Shortages

[Koalajane]

Does anyone know if it is going to become difficult to get prednisolone as I have just seen on the news that many drugs are in short supply.

[Hidden]

😳

[SheffieldJane]

We will have to storm Parliament in electric wheelchairs! People are stockpiling lots of items. Strange times.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Most drugs are distributed on a just-in-time basis and for the UK, as an island, that currently depends on road transport via Dover if they come from outside the UK. At present many drugs that are sourced from China or India (for example) are delived to a central depot in mainland Europe for distribution around the EU: logical since for most of the countries being supplied that does not then face any geographical hurdles like the Channel, they are loaded on lorries and way to go.

In the event of a no-deal B-word, the processes at Dover and all other ports of entry will have to change. Everything coming into the UK will be treated as coming from a third country (as it is termed) and will be subject to more extensive checks. It has been said by one distribution company that the customs documentation they have been shown will take a driver up to 8 hours to complete - instead of the no-documentation process that takes 2 mins per lorry from the EU at present.

Supply chains will have to be re-established - and that takes time to organise, requiring more depots in the UK, in the case of drugs the right sort of storage (steady appropriate temperatures for example) and new links set up. Assuming of course that traffic on the roads in Kent and around other ports is running freely - remember the strike some years ago and the talk about Operation Brock?

There is currently barely 2 months to do all this, it costs an arm and a leg, and building takes a long time (planning, actually building etc etc). The NHS is concerned. I don't blame them. But whether pred in particular will be in short supply is impossible to say. I imagine it could be.

But all could be averted by making sure there is no No-deal exit from the EU.

[maria40 in reply to PMRpro]

I'd give your last comment 10 likes if I could. I've been squirrelling away supplies of pred in all denominations for a while. Need a new cupboard for them now!

[borednow in reply to maria40]

Ah - so if I can't get a repeat prescription of pred, maybe you'll be able to help?

[SheffieldJane in reply to maria40]

Watch the sell by dates. Some of my inadvertent hoard, has expired.

[maria40 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yes, I do check them but most are well in date and I'm using them in order.

[Hidden]

We have to be aware that from time to time there can be issues with Meds like the recent EpiPen shortage, so people started ordering them when they didn’t need them just in case.

The Dept of Health issued a statement that they were in fact ‘good’ for four months after their Expiry Date, wether that’s ‘true’ or not most people were issued with one on repeat instead of two.

I’ve told you that in the hopes that it reassures you that life saving drugs will be considered a priority & as Pred just can’t be stopped it’s bound to come into this category.

Check how many you have in stock as most of us have some spare & get your repeat filled in a timely manner, don’t wait until you are running low.

Pharmaceutical Company’s will have been preparing for this possibility.

Best Wishes

MrsN

[Koalajane in reply to Hidden]

I am not sure if my doctors will prescribe mine before the 4 weeks they normally prescribe them for unless I beg!

[Hidden in reply to Koalajane]

You can try the I’m going away & can l have my Script a bit sooner or you could simply say you are uneasy & would like an extra couple of weeks in hand, it seems a pretty reasonable request.

Good Luck 🍀

Angela x

[Koalajane in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Angela I am going to order some on Monday x

[piglette in reply to Koalajane]

They may have to change their tune if there is a no deal Brexit.

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Koalajane]

I just "dropped" a whole new month's prescription down the drain (wink wink) and got a full month's replacement.

It's snow season here in New York, and with the change in the weather patterns, we get far more snow now in a single dump that we used to. Makes it difficult to get to the pharmacy sometimes, and more than once I went to pick up a prescription that was due and the shelves were bare because the deliveries were delayed.

So a couple of times a year, I have an "accident" where a month's supply simply goes "down the drain". You know, because of those "stiff hands" and all...

It's a sin that we have to commit a sin to get what we need, but there it is. I'm sure we'll be forgiven...

[Koalajane in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Don't know about that one as mine come in boxes in blister strips

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Koalajane]

Perhaps a toilet drop?

[Koalajane in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

I think I would be told blister strips can cope with that! Lol

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Hidden]

And at the risk of ticking you off, Mrs. Nails, this is an example of how deeply politics can effect our health care...

[Hidden in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Touché.......

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to Hidden]

never looking to score points, MrsNails. It just that politics can be vital to us...

[SheffieldJane in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

GIRLS!! ☝️😉

[GOOD_GRIEF in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yes, ma'am?

Warning: Some individuals may find the comment below upsetting.

We're discussing the possible disruption of the "just-in-time" logistics of pharmaceutical delivery under a no-deal Brexit, and what individuals can do to protect themselves until the disruption is resolved. That there will be chaos at the ports of entry is a sure thing, and it is imminent.

Hopefully, your NHS is stockpiling supplies for you. How confident are you of that?

People who don't think health care and politics are intimately bound together need to think again.

And ignoring the implications in our daily lives leaves us vulnerable.

[SheffieldJane in reply to GOOD_GRIEF]

Yes mam was directed towards DorsetLady. It’s the odd nesting thing again. Sorry for the confusion.

[Louisepenygraig]

Ive discovered that i can put a new order after 3 weeks so I'm trying to remember to do that and build up a bit of a stock. I have a lot of 1mg tablets. I realised this morning though if I had to take 10 at a time 100 would only last 10 days! The things I'm most likely to run out of are amlodipine and amitryptaline but I'm not too worried about them, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

[Grants148]

My surgery has assured me that they are not expecting any problems with drug supplies,l hope they are right !!

[Roy46]

Ditto SheffieldJane. Watch the expiry date, be careful stockpiling. I keep enough plus a bit for emergencies. I'm on 9mg, so it's (5)+ (4x1) that soon eats into 1mg "stock". I was dispensed 1mgs in December and find that they expire July 2019. How safe, or wise is it to use after the expiry date, or should I bin them? I've suddenly found that some expire in May. Be watchful

[Hidden in reply to Roy46]

My husband picked up a ‘script for me last week & the Chemist said to use them before any l had in hand as the expiry date wasn’t that long, 11/19 & it’s usually 2020/21

I’m calling in tomorrow after the hospital so l’ll ask about Expiry Dates & Potential Shortages.

[Roy46 in reply to Hidden]

What was the advice about expiry dates and potential shortages?

[Hidden in reply to Roy46]

There was a 30min wait for a ‘script & Pharmacist was very busy but I’ll be at my New Surgery & Pharmacist tomorrow so l’ll check in with them & let you know.

[Hidden in reply to Roy46]

Hi Roy

I took my ‘script into my new Pharmacy today & had a word with the Pharmacist -

NO, we MUST NOT Take any out of date Pred!

Re possible shortages - they hope not!........

MrsN

[Roy46 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Mrs N for the sound advice. I've not checked in the past and now wonder whether earlier flare-ups have been caused by dud preds. I'll never know.

[Hidden in reply to Roy46]

I’ve got a few boxes I’m going to check through & put them in date order!

Fingers Crossed we don’t experience any shortages.

[Roy46 in reply to Hidden]

I'm doing the same. I have some 1mg that expire in May. It may seem a long way off but as I take four a day I expect to use them up before they go "off"!

I'm a co-ordinator for the Harlow Meet Up Group and I'll pass on your useful info

[YuliK]

drugs.com/article/drug-expi...

This link may help regarding outdated meds.

YuliK