Help needed

[Caza]

I have just moved into a new area miles from where I lived before. I've just tried to get my meds & they all tell me ( I've tried 3 places) that they can only get quinoric now, these make me feel really sick. I've only got two days supply left. I found the chemists very unhelpful, advice anyone??

[helixhelix]

I think each chemist/area has to buy the least expensive available drug. The only suggestion I have is to ask you GP to specify exactly what you want on the prescription, and then they should order it for you. It's a bit like with enteric coated tablets, unless these are specified you get the cheaper non-coated version.

[Caza in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks Helix, I'm in-between gps so looks like I'll have to take the quinoric until the next time 😒

[flow4 in reply to Caza]

You should be able to see a GP even before you're registered, as a visitor.

[Livingston]

I think this is quite widespread - chemists in my area changed to quinoric a few months ago. Fortunately, it doesn't make any difference to me but you shouldn't have to be feeling sick when you don't have to.

Helix is right - if the GP specifies a brand on the script, the chemist has to order & supply that brand. They are discouraged from doing so, unless the difference in brand makes a positive impact on patient care - so sell your GP on the difference it'll make for you.

[Caza in reply to Livingston]

Sorry have tried to reply several times. Not only do I have problems with prescriptions but also the Internet, message to self never move again!!

[Hidden]

I don't think this internet trouble is a problem you are alone with Caza - although bear in mind I've just moved too! I'm finding that I can no longer edit or delete my comments and also that HU is often inaccessible so I can't reply to comments I receive email alerts for. My comments/ replies keep getting lost too. This was happening to me before we moved so I suspect the problem lies with HealthUnlocked not us. That said we have very slow broadband here and also the mobile connection is very poor. For myself I'm blaming hills and trees in this beautiful valley for this now - as opposed to a windswept island!

You should be able to register with a new GP practice straight away tomorrow and then hopefully be given an introductory appointment soon. Perhaps if you explained to the receptionist your predicament with Quinoric they would fast track you to see a GP? I can relate to the new and unhelpful pharmacist situation. I found my new local one to be completely baffled when I asked about how soon the main side effect to my new BP med might show up. The old one was a battleaxe but she'd at least seen enough of me to know exactly why I would ask such a question!

I hope your relocation is proving beneficial in other ways at least?

Twitchy xx

[Caza]

Hi Twitchy, we don't have a mobile signal here either, a real pain. Although I did download an app called Tu go & you receive texts & calls through them not great but better than naught.

I've got my dreaded smear test on Tuesday so didn't fancy changing Drs before then, not a good way to be introduced to a new GP!!

I love being nearer to my family & friends & wish I'd never moved away from them. The area is lovely but the house is quite cold & damp, we intend to extend & cure the dampness so everything remains in boxes, not easy.

I know you will probably think the same as me, family are all important, so I'll cope with the boxes unhelpful chemists lack of signals etc...... X

[cathie]

It might be a wise idea to go to GP as a visitor just to check how they are. Just in case

[Caza in reply to cathie]

Thanks Cathie, good thinking.

[Smw-69]

Hi there, my experience with Quinoric was really awful. Earlier in the year, after 2 months on Hydroxychloroquine with no side effects, which was prescribed by my rheumy nurse and picked up from there, I needed a repeat prescription from my doctor. On going to the chemist I was given Quinoric. I told them that was not my usual as I was precribed Plaquenil by the hospital. I was told there was no difference (what did I know) and took it. My first reaction was that, like you, it dissolved in my mouth and left an awful taste. The film coating was non existent! After a few days I ended up with horrendous diarrhoea and stomach upset. I stopped taking it for a while and my diarrhoea stopped but I felt really nauseous. I was worried about not taking it and wasn't sure if it was this that had made me Ill so I went back on it and my sickness and diarrhoea reappeared! I saw my doctor who changed my prescription to Plaquenil, and entered the reaction on my medical records stating that I was not to be prescribed the Quinoric brand. I was told by the chemist that Plaquenil was not available but that it was now manufactured by it's sister company under the name of Zentiva but with same ingredients. Also that Quinoric is a lot cheaper and approved by the NHS. I decided to investigate and found a post on the Lupus UK website saying that a lot of their members had not done well on this drug and to ask their doctors to prescribe Plaquenil... I know some people take Quinoric without side effects, but please be aware that the differences in 'the fillers' in all meds can make them 'not the same' and that we can all react differently. This is just my experience, but having someone else with similar reactions has made me feel that it was not 'all in my head' and I know my own body. I hope you find a chemist that will help you as mine did. Lots of luck.

[Caza in reply to Smw-69]

Hi thanks for your reply. Thankfully my reaction isn't as severe as yours. I'm going to contact my GP tomorrow to see if she can give me a prescription for plaquenil.

[Kathyfitz12 in reply to Smw-69]

I went through the same thing with Statins when I was prescribed a generic instead of the one I had been on for years. All cost not clinical related.My GP questioned why I wanted to stop taking them, but refused to believe the generic was causing me great discomfort.....I came off them completely & my cholesterol soared....so I went back on to the original. That GP has retired & I was going to have to go through the same procedure with a

new GP......but I decided I would not be bamboozled. I wrote to thecPractice Manager asking if she would have someone check my record & the results of stopping the Statins about 4 years ago. She phoned me & I explained the new GP would not listen to me about the previous experience.......luckily she believed me & lo & behold I got the Statin that work for me without crippling pain.

Needless to say I don't make appointments with the GP who refused to listen to me, luckily there are 8 GPs to choose from.

I surprised myself by standing my ground, but new GPs don't seem to include " listen to the patient" in their training.

Kathy

[Caza in reply to Kathyfitz12]

Thanks Kathy, that sound horrendous.

Well I'll be leaving the practise soon so it doesn't matter if I upset them. It'll be good if I could set it up before I move surgeries. Watch this space....

[Hidden in reply to Smw-69]

HI Smw-69,

you are right in saying that "Plaquenil" as a brand name is no longer available but is available as the generic from Zentiva who are the generics subsidiary of Sanofi. We have been told that it is the same formulation made in exactly the same way in the same factory.

Hope this helps

Beverley (NRAS Helpline)

[thelmar]

Hi

This has been a problem for quite a few of us. If you looked under 'Related Posts' for Plaquenil you will eventually come to a very helpful response from NRAS. I printed this off and took it to my pharmacist who now orders in the generic hydroxychloroquine for me.

Hope this helps as we have enough problems without our meds making us feel ill.

[Caza in reply to thelmar]

Yes I remember reading it. Someone had put the link on this site & I did print it off. Today I found it by pure luck I'd put it with my hospital papers, not like me to be so organised. My GP by mistake I think prescribed 4 months supply last time, so I haven't had to think about it. My own fault for leaving it so late this time & not thinking about other chemists being as helpful as the one I've been useful.

I'll write to my GP tomorrow & see what can be done, in the meantime I'll just have to put up with feeling sick the alternative is a flare 😞

[Jhac27]

I have always had plaquinel from my pharmacist having previously been given quinoric and finding it nauseating but this month got quinoric. The pharmacist was very apologetic but said it had been discontinued and searched to see if other brands were available but it seems quinoric is now the only option it tastes really really nasty doesn't it? I find I can only take it I'm the middle of a meal to disguise the taste On the plus side along with MTX it has caused my RA to go into remission

[Caza in reply to Jhac27]

Hi thanks for replying. I think maybe your pharmacist has got it wrong. I spoke to another one today & she confirmed what the lovely people on here has said that your GP has to prescribe a certain stating that you cannot take quinoric then the chemist will order it for you. Good luck.

[nomoreheels]

This may explain situation fully & what to ask your GP/Rheumy for. The information is supplied by the Lupus UK site but the information still applies lupusuk.org.uk/latest-news/...

[Caza in reply to nomoreheels]

I've printered out the sheet & will be taking it to the surgery tomorrow. Fingers crossed will let you all know the outcome.

[nomoreheels in reply to Caza]

Glad it helped & good luck.