Can your doctor and the pharmacy leave you without repeated medications for a day because you forgot to order it a week in advance? I run out of Pregabalin and I don't feel particularly well when I don't take it regularly at the same hour. The medical centre nor the pharmacy can help me with that because they can't give Lyrica as an emergency prescription. It sounds crazy to me. What can I do?? TIA
Help: Run out of Pregabalin! - Fibromyalgia Acti...
Help: Run out of Pregabalin!
I went directly there at the medical centre and I begged them and the pharmacists who are in front of the practice and they all said there isn't much they can do because pragabalin is a class 3 medication. I usually use to order my meds in fair advance but I forgot this time because my parents come to visit and it was all a bit hectic.
Unless you speak with your GP not sure what you can do. We used to have to give 2 days notice for repeat prescriptions. Now its 10 days notice?
I would say you need to talk to your GP. Not sure calling 111 would help has it down to your GP who prescribes your meds.
Not helpful I know. But im
Guessing many people will finds them selves in the same boat now they have to give 10 days notice. Many will forget to re order I'm sure.
Momo
Right?? It is absurd! I thought 2 or 3 days should be enough, but they said they need a week now. I ordered my prescription on the 26th of April. It is easier to have my cats medications. They didn't solve the probl today, I have to wait till tomorrow and pray. My arms are sore, painkillers are not helping and I can't even wash my hair. I hate Fibro and the medical system. 😔
I am sure you are not alone in your dislikes. But rules are rules we dont make them. Unfortunately its not the GPs fault if we don't order our prescription on time🤷♀️
I have struggled with fibro for over 40yrs and I hate it too.
I hope you get your meds sorted soon 🤞
Momo
I am crying right now. The only thing I need is to vent a bit and not to be lectured. I am a dentist, I know how rules work. I didn't hate doctors, I am usually very patient and understanding. It is the pain speaking. I am sorry for your 40 years of fibro.
thanks for that info Dizzy I’ve just been in same situation but not because I forgot but because the repeat was put in and they just said they hadn’t received it 🤦♀️even though it was put in. So I’ve been left without my co codamol and am in pain. Had to have a stern word with them yesterday and they have finally sent it over to the chemist. It was their error and they asked me to go back and submit it again as they couldn’t do prescription requests over the phone,!!! Which we all know so I said I’m in pain and cannot walk to the surgery. I wasn’t aware of the 10 day change so thank you xx
Hi there, I dont know if its for all surgeries or just mine to be honest.
Got a notice from our pharmacy. Saying it takes 7 days from ordering a script to collecting it.
Then it goes on to say
"Help us to help you by ordering your medication from your GP at least 10 days before you run out"
I just assumed it was been told to every one. But maybe its just the Weldrick chemists?
Heres a pic of the notice I hope you can see it xx
Momo
I know it doesn't help for now but it might be an idea to use one of the on-line pharmacy/delivery companies. I had to do this for my dear old mum as she kept forgetting to put her prescriptions in. They email me 2 weeks before the prescription is due, I tick what is needed and they get the prescription and post it out to Mum. Never been more than 4 days from email to delivery. Mum's surgery say they need 10 days if the patient requests the prescription but it's immediate with Lloyds Pharmacy on-line. Double standards for sure.
Can you get pregablin with them seeing as it's a controlled drug?
don’t see why not. The GP pings over the prescription and the pharmacy do the rest. Mum’s scripts are for regular meds so never had to test the theory.
Yes not the ideal situation, I had a different situation many months ago I ordered a migraine tablet and I left plenty of notice with my doctor etc; they then pass my prescription onto my chemist and they send me a text message saying when my prescription is ready, which is normally 3/4 days ,anyway I still hadn't received a message and I rang the chemist up asking why i hadn't received my text message, by this time I had only one days worth of medication, they said there's a supply problem, so I had to ring up my doctors immediately get that prescription cancelled and ring round various other chemists in the area that had my tablets in stock, it was a Friday afternoon as well, so things were getting pretty hectic, u really feel sorry for you, I hope you get things resolved soon 😊
THAT HAPPENED TO ME, WITH 1 OF MY MEDS, SOME ISSUE WITH SUPPLIER, ITS NO FUN GETTING SOMEONE DRIVE U AROUND EVERY CHEMIST U CAN THINK OF, BUT APPARENTLY THEY ALL HAD THE SAME ISSUE, THEN 1 PHARMACIST RANG MY Dr AND SUGGESTED AN ALTERNATIVE IF HE COULD SEND SCRIPT THRU HE WOULD DISPENSE IT THERE N THEN. IT CAN BE ANY No. OF REASONS FOR NOT GETTING ALL MEDS, YES IM A MESS OF PAIN WITHOUT MINE, BUT I MANAGE CRAWL MY WAY THRU A COUPLE OF DAYS WITHOUT GETTING SELF WORKED UP.... THAT JUST MAKES PAIN WORSE ALL THE TENSION AND ANXIETY U PUT SELF THRU.
I'm so sorry you're in so much pain, as I know what that's like. Just over a week ago I realised I'd run out of Pregabalin, of all things on a Friday night (& the first time I'd ever forgotten).
My son took me to the pharmacy that's attached to my GP's surgery on Monday morning, & they couldn't have been more helpful. They said altho I'd then ordered a repeat prescription online on Saturday morning, which wasn't due for collection until the Wednesday, they'd try to get it for me that day.
They said they'd ring me in the afternoon, & rang just after 5pm saying they hadn't as yet received it, & they closed at 6pm. However they said my son could collect my prescription from them & take it to Boots as they were concerned that otherwise I might not get it that day.
I hope you feel so much better again when you get your Pregabalin, & hope that's soon; I was very fortunate indeed, & so sorry you didn't also receive the help you needed. The dispenser even apologised to me on the phone that they hadn't been more helpful, but I said they'd been wonderful!
Hiya I get a blister pack and I asked the doctor if I get my blister pack monthly which means I don't run out I take pregablin aswell. U could do that if u take alot of tablets x
BLISTER PACK, ARE THEY SET OUT IN DOSES EACH DAY AND A FULL WEEK PER CARTON OR WHATEVER ITS CALLED NOW CUZ ALL PLASTIC? I GET A DELIVERY EVERY WEEK. BUT U HAVE TO SET IT UP WITH DR AND CHEMIST. NOT SURE ABOUT GETTING 1 OF THEM FOR A MONTH THO? THING IS THOUGH IF U HAVE DELIVERIES THERES NO SET TIME THAT THEY ARRIVE JUST THE DAY. SO U HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU STAY HOME TILL U RECEIVE THEM OR YOU BE IN SAME PREDICAMENT A DAY WITH NO MEDS OR AT LEAST 2 DAYS IF U HAVE DELIVERIES ON A FRIDAY AND MISS HIM, YOU HAVE TO WAIT TILL MONDAY.....AND HOPE ITS NOT A BANK HOLIDAY,
AT MY DRS REPEATS NEED 48HRS, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ON THE MEDICATION? YOU SHOULD BE IN THE HABIT BY NOW. I HAVE HAD TO GO A FEW DAYS WITHOUT MINE AND BEEN IN TEARS SOME DAYS WITH THE PAIN. ITS NOT LIKE ITS SOME LIFE SAVING MEDICATION, SO I GUESS NOT SEEN AS URGENT AS U FEEL IT IS. YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE, GRIT YOUR TEETH AND PUSH THRU IT. MAYBE GET SOME OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION TO TIE U OVER? OR ASK THE PHARMACIST IS THERE ANYTHING THEY SUGGEST JUST TO KEEP THE PAIN OFF FOR 48HRS TIL U GET YR SCRIPT? EXPLAIN WHAT U R ON AND THAT U FORGOT TO REORDER THEM. THEY CAN BE ADDICTIVE, DO U THINK U MAY BE RELYING ON THEM A BIT TO MUCH FOR HOW YOU ARE FRETTING BECAUSE OF 1 DAY? BE VERY CAREFUL OF THAT HAPPENING, IM ON GABAPENTIN, AND I HAD TO GO ALMOST A WEEK WITHOUT MINE WHEN CHEMISTS SWAPPED BE OVER, AND DONT GET ME STARTED ON THE MESS UP AND MISSING MEDICATIONS WHEN I FIRST MOVED BACK HERE, I WASNT FRETTING, BUT I WERE ANGRY, MY PREVIOUSE DOCTOR PRESCRIBED MEDS IN ADVANCE TO COVER ME THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF THE MOVE TO GIVE NEW DR AND CHEMIST CHANCE TO SORT ME OUT ON THEIR RECORDS. HE WROTE ME A LIST OF MEDS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO GIVE THE DR AND ALSO SENT THEM IN AN EMAIL. BUT THEY STILL MESSED UP FOR THE BEST PART OF 3 MONTH. I WAS IN A WORLD OF PAIN, COULDNT SLEEP, SIT STAND LIE AND BARELY WALK. SO I HOPE U NEVER HAVE TO GO THRU ANYTHING LIKE THAT...... THERES SOME DAYS WE HAVE TO GO WITHOUT, AND STRUGGLE THROUGH THE PAIN AND THE TEARS, BUT DONT GO GETTING YOURSELF ALL WOUND UP OVER MISSING 1 DAY. YOU CAN DO THIS JUST DONT KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT BEST U CAN, OCCUPY MIND, IN FUTURE MAYBE SET ALARM REMINDER TO REPEAT SCRIPT. GOOD LUCK................AND BEFORE ANYONE GETS SARKY OVER CAPS..... I STRUGGLE TO SEE, SOME DAYS I CAN MANAGE A SHORT TIME IN SMALL TYPE, BUT ITS USUALLY A DOUBLE VISION BLUR, OPTICIAN IS BAFFLED, AND IM SICK OF ALL THE EXTRA TESTS I HAVE PAID FOR ..................
if they are repeat meds I don’t understand why we have to keep asking for another prescription every month. The dosset box ones I don’t have to so 🤷♀️🤷♀️
WHAT IS A ''DOSSET'' BOX?
hi, it’s when the chemist put more than one tablet in a section of the long plastic box, and it is sorted into morning and evening tablets although they can also add a lunchtime/ midday section if needed. This means it makes it much easier for you to remember to take them or notice if you have forgotten too as you can easily see if the tablets are still in the box or not and it makes life so much easier if you have to take a lot of different tablets as they are all set out in the correct dosage for you. Which with as much brain fog as we experience is very helpful. Ask your pharmacist if they can do this for you. I don’t have to put in a repeat prescription for them either as the chemist do them automatically when they are due and someone picks them up for me if I am unable due to pain to get to the chemist. I hope I have explained it clearly enough. Xx
PERFECTLY ITS WHAT I HAVE BUT ALL MY 'POCKETS' R FULL EVERY DOSE BUT I HAVE A WEEKLY BOX I HAVENT JUST GOT FIBRO, BUT FIBRO KINDA TREBLES THE PAIN OF EVERYTHING ELSE I HAVE..
oh I’m sorry to hear that 🤗I’m the same. A friend’s husband was up in the village getting shopping this afternoon so she kindly asked him to pick my meds up for me and he was shocked when they gave him two carrier bags full, a months supply I hasten to add. He said to his wife omg! Is the lady ok? 😄🤷♀️Unfortunately it appears that the majority of us who suffer with fibromyalgia also have many other conditions to put up with😢a lot seem to come from having fibromyalgia itself which then leads to other problems sadly. I’m glad I explained it properly and thank you for your reply, nice to chat to you and take care 🥰🥰xx
A MONTH WOULD JUST BE 4 CARTONS OR DO U HAVE OTHER STUFF BESIDES YR BUBBLE PACK CARTON? I HAVE 1 BUBBLE PACK A WEEK EVERY WEEK UNLESS A BANK HOLIDAY AND THEN SOMETIMES I HAVE TO HAVE 2 CARTONS
I myself have done the same thing, brain fog! I rang my doctors and asked for a same day call back from the GP. The GP rang me back the same morning and I explained the situation and it’s not a regular occurrence me forgetting to order my prescription as he could see from my records. Anyway he sent the prescription straight to my pharmacy and I picked my meds up later that day. Maybe try and do that and see if you have any luck!
Hope you get things sorted soon. 😊
Phone 111. I take them myself. And I had a terrible reaction once.Hope this helps.
l believe 111 can issue an emergency prescription if you call out of hours, my pharmacy told me that good luck 🤞
Hello! I'm sorry you've forgotten to order your prescription and you are worried. It is so easily done, especially in a Fibro Fog.
I worked in a pharmacy for many years before the Fibro took over so I know the reason they can't give Pregabalin as an emergency supply is because it is a controlled substance (although not kept locked away), but even if it was for something that is not controlled, if your GP surgery is open they tend not to give emergency supplies.
With a bit of persistence though, you may be able to get an emergency prescription through your GP the same day or at the very latest the next day, but you will probably have to collect it yourself from said GP surgery and take it to a pharmacy to get it filled. You may also have to present yourself at the surgery to request the emergency prescription itself as some refuse to take requests over the phone.
For future occurrences, I don't know if you are near a Rowlands pharmacy (or if any of the other pharmacies offer this service) but Rowlands now run a service where you can leave your repeat request form with them when you collect your prescription and they will order it for you the next month and they can text you when it is ready in branch to be collected. (I will say honestly, there are a few kinks that need to be worked out in that system but it is successful in most places and ultimately has been incredibly helpful to many people)
Again, I'm sorry you're having a terrible time. I hope you manage to sort it in a timely manner and you don't have to suffer to much pain.
Gemima ❤️
Hi. I ordered my prescription in the 26th of April, they said they didn't have enough time to process it. I went to the practice and the pharmacy yesterday and begged them to help me with that, but I am still waiting to hear from them. I called 111 but I waited for nearly on hour but no luck. At the end of the day, I was too tired and too painful to keep on fighting and I took a bunch of painkillers and went to bed. I am in the phone queue to the medical centre right now.
I'm sorry you've had such trouble with both the practice and the pharmacy. It sounds downright terrible and it's awful that you have been left in pain. There is always something someone can do to help one way or another, I'm sorry that no one was willing to follow through with that help in a timely manner.
I understand that at a some pharmacies they now send repeat prescriptions away to be filled by robot and then they're returned back to the branch for customers to collect. This can take up to a week, add that on top of the amount of time surgeries want to complete the prescription itself and you're looking at 10 days or more for your prescription to even be ready to collect after you request it. It doesn't take into consideration emergencies, human error, sudden changes, etc though. It seems to lead to a lot of miscommunication between every party involved when there is a little blip in the journey. Perhaps a good system in theory but not so much in practise 🤷♀️
I really really hope you managed to sort it out today and your pain has been relieved.
Gemima ❤️
it seems to me that they are being bloody minded. You get a repeat prescription therefore they know that it has been prescribed by a Doctor.
My GP automatically communicates with the Pharmacy and my prescription is made up and ready to collect without me having to drop in a repeat request.
Recently I was taken ill in Norway (I live in Scotland). I was stranded following discharge from hospital for 4 days without my medication. Fortunately I always travel with my repeat prescription (which is given to me when I collect my meds). I took it into a pharmacist and he dispensed the Gab so I didn’t suffer. Yes I had to pay for them but at least I was given them.
I would go and pester the pharmacist, explain you have a repeat prescription can he give you one pill to tide you over til tomorrow.
when I once forgot to pick mine up and it was then the weekend I found another chemist that was willing to give me 3 tablets as an emergency.you can try that.good luck.withdrawal symptoms can be nasty
Hi hun. I know this may sound a pain in the arse. But, have you tried queuing outside for when they open the surgery in the morning? You are guaranteed an appointment to see a Dr that day then you can get him to do you a script for your meds there and then. That's the only way I used to be able to get my meds when i was with my last surgery.
My new surgery is amazing. But, that doesn't help you does it. The dispensary ladies and receptionists I have found in the past to be liars and little Hitler's. It's the actual Drs. I am sure if you do what I suggested you will get somewhere.
Please let me know how you get on hun.
Keep smiling shweetiepie. Xxx
I'm afraid they can as I know through my own failure to get repeat in on time. Our chemist serves the community of 7 surrounding villages and always short staffed too so they recommend as I collect one script to simply put the next in so that it's there when I need it.Hope you get sorted. I asked for oramorph (gross) and strong but it's there just incase I either run out or get a major fibro flare up.
Good luck
Ordering on line, I'm not allowed to request it until quite late in the dosages. My partner was having the same problem with his diabetic Libre 2.
Always approach your doctor or medical prescribing nurse for emergency script. DO NOT GO WITHOUT...side affects are horrendous. I went on holiday recently and had not taken anywhere near enough pregabalin and I went through the most terrifying withdrawals, hallucinations where something in the walls was coming out to get me, hot sweats, severe stomach cramps and more...I'm on maximum dose and will NEVER run out again. Hope you got sorted my friend.Gentle hugs.
Oh, I feel for you. I ran out of a different med on holiday and it cost £2000 to visit hospital to get it. It just makes your holiday so miserable. I thank my lucky stars I am only on a low dose of pregabalin (3 at night). The withdrawals are bad enough - one night without and you can't sleep, frequent visits to the bathroom and feet on fire. My doctor gave them to me for an oversensitive bladder and peripheral neuropathy (where you feel as if you are wearing socks but aren't) and I had very poor quality of sleep and pregabalin has fixed that too. Can you gradually reduce your dosage? The more you have to take, the harder it makes ordering because you think you've got loads, but in reality it's only a few nights' worth.😊😊
something similar happened to me I rang 111 and the out of hours doctor rang me and gave me a few days of my script. Usually the chemist can do it through 111 but pregabs are a controlled drug so you’ve got to speak to the doctor. I had no problem. My chemist orders mine now for me.
I use to be a medical receptionist and if you go to your surgery they will usually get you done a weeks supply but what can often happen is the same people keep coming to the surgery at the last minute and because the drs get annoyed they may only give you two days supply so the patient has to go back to the surgery I think the drs and receptionist who have to stop seeing patients or the receptionist have to run around getting it sorted which means there having to stop there work it’s a way of trying to educate the patient as if it’s a one off that’s ok but you get patients who just expect drs and receptionists to stop everything for them
No,this can cause withdrawal,any decent doctor would do an emergency prescription,hope your ok
I've run out of Pregablin too. I get it delivered and Pharmacy2U were unable to deliver my whole prescription so they held it back while Paracetamol and Aspirin came into stock! They let me know on Friday that I could split the order but with the Bank Holiday weekend starting, it was too late. I feel as if I have had my eyes open all night. My partner left me on Saturday and is in hospital (apparently dementia), having changed his next of kin and wants nothing to do with me. I'm desparate for the Pregabalin. How stupid can these people be? I didn't forget to order it. I'm getting desparate, and waiting for the surgery to phone me, but I doubt they'll be able to help. It could arrive this evening or tomorrow, or the day after if I'm lucky. It's a controlled drug so I can't just get it from the local pharmacy. We're in this together. Crazy together. Do our doctors know what it does to us being without it?
I am sorry for what is happening to you. I managed to have mine now, just because the receptionist I spoke to this morning was more "capable" and flagged my prescription as urgent. I don't understand why they didn't do the same yesterday when I went there. They could have spared me pain, tears, disturbed sleep, nausea, malaise, withdrawal etc. It was a nightmare. I really hope you'll have yours ASAP. 🤞🤞
Hi there. Just wondering if you managed to get sorted with your Pregabalin. I live in Durham and at the moment I only need to give 2 days notice. How are you ?
Thank you for asking. Yes, problem sorted this evening. When I called the practice earlier this afternoon I found a more "capable" receptionist who flagged my prescription as urgent. I feel better now, the pain in my arms is easing, fortunately. 🧡
Oh hello Pauline, I don't think I saw your message three months ago. I have just been through a mini situation of the same thing - doing without pregabalin. I'm basically ok now and keep worrying about when i have to order next. We had to wait for an ambulance a couple of nights ago so I didn't go to bed and therefore didn't take the capsules. The paramedics said don't take them until the next bed-time, so I went to bed to rest, awake all day, took the capsule at 9 pm and turned the light out. I have slept for 12 hours.
So happy for you :)I have been in a similar situation about year ago.
The problem is that a top of mine - only 4, I also order my hubby medicines and they are 9.
So, with fibro fog and in the middle of a flare- up I started the request but didn't complete it...
Figure it out 5 days later, when my son went to collect the 🛍 . I had only a day of supply.
The GP admins didn't help at all - thankfully my pharmacy gave me on their responsibility enough to get me through till the GP sing.
Then I started my calendar reminders, with alarms set up for 3 days in row, so this way ensure that I will order.
Also my son has a reminder on his phone to ask me if I made the order...
The scheduled phone reminders are my lifeline now and really help me to keep in control in little part of my life.
Regarding the Gabapentin - getting the quantity of 30 days, but the others - only 28 days, so I order them all every 28 days and now always have some additional tablets, they are my emergency reserve.
During the last year I built up about 10 days emergency reserve on most of mine and my hubby medicines .
So - please set reminders!!! It's REALLY helpful.
Gentle hugs 🤗
That's a smart idea, having some more tablets for emergency. I am going to do the same from now on. Thank you for your advice and gentle words. Have a lovely day. 🧡
I hope you now have your meds ? It does seem these days we have to try and keep forward by a few days as our chemist this week has run out of meds on both me and my hubbies prescription and differently not down to us. Saying that my chemist team are a friendly bunch and I see how busy they get and the pharmacist puts in long hours. Like Ajay says hopefully your doctors surgery can do something too improve on this for you xx
Yes, fortunately. I picked my meds up yesterday in the evening and I feel already better today. I was so happy for being able to shower and finally wash my hair earlier this morning. I feel more human. It was just a matter of finding a more capable receptionist who flagged my request as urgent. Next time I will order my meds 10 days in advance and I will try an on line pharmacy as someone suggested in a comment. 🤞🧡
Hi Dodo21, glad to read you got your meds, eventually! I think we have so many rules these days that people forget it is actually people they're dealing with, not a tick box. I was really lucky compared to your experience, I use the app to order my meds every 2 months and for some unknown reason missed one. I was completely out and chanced my luck at my pharmacy. Well, he was lovely, gave me a full box as I always get my meds there he knew my prescription was on the way. Told me if it ever happens again not to worry it wouldn't be a problem. Now to me that's a pharmacist who knows how to be a pharmacist and that's how you should've been treated ☺️
I am glad to hear there are people like your pharmacist who understand that patients are people too. Rules must be followed and I totally get it, but leaving someone without their meds for a day and half, in pain+withdrawal symptoms is inhumane, in my opinion. And it happened with 2 different pharmacists in 2 different shops. I felt like I was just a nuisance to them.
hi - sorry to hear you’ve run out of meds. Pop a reminder next time on tr phone for 14 days in. With meds like yours the gp might need to do blood checks or to ensure your meds are working for you, so they do usually ask for 5 working days notice. (I work in a surgery and see behind the scenes) it’s not as simple as just yr prescription - a surgery processes thousands per week, the gp needs to check the meds are ok for you still, get script printed and then signed in between seeing patients.
Sometimes you can get a pharmacy to “lend some” from yr next script depending on if it’s a controlled drug or not.
I hope yr able to sort it next time, and that yr surgery are kind enough to request an emergency script for you to be put through and if they do electronic scripts get it sent to the pharmacy who then of course ask for a further two days before issuing as they also have thousands of scripts per week to deal with
I know it’s hard to remember at times, I put alarms and reminders galore on my phone to ensure o order in time (usually 2 weeks before I need it) maybe you could also ask yr gp to issue on a 28 day repeat in future if they do such a thing and send direct to ur gp or use one of the postal medication distributors who do offer a repeat service
Good luck and hope you get it all sorted for next time x
I forgot to order my Gabapentin the other week and the receptionist asked if I needed an emergency prescription ( I said no because of my forgetfulness I had enough left until the prescription came through). Even though my repeat prescriptions are done without me having to order them-I have to reorder the Gabapentin every month.
They should have been able to give you some to tide you over until your prescription came through. You're not supposed to stop taking meds suddenly and they should know this!
Best of luck x
Lol. Just noticed that this post is 4 months old!!! Oh dear.