Hydroxyquine: Hi all, why can I only get Quinoric... - LUPUS UK

LUPUS UK

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Hydroxyquine

molly19 profile image
34 Replies

Hi all, why can I only get Quinoric, I used to get plaquenal all the time. Now it's Quinoric not fond on them dry mouth they stick even with plenty water and taste vile. I've tried every chemist in Arbroath , the response is , it's what the company sends us. Strange for 30 years I had no issue with plaquenal.

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molly19 profile image
molly19
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34 Replies
Porky profile image
Porky

Hi

Plaquenil is now made by Zentiva, if you ask your GP to specify the brand the pharmacy should get it for you.

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to Porky

I asked my Dr. He wrote on prescription hydroxyquine sulphate and I still get quixotic.

PMRpro profile image
PMRpro in reply to molly19

That's because he used the substance name - and they gave you the generic they are being supplied with currently which will have been the one that came up as the lowest price for the NHS.

Wendy has explained it below - I hadn't noticed that when I started to post! You must have the name of the brand you want on the prescription for the pharmacy to be allowed to give it to you.

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to PMRpro

Thank you, wish they would leave our medication alone. X

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to Porky

Thank you ,will ask x

Wendy39 profile image
Wendy39

Yes, the branding has changed. A few months ago now. If you do a search on here, there was a post from Paul and Lupus UK explaining it all and giving the codes of the new drug, to request.

A sister company now makes it. Zentiva. Quinoric is horrible stuff, gave me loads of nasty side effects. Unless your prescriptions states what brand you should have, the chemist usually gets the cheapest one in. They all have different fillers which upset your tummy etc. I was getting different brands all the time, which didn't work for me either.

My prescription now says "Hydroxychloroquine 200mg tablets - Two tablets daily - ZENTIVA BRAND ONLY."

So go and see your GP explain the situation and ask for Zentiva to be written on your prescription.

When I told my GP the side effects I was having, they were happy to do this for me.

Best wishes.

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to Wendy39

I will ask Dr. To put identical on prescription. X

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to molly19

Zentiva I mean

grannyjogger profile image
grannyjogger

I get the Zentiva brand of hydroxy (which apparently is the same formulation as Plaquenil) from Boots. They have to order it in and I had to liaise with my GP to make sure she actually specified Zentiva brand on the prescription or they would only dispense Quinoric - which I find upsets me. It took a bit of sorting out and I have lots of problems with Boots who seem totally incapable of getting everything on my prescription correct. Last week they asked if I was sure I hadn't picked up my prescription as they couldn't find it!!

Good luck

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to grannyjogger

You should get what you want. They be saving money with cheap brands. Thank you

Bacardibabe76 profile image
Bacardibabe76

ZENTIVA hydroxy is what you need.

I order my prescriptions online and the pharmacy in the GP surgery always order those for me. If I need to go to another pharmacy, I ask them if they have it, if not I go elsewhere.

They say it's all cost bit I think the ZENTIVA costs the same as the others.

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to Bacardibabe76

That's good, will have to see what I can do. X

Nikki246 profile image
Nikki246

I have requested not to have Quinoric too as it doesn't agree with me. My chemist have said they can't guarantee I will get Plaquenil but they will do there best.

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to Nikki246

Hope your lucky x

Belee profile image
Belee

My GP specifies on my prescription 'Zentiva brand only' but I still have problems. I have to check the tablets before leaving the chemist as they'll often just give me a generic brand which I then have to explain I cant take. I find it depends which pharmacist is working at the time. Some will phone up and order the zentiva brand for me and some will just say they cant get hold of it!. Yesterday I had to go to four different chemists before finding one that would get the zentiva brand for me!. I don't know why its so difficult. Some pharmacists seem to be able to get it, others don't!

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to Belee

Strange isn't it, when there was no issues before. Take care x

GloomyEeyore profile image
GloomyEeyore in reply to Belee

The same happens to me. I have MUST BE GIVEN AS ZENTIVA on my prescription but still the pharmacy tries to give me Quinoric. Check my prescription before I leave. Happened last week and they said they would order it. Went back two days later and still gave me Quinoric 😡 Pointed out what the prescription said and third time I went prescription was correct.

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to GloomyEeyore

Awful huh. Glad sorted. X

Porky profile image
Porky

Hi

Boots the chemist are not good mainly because they are usually aligned to GP surgerys and get the cheapest brand. Ive even been turned away from chemists saying that they cant get Zentiva. I have just found an independent chemist that stocks all Zentiva products and are happy to order my Cell Cept brand as well.

Xx

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to Porky

Awe that's brilliant for you. X

PMRpro profile image
PMRpro

Just a point - Boots is now a big multinational (they were bought out by the US pharmaceutical company Walgreens 2 years ago) and their policies have changed. Now they are 100% about making money - they even charge the NHS to do drug reviews on the patients on their data base, whether it is required or not.

I know it is difficult to find independent chemists these days - the big boys have bought so many of them out - but it is worth it trying to find one and sticking to them. I was horrified to discover that Boots "own", generic products cost almost as much as brand products - the same stuff at Lloyds was half the price!

And I have never come across such unprofessional conduct anywhere else. They "lost" my prepayment certificate application - could have cost me a fortune. I also heard the pharmacist almost shouting at a lady at the counter that she "didn't need lactulose if she was constipated, she needed to drink more water, take more exercise and change her diet". The lady in question had a medical problem - and was in tears at her problem being advertised to the entire store.

I won't shop there.

boysgrandma profile image
boysgrandma in reply to PMRpro

Neither will I. They should be boycotted.

PMRpro profile image
PMRpro in reply to boysgrandma

A lot of other people think the same!

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to PMRpro

That's awful,will definitely boycott boots, I'm usually lloyds chemist, also Quinoric, all about money. X

Georgia-11833 profile image
Georgia-11833 in reply to PMRpro

I am in Michigan and there's a Walgreen's on every corner in every town, and between towns!!!! I finally gave up and use the local village drug store privately owned. My insurance (employer paid) battles me to use the mail order pharmacy that always sends the cheapest generic brands with fillers that change frequently. SO FRUSTRATING. Our Vit D preferred is now OVER THE COUNTER. D3. Bought tablets GO recommended and nausea caused weight loss.

I'm finding the pharmicist is just as important as the go to us but insurance won't cover unless I use mail order. Sooooo frustrating.

PMRpro profile image
PMRpro in reply to Georgia-11833

So far that isn't a problem here in mainland Europe - here in Italy I have a pharmacy in the village and from the end of next month (well, so they say at least) my doctor will issue an electronic prescription I can pick up at the pharmacy of my choice. Almost every village has one - they are regulated by law as to how many there can be per head of population. To be honest - long may it so remain. Healthcare shouldn't be a business!

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to PMRpro

That's brilliant, your spot on healthcare should not be a business. X

Georgia-11833 profile image
Georgia-11833 in reply to PMRpro

You are so much more fortunate inEurope to have Govt Paid healthcare!!! We are a long way from it. It's SO political. 😖

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to Georgia-11833

Yes we are Goergia x

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to Georgia-11833

Thats awful and the cost you probably have to pay, doesn't seem right. Here in Scotland we have National Health Service, we don't pay for prescriptions. We used to. Take care all the best for you. 🐩

Georgia-11833 profile image
Georgia-11833

"GO" means GP. Duh

Porky profile image
Porky

That all makes sense now. I used to use Boots all the time and then noticed a change - not for the good. I had so many problems with getting Hydroxy Zentiva until I came across this independent chemist. They were also really nice to me.

Georgia-11833 profile image
Georgia-11833 in reply to Porky

Wow. I just googled Boots and it's NOW totally owned by Walgreen and its HUGE! Funny, I've never even heard of the Boots subsidiary of Walgreen before.

If Hillary Clinton wins our election for President in Nov, she SUPPOSEDLY may push us toward socialized medicine if Bernie Sanders and she can come together. I'm sure you've all heard about our election which has turned in a bloody clown show. All the Brits and other internationals I know that live here for temp work visas with Eaton Corp say the rest of world is laughing at us. Sigh.

Pardon me for talking politics. You all need to thank your lucky stars again that you have a brilliant health care system. 😃 I am happy for you!!!!

Have a lovely Sunday, all.

Geo

molly19 profile image
molly19 in reply to Georgia-11833

Let's boycott boots, serves them right. No we not all laughing at you lads. I think the whole country is a mess and a joke. Our national health insurance is alright, yours must cost a fortune. I'm Scottish . All the best to you. Enjoy your Sunday as well, as you can see I'm wide awake and it's 2am in the morning. Hugs x

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