Medication, need advice!!!

I am on methotrexate and hydroxychloroquin, only been on them for 2 weeks, the rheumatologist has only prescribed enough for 4 weeks, and in 2 weeks will have no tablets, is this normal ? I have just received an appointment to see her but not till the end of March. If anyone can help I would appreciate it. :-))

[Hidden]

When you collected your tablets from the hospital pharmacy they should have given you a copy of your prescription and explained that you needed to take this to your GP who will then make a repeat prescription for you. If you did not get one of those, still go to your GP and take the bottles/packets with you and they will be able to do the repeat for you.

Hope this helps, xx

[Hidden]

Wasn't told that at all, but thanks for the reply,will phone my GP and ask her advice. Xx

[watson3]

Good advice from Georje. Exactly what i would advise.

Poor service from hospital.

Carole

[helixhelix]

Also they should have explained to you about blood tests, as you will need to have these regularly to monitor that you have no ill effects from the Methotrexate. each place is a bit different, but usually people start having tests every 2 weeks and then after a bit it's every 4 weeks, and I'm now every 8 weeks. Sometimes the chemists will not give you a repeat prescription unless they've seen the monitoring book for the blood tests. So ask your GP's surgery about these too - a lot of people have the blood tests done at their GPs. Hopefully the consultant will have written to the GP so they will know about the diagnosis.

Polly

[lisalockit in reply to helixhelix]

Don't know about your GP helix but mine seems to ignore every letter they get from the consultant!!!! whenever I've had a med change have always had to take my copy up to GP or they don't believe me!!!! just one more thing you really don't need to be worrying about when you hurt like hell

[Hidden]

Thanks for the advice,I knew about the blood tests but not from the hospital, feel very let down by them to be honest.Will have a word with my GP, at least I trust her. X

[lisalockit in reply to Hidden]

It seems to be a real post code lottery on how good a hospital Rheumatology Dept is I've noticed since being on here. Think sometimes if you feel you're not getting the service you should be moan like hell at them and keep doing so till they bloody well listen

[Hidden in reply to lisalockit]

Had a moan to my GP last time, due to the nurse not seeing me to get the meds in the first place, that was on a Friday and by the Monday got an appointment through to see a nurse at a different hospital, got the meds and thought great on the way up, now I feel very let down....hopefully can only get better( fingers crossed) xx

[sheenerweener]

I on hydroxy my rheumy sent a letter to my Dr then my Dr gave me them, so maybe make an appointment for Dr also have you had a recent eye test as I was told this has to be done before taking hydroxy I had my eye test a month before I even knew I had to take these new message,we're you also told hydroxy takes up to 12 weeks to kick in??? Good luck with it all xxx

[Hidden in reply to sheenerweener]

Yes the Nurse explained about the eyes, I was also told how long it would take, but no mention on prescriptions,will find out more this week.Thanks for the reply and good luck to you as well. Xx

[oldtimer]

I always make an appointment to see one of the GPs in the practice about two to three weeks after the rheumy appt. Not once have they received the information from the hospital about the changes to medication initiated at that rheumy appointment. So I have to fill them in and then it takes a couple of times before the repeat prescription system catches up with the change.

So write down what changes of medication and management are advised by the rheumy and tell your GP yourself. It's not that the rheumy hasn't done the letter - I know that they are done at the end of each clinic - but that they are processed and sent out for weeks.

And you will need to arrange your blood tests to yourself, not expect anyone to organise that -so always remember to ask when you need those.

[Hidden in reply to oldtimer]

Thanks I will sort this out with my GP xxx