Anyone else having problems getting Ranitidine? It has been unavailable at my local village pharmacy for a couple of months. When I asked at the GP Surgery Pharmacy about it they told me it was no longer on the list of prescribed drugs and I should buy Gaviscon over the counter! I asked at the village pharmacy and they said that wasn't true and confirmed Gavison is Omeprazole a PPI (my stomach doesn't like) and not an H2 Blocker. Spoke to GP and she has prescribed Cimetidine (said they don't prescribe it very often) but yet to collect it. Anyone else prescribed this?
Hydroxychloroquine is now unavailable too - probably because of Trump. GP is going to contact Rheumatology but surely if it's not available here, it's not available anywhere else either?
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BoneyC
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Ranitidine has been taken off the market for about 4 or 5 months now. There was an issue with the manufacturing process as it was found to create something that could be a carcinogen. And here cimetidine is unavailable as well. I was told world wide shortage die to Ranitidine being recalled, as that is what GP prescribed me too. Same with other H2 blockers, so none available.
I wouldn’t have much faith in a pharmacist who told you that Gaviscon contained PPI’s!! It’s basically chalk and seaweed to create a lining in your stomach that stops the acid rising up your gullet, and neutralises some of it. Maybe they were mixing it up with Guardium, which is a similar colour packet which does contain a PPI.
So gaviscon and all the other neutralising things like Rennies are all that is available.
Mmmm, all very interesting, thanks for that. The staff in the GP Pharmacy are not qualified pharmacists and should not have said what they did. I have reduced the remaining Ranitidine that I have to one dose a day, to try to stretch it until I can get something else.
BoneyC says that she can’t takes PPIs. So if none of the H2 blockers like ranitidine, cimetidine or Famotidine are available at the moment then as far as I know all that’s left are the acid neutralisers like Rennies.
My GP also thought that I could get Cimetidine, but no stocks anywhere.
I have no idea about the ranitidine but I'm on hydroxychloroquine and collected my prescription last week. No problems whatsoever. Just the better brand which is great
Yes ...That seemed to be the reason here.... it disappeared except in odd private pharmacies.I use one of those & asked the assistant to email me when it came back....which it did.
So armed with Thank you bunch of flowers I bought six boxes...which lasted until recently....but when I went to buy more the cupboard was bare.
Of course I then tried Boots & all the supermarket pharmacies& same answer everywhere...we just can’t get it & don’t know why!
So I am trying to stick to a diet that will not bring on my symptoms!
I went over to using Gaviscon from cimetidine - it is, according to the marketing blurb, made in such a way to form a layer over the stomach contents to prevent them slopping up into the oesophagus from the stomach. I find it's more effective for me than others that are only antacids.
I didn't like the idea of taking a PPI all the time, although I had reflux oesophagitis when I had an endoscopy. I've lost some weight since then and that has made a bigger improvement in symptoms!
Hi BoneyC. I just wanted to say that Gaviscon is not a PPI called Omeprazole, it is not a PPI at all it is an antacid. It's incredible that someone who works at a pharmacy would say that. 🙃
Just because somebody is standing behind the pharmacy counter in a white coat means diddly squat,...I have had some surreal suggestions when the pharmacist has been busy & the assistant has tried to ‘help’.
In EnglandI have been told in the last couple of weeks that Ranitidine is available on Prescription... ..but the 75mg OTC tablets are unobtainable....but nobody appears to know why!
I too have this issue it is available google Ratinitine but is recalled so only pharmacies with it can dispense it no reorders. Cimitidine is more or less the same stuff and I use whatever I can get hold of. Hydro I've no idea about. I have a good reason not to take PPI's (Omeprazole etc) but do not have stomach issues. At the moment I have enough Ranitidine for a couple of months by cutting the tablet and hopefully by then the Cimitidine is back as thats also in short supply. I think you have to shop around for some meds now.
I was prescribed it over 30 years ago when I was taking Diclofenac (NSAID). I'm on Lansoprazole now. (Another PPI)
Hi, I can't speak for ranitidine but there should be no problem getting hydroxychlorquine. I am active on the Lupus UK HealthUnlocked site and a few weeks ago, after Trump, a shortage of Hydroxychlorquine looked imminent. The CEO of Lupus UK got onto it straight away and lobbied parliament. Many of us wrote to our individual MPs too.
After all the hard work we got reassured that the government are not holding back doses of hydroxychlorquine and have more than enough in supply. There is no national shortage. There is plenty in the country but there might be a logistical problem getting it to where it needs to be. It might be a geographical thing.
Lupus UK are really on top of this issue so if you have any questions I am sure that they will be happy to pass on the more detailed information. They are contactable via the website. Just Google lupus UK.
Yes, my h has. Our normal chemists haven't been able to get hold of it so he contacted our Practice's Prescriptions Manager who was able to track some down & arranged for him to have two month's supply as he's limited to what he can take ppi-wise. Apparently it goes back to November last year when they were recalled due to a contamination issue.
... now have Cimitidine, but GP asked Rheumatology about the lack of Hydroxychloroquine and he came back and said she can try without it for a while! Easy answer.
About a year ago, I told him I was concerned about my eyesight having been on HCQ for over 10 years. He referred me to hospital eye clinic for a test that is not available in High Street opticians. However, appointment never came and when GP chased it up the hospital said I did not qualify for the test as I do not have any other underlying health conditions. The Rheumatologist wanted me to continue with HCQ saying "it is ideal if you do remain on it due to the benefits of combination therapy in the long term".
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