not sure wether to go back to Dr's e.g hayfever tablets

quite a few years ago I was taking clarityn which did not help my hayfever as I get it quite bad and makes my asthma bad, the dr then change it to neoclarityn (desloratidine) which I take all year round which helps loads and not had a problem with hayfever,

But now the dr's have sent a letter on the 11th of april saying we have been advised by the primary care trust that we should swap all patients this preparation to loratidine tablets as this is a more cost effective

Because of this letter it was change I been taking it but have found my hayfever is really getting bad again, not sure wether to go back to see dr or nurse , I'm also recently started taking Citalopram tablets not sure if it the side affects started these just over two weeks ago

sorry this is long post but not sure what to do as I having problems with sleeping and my asthma again

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I can't claim to be terribly knowledgable on these matters but I would have thought, if you go back and see your doctor, he/she should be happy to put you back on the treatment that works. Regardless of the cost. I think sometimes doctors have favourite drugs that they like to prescribe regardless of whether or not this is the most cost efficient treatment. And there is no point giving a more expensive drug to someone for whom a cheaper one will work just as well. I used to take Atorvastatin which is a statin for cholesterol. I took it happily for many years. But when we moved our new gp put me on Simvastatin saying it would make no difference to me but plenty to the NHS. And he appears to have been right. I've got no problem with that. The cheaper option works just as well for me.

Go back. Tell them this new stuff you've been given isn't cutting the mustard for you and that you want your old medication back. I can't see that they'd argue. After all, it is a waste of time and money to give you a medication that doesn't help much isnt' it? And their first duty of care is to you as a patient not to some number cruncher in an office somewhere who quite possibily doesn't have hayfever!

Good luck.

Jacqui Mac

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If your just being changed due to cost and not withdrawel of the drug, then there shouldn be a problem going back if your needs outweigh reason for change which yours clearly does, well worth speakingto GP and telling them?

Andrea

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Hi there,

it sounds like the change in drug hasn't worked for you, so it is worth goin gback to the GP who will probably switch you back. I think a lot of people were changed to the new antihistamines and got no benefit so for many people it is reasonable to switch to a cheaper alternative but if it doesn't work you need to go back to something which did. It is unlikely to be the citalopram.

S

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I had this problem last year after making an appt with my most understanding GP it was decided that as i dont do anywhere near as well on loratidine that i should stay on desloratidine.

Speak to your gp and put your case forward pointing out that if the loratidine doesnt conrol your symptoms as well then youwill be spending more time at theri surgery trying to get sorted!!

Good luck and stuck to your guns it is your right tohave what you need not what they say just because it s cheaper!!

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thankyou for the support , I will try and speak to the nurse or doctor tommrow , and see it they can change it back ,

its strange that its not helping me , as they said its the same medication as Desloratidine bit confused if anyone can help me understand that would be lovely

I let you know how I get on at surgery

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I afaid I did not ask about changing back to old tablets , the surgey looked very busy and felt guilty to bother them , my chest been a bit bad today with my asthma , hope you are all keeping well take care

April x

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I changed from Loratidine to citirizine a long time ago because Loratidine wasn't effective enough. I think that is somewhere in between loratidine and desloratidine in price and was really effective for a while. The immunologist doubled the dose as my reactions were getting so severe but I don't think the GP's have jurisdiction to do that themselves. It is always worth going back to the GP to say it isn't working well enough and they will have other alternatives to try usually starting with the cheapest first.

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Hi April

It shouldn't matter how busy the surgery looks. Your asthma and general health are suffering because your doctor changed your medication. If the surgery is busy then that is the GPs problem and not yours. They are well paid for coping on busy days and you have the right to ask that your medication is changed. It would be nice if everybody that visited the doctors though 'Is my problem severe enough to take up time in the surgery?' but most don't which is probably why it was so busy.

Does your practice do telephone consultations? Perhaps you could have a chat with the doctor by phone and he can raise you a prescription for whatever you need for you to collect later. My practice does this. They also have a facility for email consults which can be very handy.

Your health is important enough to need the appointment. Busy or not.

Jacqui (stepping down off her soapbox;~)

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I'd certainly do this as a telephone consult. Give them a ring, April, I don't know of any surgeries who don't do telephone consults.