URSO! Manufacturing issue

[fred6577]

About to run out of URSO. Went to collect my prescription from Boots, only to be told no stock as there is a manufacturing issue. Anyone else had this ? No indication of when it will be resolved.

[Hidden]

Hello fred6577.

Do you know what urso is it you take? Is it a brand?

I had a problem with mine back in late November as I have my prescription written out for Destolit 150mgs. I take mine to Tesco as it's not so far away from home and I drop off and usually following day pick up some groceries and then collect from in-store pharmacy. I had 3 days to wait in November as the pharmacist said she was having trouble obtaining from one of their 2 suppliers.

I have a Boots Local near the GP surgery I go but from experience with those, I stopped going as always seemed an issue. I used to take Urdox 300mg tablets when I was diagnosed but these were withdrawn a few years ago. My first script for the urso 150mg tablets was wrote as always was, generically (that is 'ursodeoxycholic acid') so you receive what the pharmacy gives you. Urdox was branded at the time. I first got Destolit when Urdox was withdrawn and had no problems. On my 2nd generically wrote prescription to Boots Local, I was handed white tablets in brown pharmacy labelled bottles. I was not happy as they were different. I asked for the patient info leaflet and they printed out. I found they were different pharma from the Destolit and classed as generics. I had 90 days supply and didn't think be a problem but I encountered heartburn continuously so much so that I went to see the GP and got branded wrote ever since and not really had a problem with Destolit.

I believe that chemists have been given some new rules from reading some national newspaper online recently but didn't take much notice and cannot state where. It is all due to funding. We tend to have generics as they are cheaper to the NHS. I've always had to pay a prescription charge so resent the fact that since 2010 when I was diagnosed with PBC having not had a prescription from a GP since 1999 I seem to get the run around at times and have to pay to do so! (I am in the UK, not Scotland or Wales where they don't levy a charge now.)

If you know the pharma for your urso I'd check out the website for that company and see what you can find. I think it is MIMS online that put the medications on and they are usually listed. GPs receive constant updates on withdrawals of meds., new to the market, etc. I know I had to do my own research when the Urdox was withdrawn and I seem to find out more than the GP but saying that she probably hasn't time to read through things and a lot rely on the computer throwing these issues up when they are sorting prescriptions.

[fred6577 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that info. I have had two different types. Can't recall the names but will make a note in future. Boots said they would contact my GP on Monday (they can only dispense an exact match to the prescription). Hopefully it will get resolved soon. Thanks again 🙂

[Hidden in reply to fred6577]

Hello again fred6577.

So you take a brand? If so that is the one you are supposed to be handed over by the chemist.

I know when I had my problem and the Boots Local I found of no help, I rang a different chemist that was further away to enquire and the pharmacist was most helpful. She went through the fact my script was written generically so I could be handed what urso was available providing it was the right mgs. She suggested I return to my GP and have it out so I did.

Please post back on an update. I'm interested to find out.

[fred6577 in reply to Hidden]

Will do!

[Hidden]

Hello again fred6577.

Just having a snoop on the net before signing off and found out that later last year there was a new ursodeoxycholic acid on the market (check out MIMs) and it's brand name is Cholurso 250mgs.

Not sure if this is your mgs as my tablets are now 150mgs so I won't be prescribed these.

I think they are a brand and here's the link. Not sure if it will help in event you speak to your GP. Got to remember we can only access limited info on the MIMs site as it is for health professionals.

mhra.gov.uk/spc-pil/?prodNa...

[Brummi]

Hi, I have had this problem twice with other meds. Protracted as you may know for anti rejection , I contacted the transplant co-odinator and made arrangement to get some from the hospital, maybe this may help you.

[teddybear7]

They order mine in for me over night there's more than 1 brand. I'd try another chemists. X

[StefTeaches]

There is a manufacturing issue for the 500 mg pills. I'm on my 3rd drugstore as I've used up the other two's stock. To be fair, the first pharmacy does have 250mg pills but I want to take my Rx: 1 pill twice a day, not 2 pills twice a day!

[fred6577 in reply to StefTeaches]

I started on 250mg x4 per day. Then my doctor prescribed 500mg x2 per day. The chemist was more hopeful about getting the 250s but will need a new prescription. It's all done electronically and I am not sure if I can take the prescription elsewhere. I will find out more tomorrow.

[StefTeaches in reply to fred6577]

I'm in the US. My pharmacy that didn't have it told me to call around and , and when I found a pharmacy that had it I should tell them to call and transfer the Rx. That's what I did.

[PCBnPBC]

I just collected my monthly meds, short of URSO, was told to come back in one week as I have about a 2 week buffer, hope this problem is resolved in time.

[fred6577 in reply to PCBnPBC]

I was dumb! I should have ordered my repeat sooner. However I do think the chemist should have called me or the GP, as they knew there was an issue last Monday. No one did anything until I called in to collect on Saturday. I will be ordering repeats two weeks in advance from now on!

[dollydaydreams]

I just got my ursofalk without a problem from ASDA, not really fussed on boots.

[Becca75]

I'm in Canada and haven't had any issues refilling my URSO.

[CazK]

I get Ursofalk from the pharmacy in my Drs as Boots chemist said they don"t do that brand.

[Lezley23]

I've had no problem with boots and I have ursofalk