If your rheumy has said to increase mtx& folic acid how long would you expect to be given your script to do it?

[Chrt]

Hi everybody hope you are doing well as can be

Need a bit more advice please. A week ago today rheumy told me to increas mtx & folic acid. I asked nurse when, he said I,ll be in touch. Havent heard so tried gettin in touch but its constantly engaged. Rang switch board who said you need to report it pals!!?? and they put me through. Anyway explained to pals, they said nurse told them its usually a few wks later they give you the script. Does this sound right? Because that means it,ll be about 4 wks until I increase it & rhuemy said he,s increasing it because of flare I had a few wks ago. Thxs guys

[KittyJ]

is it your hospital that usually gives you your prescriptions for mtx? I’ve waited a couple of weeks before for my GP to be told to increase mtx and do a new prescription but my hospital doesn’t do the prescriptions. These things don’t happen immediately I’ve found.

[Chrt in reply to KittyJ]

Hi Kittyj This is only 2nd time I,ve seen him. Last time I got my script straight away from clinic but this time nurse said he,ll be in touch. But then I needed to renew my repeat scripts a few wks ago & my dr added mtx & fa to my other meds so they are all together now on one script but of course now I won,t have enough mtx or fa due to the increase.

Yes seems to be all in their own good time, thing is our health centre is attached to our hospital at the side looks like another waiting game for me then I,m so fed up with them Thxs Kitty

[Gottarelax]

Usually if my nurse or rheumy change dose or add new medication they write a script there and then. If it comes in the post because of a telephone appointment, it takes a couple of weeks. If they write to the GP, it seems to take longer. Could you ask your GP for an early repeat prescription of just the MTX to tide you over? Are the hospital increasing your blood test frequency with upping your dose of MTX?

[Chrt in reply to Gottarelax]

Hi GottaR its only my 2nd time there & last time I was given them there & then. Thing is it,ll take 2 wks to get appt with my gp. No increase in blood tests staying the same, every mth. I,ll see what pals say tomorrow but I,ve decided to up them this coming Monday anyway & go stand outside clinic next wk till they give me new scripts thxs

[J1707-]

my rheumatologist prescribes my MTX and if there is an increase it’s done there on the spot. If I need a new prescription I ring helpline and it arrives the next day

[Chrt in reply to J1707-]

Hi J1. yes its seems normal if its increased to start asap not few wks later (otherwise you,d be told that) we don,t have a helpline unfortunately. Thxs

[smilelines]

mine sends in a new prescription by email to the pharmacy while I am sitting there. Then it is filled that day and ready to be picked up immedicatly. I wonder if the delay for you has to do with billing procedures. That would be so ridiculous and they need to get their act together.

[Chrt in reply to smilelines]

Hi SmileL last time (which was my 1st time)they gave me my script there & then. They then messed my repeats up but gp sdorted them just a couple of wks ago. Ive no idea whats going on at all really just needed to know what to do & I,ve decided to up mtx on Monday which is day I take them. So fed up with it all good job I can rely on here eh! Thx

[Runrig01]

Was this a face to face clinic appointment that this was discussed, and did you see the rheumatologist or just the nurse. If it was just the nurse that explains the delay, as they can’t write prescriptions for MTX. Anytime my MTX has been increased I’ve had to go back to fortnightly bloods, to ensure the dose change isn’t causing liver or bone marrow issues. Is it perhaps that they are changing to injection, where the delivery is normally by an out sourced company. Perhaps ring the secretary and see what the issue is. I take it your up to date with your blood tests.

[Chrt in reply to Runrig01]

Hi R/R no not ftof as such but video consult.. Staff nurse was to side of me on his pc, another in front of me with rheumy on it. Rheumy defo said increase mtx by 2 tabs because I,d had flare just 10 or so dys previously & also take folic acid daily except dy I take mtx no mention of injection. I,m almost? sure he said bloods monthly. Yes I,m up to date with bloods,had last one 30th may when it had just gone to monthly, saw rheumy on 1st June 2 days later & was told all good. They,ve got no secretary unfortunately, Im in Gibraltar our nhs is bit different to UK much smaller but rheumy is a consultant working in UK nhs & private hospital. Thx

[Mmrr]

If I am told in the clinic to increase my DMARD medication I would be given a script at the clinic.If over the helpline, the rheumatology nurse would ring my GP and I would be able to collect the script within a few days.

[Chrt in reply to Mmrr]

Hi Mmr yes thats what I think should happen here too but because this is all new to me I, m not sure I,ll be honest I think this nurse is messing me about because of what gp told me to saywhen he sent me up there after not being contacted by them for over 18mths. I,m going to start the increase on Monday, thats the day I take mtx & I,ll also go to clinic & prepare to sit there till I get my new scripts. Thxs

[KASHMIRI1]

I had a prescription on the day my rheumatologist said to start methotrexate