Entresto Shortage ?

[Prada47]

Hi My pharmacy is having a problem getting Entresto

My prescription was for 112 tablets I have had 2 x 28 so 56 short Today when I went for the second 56 tablets she just said because they are restricted they only get a Quota of X per month and they have used them up !!! Try again on Monday I am really sorry but we are trying, anyone else had a problem with this Medication ?

Regards

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Surprisingly I've experienced the opposite. Normally my pharmacist is always missing a little of something, the daftest one was being handed a "Missing Slip" for a single Furosemide table.

Did a request last Friday via PatientAccess to GP asking for full list of medicines a week early due to Christmas - approved the same day, went to pharmacist on Monday and got a full supply, nothing missing!

[Hidden]

I think it would be in your best interest to make an appointment at earliest convenience to discuss this with your doctor. The behavior of the pharmacist is not best practice and certainly not their responsibility to begin rationing critical medication rather their responsibility to locate adequate stock from wherever they can and pass this information to the doctors who could be able to prescribe alternative medication

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

Unfortunately there is not much that a GP can do in this situation.

If there is a shortage of drugs then rationing and alternatives are the only option available to a pharmacist.

The Department of Health itself gives this advice.

Last year there was a supply problems with one of the medications I take to help prevent my coronary artery spasms. A severe coronary vasospasm can cause not only alot of pain but arrhythmias and a heart attack.

In the end I rang round the local pharmacies until I found a supply.

I now have an extra supply of my medication.

[stitch13 in reply to Hidden]

The Pharmacist is working under current guidlines from DoH/Scottish Government re 'medicine's shortage'. So, it is best practice and their responsibilty to ration medication where necessary. I can assure you, as a Pharmacy Technician, that everything possible is done to locate stock from suppliers and manufacturers. GP's are informed of shortages and requests for an alternative are made.

[Modeller3]

You can only get 28 at a time new Gov law, my husband

Could not get his for a week or so trouble with suppliers

[CRTD in reply to Modeller3]

That’s not the case, there is no Govt statement to say that at all, I got 112 (ie 2 months worth ) this week . If there is a shortage either through manufacturing problems or the supply chain then the pharmacist can limit the number whilst sourcing further stock

[Hanibil]

I have had a lot of trouble getting them from my regular pharmacy, they say it takes them weeks to get. So I went around the corner to another pharmacy they had them in stock and I have had no problem since.

[Hanibil]

Oh sorry I forgot just got a box of 56 Entresto tablets so I don’t think there is a restriction on how many your allowed at a time

[Prada47]

Hi Good Morning

It is the Pharmacy being limited by their supplier not Me personally. Sorry didn't make that clear enough.

Regards

[Janma123]

If your prescription is for 112 and they only have 56 available now they will surely put the others on one side for you when they come in.

Our pharmacy do this.

[Prada47]

Morning Janma

Yes they will put the missing 56 aside for me ( I Hope ) lol Got to try again on Monday !!

Best Regards

[Palpman]

Why would one need 4 months tablets in advance? Surely you can get them monthly.

Entresto tablets are only given to selected heart patients so not a large supply will be held in a pharmacy.

Insisting on 4 month supply will deprive other patients from receiving the drug.

[Prada47 in reply to Palpman]

I don't ask for that amount it is on my repeat prescription !!!

So I don't insist on anything. Oh and by the way that is 2 months supply as I take 2 a day. So please don't jump before analysing and insinuating I would maybe deprive other patients from receiving Entresto.

ps I have an accelerating HF I am under two different Cardiologists who want me on the maximum dose of Entresto ASAP their words not mine.

Regards

[Qualipop]

Slightly different because it's been withdrawn but I've just spent 2 weeks trying to get hold of ranitidine. I finally found a pharmacy that has a huge stock but it's meant getting several prescriptions from the GP just to match the dosage size required. I urgently needed enough to tide me over until the GP could work out an alternative. You will probably have to get a new prescription but get a paper one and try a different chemist.

[Andrew_A]

My pharmacy has a 0 quota for these, it is quite normal. They are able to order 1 month supply at a time ie a box of 56 on providing the prescription number. They arrive the next morning. It is not that they are in short supply it is just that they are not a stock item. There are not enough people on them yet for community pharmacies to keep them on the shelf. As long as you are sensible and get your repeat prescriptions early rather than leaving them to the last minute there is not a problem. Also this is something that you get one month at a time not several months together.

[Bagrat]

If you have more than one medication and you have an issue obtaining one it is worth asking for the " difficult" one on a separate script so you can shop around. Med supplies ebb and flow so shortages of something are common depending on manufacturers.

I can't see this improving anytime soon.

[Prada47 in reply to Bagrat]

Hi Bagrat

That is exactly what my GP did. She gave me a prescription, and also sent one to the Pharmacy. Just keep the paper one so you can phone around different pharmacies !!

regards