Morning Everyone, Just had a stressful 2 days. Went to Chemist to pick-up monthly prescription to be told they "owed" me the Solatol as they were out of stock. They had no idea when they would be able to get stock as there is a country-wide shortage due to manufacturing problems and the local Chemists had been "lending" each other stock! As I had just taken my last tablet, he said he would contact my doctor to ask him to prescribe another drug. And, that's where the nightmare started. I have been told both by the Pharmacist and my doctor's receptionist that there is no other drug that can be prescribed for AF, only ones that require pre-blood tests and continual monitoring. Then I was informed the doctor had emailed the Cardiologist to ask what they should prescribe and, obviously, they would contact me when he responded. Great, this was Monday afternoon and I am off on holiday for 2 weeks on Thursday which meant no drugs for at least 3 weeks. So, using my initiative I contacted other Chemists in the area. After calling 8, I found 2 with 1 packet each. I reserved these and got the Surgery to issue 2 prescriptions. So, I now have a month's supply, with my Pharmacist going to try and get some for me for my return. What I cannot understand is, if there is a manufacturing problem why haven't the doctors been informed before it has reached this stage and why wasn't my doctor aware and taken action?
Solatol - Warning of shortages - no... - British Heart Fou...
Solatol - Warning of shortages - no supplies.
Sadly this is the key disconnect in the service, notification of shortages are made to all health professionals regularly but....! and the problem is with the but.
Rarely are these notifications linked to specific patients because the technology used by pharmacy practitioners is not linked to patient records and therefore this isn't flagged on individual notes.
The solution is simple but the issue is data and record management. As I have told my GP I am happy for them to communicate by prescription requirements with other health care professionals but every appointment I go to I have to carry the list.
The only answer I have found is building a relationship with the pharmacist and letting them know that if there are issues with my regular prescription drugs they can let me know and I will sort it out with the GP. It shortens the process by 14 days.
Glad you got that sorted for your holiday - enjoy and relax.
Oh my consultant put me on beta blockers for AF.
I didn't know there was a med for AF.
Glad you got your supply to cover your holiday. Least you can relax for a couple of weeks now ☺ Have a great time ☺
Sotalol is part of the beta blocker family - here's a list of the most common ones we use in the UK: nhs.uk/Conditions/Beta-bloc...
There are lots of medications besides beta blockers that we use for AF, which we have an article on here: bhf.org.uk/heart-matters-ma...
Hope this helps, Chris
Thanks Chris 😊
Thank you for your response. This is a quick email as I am off in a couple of hours. I will access the websites when I get back, then - if I dare - tell my doctor about them.
Tell me about it! I take the blood thinner Dabigatran (twice a day). It's part of the package of drugs I take and I collect the whole lot as a repeat prescription every two months. A few weeks ago I collected my repeat 'scrip from our local Boots and was given a chit saying that they owe me 52 tabs of Dabigatran. My stock of this drug was running out so I phoned the pharmacy to make sure that they now had the drug in stock. No- the drug unavailable and would go on being unavailable. I asked them whether they had told my GP and they hadn't. I asked them why they hadn't told me about this and there was no useful answer. The pharmacy were content to allow me to run out of a medication upon which my life depends. The result was a horrible day of phone calls, a vist to our GP's surgery, a faxed new scrip for another drug- and surprise, surprise, taking the management of repeat scrips to another pharmacy. Since then I have heard several more horror stories -DO NOT RELY ON YOUR PHARMACY to handle repeat scrips accurately. Phone them, nag them and check the packages when you collect the medications.
I have had horrendous problems with my doctors surgery and pharmacist not getting my meds sorted on time and running out - only been on heart meds for 16 weeks and every time I want a replenishment it is aggro. Doctor put me on some new system which clearly screwed everything up, that coupled with the girl in the pharmacy was the most unhelpful obnoxious girl you could ever come across. Anyway I kicked off and hopefully have now got it all sorted - suppose I will still have to deal with the girl in the pharmacy but I should not now run out or be left worried that I will not have meds because the pharmacy cant get them in. My next request for meds will be the test.
Hi Helusian l also had a problem collecting regular meds from chemist so got into the habit of ordering a week before they were required that way if there was a supply problem the chemist at least had a week to re source This also applied before a holiday. Hope this helps
OT - On Getting Older 😁
Transplant clinic Golden Jubilee 
Cold Turkey Stop of Bisoprolol for PVC’s Change to Diltiazem 
The Importance of reading Patient Information Leaflets.
possible heart attack?
