Methotrexate on repeat gets rejected by the doctors

[PB1950]

Hi I hope every one is well, my Rheumatoid Arthritis is under control with the medication I’m on which is more than I can say for the Doctors at my surgery where I get my repeat prescription from, every month when I request a repeat 9 times out of the 10 it gets rejected, I’m told if I order to early it gets rejected, even if I add a note saying , “going on holiday”, does any other member’s experience this issue with Methotrexate and how have you got around it,

[Mcdebz]

I assume you are on tablet form. I'm on mexotrate injections. Mine comes via hospital, delivered to my door. I've never had to ask my GP for a script. In fact I had to inform them that I was taking it. If you have been seen by Rheumatology phone them, explain that the GP system is messing up your treatment and can you get direct delivery from them. Hope you get it sorted.

[sylvi]

I don't have a problem ordering my prescriptions even when i tell them i am going away. xxxx

[Leics]

I constantly have to chase my mtx injections with the hospital. I think the delivery system from the hospital is awful too. So usually have to chase them as well. I know I’ve had to pause because of covid amongst other things but even before that it doesn’t turn up without me chasing them. I don’t drive and the hospital is the other side of the city and it’s a race to get them picked up during rush hour before they close at 5.30 so I’m out of meds again. I feel for you it’s not helpful is it. I wish I could get them from my GP as at least my other meds are local. Maybe have a word with your rheumy team and ask them to send a note to your GP although if you’re going away then it should be possible to get them a little early without too much faff ring the surgery and explain the situation and keep doing it. Mostly it’s down to who you speak to.

[Jackie1947]

Dr handles the Sulphasazine and it's on repeat. He can't refuse it because the hospital originally prescribed it. My weekly injections don't go through the drs and are handled by the hospital via a prescribing agent. I get a delivery every 3 months. Excellent service

[Gottarelax]

My GP is generally pretty good but when there was a mix up over blood tests I got a quick prescription from my rheumy nurse to tide me over. Turns out when I got to the pharmacy, my GP had sent the prescription through so I could keep the nurses one for if I have a problem with the GP again

[Sarahg62]

if you order too early the system automatically rejects it. I had this problem, now set myself a monthly reminder and as long as my blood tests are ok, it all goes through ok.

[Bookworm55 in reply to Sarahg62]

Same here. The GP surgery told me it was a case of ‘computer says no’.

[TheBoys]

I ve had that. When was very sick and off MTX plus when I was sorting out dads funeral and forgot to order they refused to give me my MTX - in fact they rang me and asked me where am I getting my meds from… so now I put my order in on the first of the month religiously online. In fact the system should show the date when you can order the medication from.

[Chris_O]

Hi. I used to have my methotrexate prescription rejected if it was less than a month after the last request. I use an online prescription ordering system that my GP’s practice have. I think that it was a case of the computer’s program rejecting the request, anyway after complaining the problem was fixed and I can order at least 7 days before I run out.

Chris_0

[Egpa]

Hi, I just put an order in for my in mtx 20mg injections to my doctors and they send it to superdrug to delivery or collect. I was told be the Hosp to order when I have 2 injections left, to make sure that I get them in time, I receive 8 at a time. Much easier don't have yo kerp reordering them. Whey not ask if you can have two months supply at a time from your doctor. Good luck, take care and stay safe.

[helenlw7]

I don’t have a problem getting my mtx as long as my blood tests are up to date. That is probably the only good part of the admin side of my drs. This week ‘someone’ decided that my husbands pharmacy of choice, not our local chemist, and so far they’ve been unable to sort it!

[Runrig01]

I had issues occasionally in the past, when they rejected because they couldn’t see blood results. They had to log on to another system, which proved too challenging for them. My blood were ordered by rheumatologist, but done at the surgery. Rheumatologist ended up changing shared care agreement to give responsibility to gp re ordering bloods, as he could easily see tests they ordered. Now it works fine. I’ve never had an issue getting them earlier if I’m going away on holiday.

[Blocksetter]

I also used to have this problem. I got around it by skipping two doses after my last covid booster (as recommended) so that I now have a couple of metoject pens in reserve.

[StormySeas]

My MTX prescription is signed by the Dr three monthly after a blood test.

If your RA is under control I presume you’re no longer having a blood test every month?

My surgery has online prescription requests and they usually run smoothly.

Occasionally there’s been a problem and I’ve complained to the practice manager, but your hassle every month can’t be right. I’m not sure why they restrict the prescription to monthly - have you asked why? It’s usually tied in with the need to monitor bloods, which is fair enough, so if you’re not having monthly blood tests you could try asking if they’d do 3 month batch prescribing.

The last time I had a run in at my surgery I wrote to the practice manager in exasperation telling how much of my time (and more importantly) their time was being wasted dealing with a prescription problem and they sorted it pretty quickly.

Try finding out why it’s happening and then maybe you can find a way around it. It sounds a right hassle!

[Seatgeorge]

I have noticed when I order my scrip on line,there is a date telling you when to reorder I think that's what the gp checks, you really need to get that changed by the surgery.

[Garnacha]

For any medication I order on repeat, I can only order it when I have 2 weeks left, if I order even a day before it gets rejected, seem to spend my life counting some tablets & reordering 🙄

[oldtimer2]

You need to find out WHY the request is being rejected. Is it because you have not had a recent blood test? Is it because they have a system that doesn't work? It is far from satisfactory.

Do you have a pharmacist at the surgery - you could ask them if so as they are usually very clued up. If not then write a polite letter to the Practice manager asking her/him to look into it and remedy the problem.

I have put my problems in writing to the practice manager several times over the years and this has always resulted in an improvement in the procedure. Sometimes the dysfunction has just not been noticed.

[Grumpyoldmare]

I have the same problem. Often the chemist has to order it in so it ends up being late! The receptionist has put a note on my file about delays which gas helped but if it's a locum signing prescriptions it happens again. Bit of a pain really

[AgedCrone]

Are you still on regular blood tests? If your GP doesn’t get a satisfactory blood test he won’t sign the scrip. …because he can only sign off what your rheumy has asked him to do……he can’t alter it.

Speak to your rheumy nurse..this happens quite often,,,,she will know how to resolve it.