My local pharmacy has changed ownership and are being awkward regarding my prescriptions.
They are refusing to prescribe me CellCept (been on it for 4 years)! But are supplying me Myfenax instead which is a generic.
I thought that Mycophenolate brands were not interchangeable and you are advised to remain on the same brand? Is this correct?
I'm already in a flare at the moment and have been unable to work since Christmas, so would rather not risk more symptoms.
Thanks,
Emily
The pharmacist must prescribe the brand named on the prescription and if the GP doesn't specify Cellcept, they can give you any brand. The substance itself is the same - but it is usually the other components of the tablet that make the difference.
It’s NOT brands but active ingredients and additives in EACH brand!👆
Check the list for CELLCEPT vs Myfenax.
It’s the mycophenolate mofetil that does the job of immunosuppressant at the molecular and cellular level of T lymphocyte production. I use either.
Check out:
Some user reviews for CELLCEPT and MYFENAX:
I had problems with my old pharmacist during the pandemic. He refused to give me CellCept or any one brand because it’s so much more expensive, telling me the actual prices and saying he doubted that my rheumatologist would specify for this reason. Due to Scleroderma I struggled to swallow the other brands as their shape was slightly less streamlined and fatter and I got scared after a couple got stuck and I choked them out - v painful. Also my blood work was still very high for inflammation and symptoms were getting worse, not better. I asked on a scleroderma group and others were shocked saying that he should keep me on one brand only and one I could swallow as I was on 3grammes daily.
The practice pharmacist agreed and issued a request to the pharmacy to only give me Cellcept but still he switched, telling my husband when I was in hospital the cost of CellCept v cost of the generic brands Mycophenolate Mofetil or Myfenax or others. My husband was shocked by his behaviour.
Later, for other reasons we moved house, also switched GP practice and pharmacist. New practice pharmacist also shocked by stuff he had said to me and husband over phone (shielding) and in person - think they reported old pharmacist. Said all their patients get CellCept and one brand only is important. I’d been switched around between 4 or 5 by other pharmacist throughout pandemic! Been taking CellCept ever since and do very well now although lower dose of 2g due to SIBO malabsorption. But I can swallow these well.
You are correct in saying that it is recommended not to change brands of mycophenolate. Once settled on the one that suits you your GP should write the exact brand on the prescription and this is what the pharmacist is required to dispense. They cannot substitute an alternative brand to the one named on the prescription unless there is no supply available. There are some medications including mycophenolate and some epilepsy meds where there can be a difference in effectiveness between brands and where they should not be switched as stable treatment is necessary.
Hi
I had that problem with hydroxychlorquine sulphate until GP named specific brand on prescription.
Then no matter how much moan cost at chemist had give .
Same adcal but cheap version I couldn't open bottle and tasted foul.
Turned out didn't specify brand on prescription hence problem once GP change it no problem.
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