Medication frustration

[PaulHull]

After finally getting an appointment to see my GP regarding him taking over my repeat prescriptions excluding the anti rejection drugs, I was happy that he seemed to go along with what the hospital had prescribed until I tried to collect from the pharmacy... my GP had taken it upon himself to lower dosage of things without informing me, and change a few capsules to tablets because they are cheaper, therefore I had a very near put of meds emergency because out of 6 pharmacies I visited, only the last stocked the tablet versions. He prescribed tablets because they were easier on his budget yet he refused my offer to buy over the counter pain relief for 50p a box and insisted he prescribe me £9 paracetamol???? I don't pay for prescriptions so it makes no difference to me, but its madness! Anyway blah bum n buggery! It's nice to have a place to vent 😀👍 oh and I'd give pharmacy2U a miss people.... so unreliable 👎

[carmik]

Please be careful. Your GP must not change your anti rejection drugs in ANY WAY.

If they do, contact you hospital immediately.

Our GP stopped prescribing them under the orders of hierarchy.

We now get a years supply from the Liver Unit

[PaulHull in reply to carmik]

I'll cross that bridge when he takes over, but for the time being the liver unit are still prescribing the anti rejection part, I'll definitely make sure I have a good stock when he takes the reigns, who knows what'll happen with him having to stick to the same brand and what not

[TT-2018]

On the one hand, you get the anti rejection medication from the hospital due to funding issues with the trusts, and then you get the expensive paracetamol prescription, err where is the logic?

Thanks for the tip about Pharmacy2U, generally I avoid anything 2U. 😀

Mark.

[Hidden]

This is sadly all too common. When l came out of hospital post transplant, my wife took my hospital discharge letter up to my GP surgery. Three days later l was in need of some drug top ups. The practice told me that l would have to see a doctor first, and there was a two week waiting list. I couldn't wait two weeks for a repeat.

I'd even gone up to the surgery in my PJ'S (three days after leaving hospital post transplant) to try and sort this out. Didn't get anywhere.

I then shopped around for a new practice. Here Doctor Google helped me. I typed in, "gp surgeries in my catchment area", and then went to "Find GP Surgeries - NHS": nhs.uk/Service-Search/GP/Lo...

What l particularly liked about this site was that each practice is graded by patient satisfaction, and also it shows the amount of registered patients. My then practice had over 10,000 patients on their books, my new one has just 5000. I can now get to see a GP in just two days. So much better.

I also buy my own aspirin from Tesco's for £1.20.

[alfredthegreat]

Hi Paul. I'm lucky in that my GP surgery has it's own dispensary. They do shop around for the cheapest versions of prescription drugs though, I think that is pretty common. I receive my immunosuppressants from my transplant hospital and so no problems over dosage reductions there, only the reductions made my transplant specialists in my health interests. The meds like Paracetamol and 75mg aspirin that I have on repeat prescription, I just don't order them when I order my other meds, I buy them at Home Bargains or Asda. I pay about 30p for a box of paracetamol and 75p for a box of aspirin. Your GP shouldn't be lowering the dosages of your meds if that dosage has been set by the transplant specialists. I would question that at GP's and have a word with your transplant coordinator. Regards. Alf

[Hidden]

I usually get my immunosuppressants (advagraf) from the GP. Because of this, they have to take bloods every 3 months which is good as any adverse changes would be picked up quickly rather than on my 6 monthly (hopefully soon to be yearly) appointments at the liver clinic.

[Hidden]

Paul,

You may want to consider contacting NHS England, they investigate complaints about primary care services- of which the GP is one. Here is the link;

england.nhs.uk/contact-us/c...

Best wishes

Trust1

[GrannyDoll61]

After a 2 hour talk about all his meds my hubby was told when he left hospital that he was in charge of his meds. He was given the wrong prescription from his gp and ended up contacting the health centre manager to report this. Consultant told him to contact him immediately if this happened again and he would sort it out .x

[Willh0]

The UK seems to be going the same way as the US just now and that system is screwed. Don’t let him change a thing!!! No matter what it is. For me Adaport was the issue. There are other “brands” of the same drug and I was worried that they would try and pap me off with THEIR preferred brand. Spoke to the coordonators and they said and I quote “under no circumstances take any other brand than this specific brand”, since they are responsible for my care in just about everything I’m not letting anyone change a thing without their say so.

As usual Alf is right, the paracetamol, 30p or £9. Mmmm wonder what one I’ll pick.

I don’t know anyone else’s experience but as soon as I was on dadadaaaaaaa “the list” the transplant team had a say in just about any treatment I had for anything. I run everything by them just in case. If the doctor wants to change anything get him to speak to the transplant team and they will tell him not to change it. The issue I have with them is wanting to do weekly precipitation’s incase it changes. Now if I go a day late they have to go through each of my medications and take 1 days about out. As if I’m not going to need it as I’ll only be taking things FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!!!

Anyway, sidetracked, sorry. Don’t let them change a thing. Speak to the hospital who will in turn speak to the doctor, that should straighten things out,

Good luck,

Will.

[Yellowsydney]

Hi, I use pharmacy 2u and think they are brilliant. Used to take me a week plus at least 3 visits to my doctors pharmacy (1/2 hour drive away) to get my prescriptions, now I order on line and generally get them 2 days later. Get anti rejection drugs from Addenbrookes and always will. My GP goes along with anything Addenbrookes prescribes and I don't let them change anything without checking with Addenbrookes, I email and check.

Hilary