Methotrexate injections

[Shelley1701]

Hi. I am changing from tablets to injection soon and and have a question they didn't know the answer to at the hospital. Does anyone know if you have to pay prescription charges for the injection? Also how many do they normally give you?

[helixhelix]

That's interesting, as I never really thought about it before. You're right, I didn't pay anything for the injections! They were delivered by Healthcare at Home, and that was it. And previously I'd paid as normal for tablets.

I wonder if people who collect their injections from local chemist pay?

Initially I was only given 4 at a time and eventually once my blood tests had been stable for a while I was allowed to have 8 at a time with blood tests every 8 weeks. Because I'm on triple therapy the UK rheumy refused to let me go to 12 week intervals. However, my French rheumy is ok with that.

[Shelley1701 in reply to helixhelix]

They said they are delivering to a local pharmacy but the one they'e picked is about 2 miles away! Dunno why they arent using HaH like my Humira.

[JayneN]

Hi i was on tablets then changed to injections 6 weeks ago . I order mine from the hospital and I don't get charged for them ....alternatively you can get a pre exemption certificate just go online Nhs and pay £10 a month and this covers all your medication .

[popsmith1874]

Hi I'm on injections and get them on prescription but don't pay for prescriptions, mind you I live in Scotland so I don't know how it works everywhere else xxx

[sylvi]

Yes i believe you do pay for script charges unless your exempt. Usually it will be a month at a time.xxxx

[Hidden]

I used to get 12 at a time, 3 months supply. The hospital covers the cost.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Shelley. I think it's whatever your Health Authority decide on how they're supplied or if your GP is willing to sign a shared care agreement. Initially when I returned to the UK I'd been on injections around 4 years & when I was arranging my repeat scripts my GP was told by the Practice's Prescribing Pharmacist they could only prescribe me MTX tablets. Having worked at the Surgery before I went to live abroad I knew this was for two reasons, the extra responsibility of care (needing to learn about cytotoxic liquids, what to do in an emergency & the disposal of used cytotoxic syringes or pens as it is now) & the extra cost out of the Practice's prescribing budget because MTX injections are considerably more expensive than tablets. I informed them they'd already signed a shared care agreement so had no option but to prescribe what my Specialist informed them to prescribe. Needless to say I have my MTX injections script on repeat from my Practice.

I'm prescribed 4 injections at once each month, I order them via Patient Access automated prescribing & collect them from my Chemist though I could have them delivered if I chose to. If you already have a Healthcare at Home delivery can they not be included?

Hope this helps.

[Shelley1701]

I might ask if I can get them delivered by HaH. I've just had a call from the Glenfield Hospital saying I can pick them up from 9am Monday. They said they can deliver but may clash with my work hours and it's right by where I get my bloods done anyway. Silly me forgot to ask about if I pay or not! Trust me. I will find out when I go up there on Monday I guess. I don't have a shared Care agreement that I'm aware of. The rheumatology dept rang me this morning to say they would be at Glenfield Pharmacy which is a totally different place to the one in the hospital. At least the one at the hospital is nearer and easier to get to.

[nomoreheels in reply to Shelley1701]

Sorry Shelley, only just seen your reply. It would make sense to me if the two were both delivered by HaH, I think that's what I'd plump for given your options. Not sure if you'd have to pay for them though, you'll have to see.

[Shelley1701 in reply to nomoreheels]

I get my Humira from HaH but that was in place when I moved from Wolverhampton to Leicester so I don't know if they just carried on with that because it was easier. I'll find out if I have to pay or not I guess when I go to pick up injection at the hospital pharmacy. Although I learned today will be losing my job next year as Remploy are closing all their branches! I clean in one of them.

[Tinkerbell5]

I get a delivery of hah and I don’t have to pay anything

[freckle71]

I receive mine from HaH. I arrange a delivery to my local pharmacy and they hold on to them for me to collect when I can.

I was told by my rheum that drugs provided by the hospital like this are paid for by them.

I hope this helps. Good luck with the change!! 😁

[Pipcat15]

There free and they deliver them for free and collect the shape bin also for free. Even if you usually pay for your prescription. Saved me a small fortune when I swapped over

[BoneyC]

I pay for all my meds, including Metoject pens but I reduce the cost by having an annual pre-Payment Card, about £110 a year.

[JEM95]

I pay for mine too - I also have a prepay card. I get four at a time from the pharmacist. My GP and Rheumy have a shared care arrangement.

If I didn’t have the prepay card I think I’d go bankrupt!

[Tillie20]

Hi I am on injections (pen) I do not pay for them as I am over 60 years I get from the hospital and they give me 3 months at a time other medication I have to get from the GP x

[Hidden]

Hi Shelley

It depends what country you are in.

Prescriptions are free in Scotland, so I never pay. GP does repeat prescriptions as long as blood etc okay.

But pharmacist has to order Metoject, takes two days, and I get it as usual from my local pharmacy.

Good luck!

[Mellisa1066]

No you dont in England !

Pick up at hospital or your local doctors or pharmacy but is classed as a hospital administered drug here where I live .

[nomoreheels in reply to Mellisa1066]

I think that's the key Mellisa, in England it's dependent on where you live whether you pay for MTX injections or not. As in my answer above it's down to your local health authority or if your GP has signed a shared care agreement. Mine has so prescribes mine & as a result I have to pay for my MTX injections.

[Shelley1701]

I have them now. Didn't have to pay. Thanks everyone for replies. Does seem to vary a lot between health authorities.

[Mellisa1066 in reply to Shelley1701]