessary though. Thyroid patients have similar issues, but it seems to noe be a problem for all types of meds.😫Hope you get sorted.

Janexxx😊❤️

[Teresa156 in reply to JaneChapple]

Thanks Jane,

I think wait for tomorrow and hopefully I’ll have my pills or my prescription back from the chemist by then 🤞 I’ve never really had much joy with 111 in the past and don’t think I can face all those questions today that they throw at you ….thankyou though x

[DawnTX]

oh that is a pain in the neck. I’ll be glad when you get it and start feeling better again.

[Teresa156 in reply to DawnTX]

Thanks Dawn.

[opal11uk]

This may apply to the larger chemist groups so you need to look for an independent in your area. Good luck x

[Teresa156 in reply to opal11uk]

Thanks Opal,

They are an independent 😳x

[opal11uk in reply to Teresa156]

ok, then try someone like Boots who have bigger purchasing powers lol, if one doesn't hopefully the other does. I remember when Disopyramide stopped being producted, I rang the Manufacturers!!!!!

[Teresa156 in reply to opal11uk]

Ah, I’ve done that too in the past ! I contacted the manufacturer of a medication they told me was out of stock, turned out it wasn’t….

Thankyou x

[BrotherThomas]

If you have to ask for your prescription back ask them if they've already claimed payment for it. My wife was about to run out of one of her drugs due to the pharmacy not having it in stock for several weeks. They gave her the prescription back and advised her to try another pharmacy. We found one that had it in stock only to find that the first pharmacy had already claimed payment for it. Consequently, the second pharmacy couldn't dispence it.

The only solution was to get an emergency prescription from the GP and take it to the second pharmacy

A great deal of inconvenience and running around was had by all!

Needless to say, we changed pharmacies after that experience.

[Teresa156]

Hi Brother Thomas,

That’s terrible 😳 I have an awful feeling that my Chemist must do that every time you know. I can imagine the inconvenience that must have caused you. I shall definitely ask. Hopefully, if they have, they could refund it back, though from what you are saying, I bet this is difficult.

I’ll watch out for that.

I did tell them I had to have that brand and I told them what the others had done to me.

Thankyou