I mg gastro-resistant Pred: Last week my GP gave me... - PMRGCAuk

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I mg gastro-resistant Pred

Omanain profile image
31 Replies

Last week my GP gave me a prescription for 1mg gastro-resistant Pred. Today after many visits to the local Boots to collect the Pred I was finally informed that 1mg gastro -resistant pred were unobtainable. I phoned Lloyds pharmacy at the District hospital to see if they could get some, but they can’t either.

Is anyone in the UK able to obtain these or is it just the East Riding?

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Omanain profile image
Omanain
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31 Replies
Pristina profile image
Pristina

I cant get them either and thats through a private hospital in kent. Now have to have a mixture of coated and uncoated which isnt great

Omanain profile image
Omanain in reply toPristina

Looks like I'll have to do the same.

SnazzyD profile image
SnazzyD

We had a spell of this earlier in the year. My surgery’s dispensary said then that it was due to Brexit stockpiling by larger companies so smaller outfits are bottom of the list. Don’t know if this is the case now.

Omanain profile image
Omanain in reply toSnazzyD

Thanks. Possibly still the case.

Theziggy profile image
Theziggy

The only gastro resistant Pred I ever got was 2.5, the 1s and the 5s weren't gastro resistant

Omanain profile image
Omanain in reply toTheziggy

So far can get 5 and 2.5 gastro coated. My GP agreed to prescribe them because the acid was causing crushing pains in my chest and he thought it might be my heart. Told me to dial 999 when it happened again!! The Pains stopped after he gave me gasro-resistant pred!

Highlandtiger profile image
Highlandtiger

I always get this with Boots. To be honest I don’t think they can be bothered asking different suppliers if their normal one doesn’t have them. Other than a spell earlier in the year when no one seemed to be able to get them for a couple of months as SnazzyD said, Superdrug have always managed to get them for me eventually (sometimes after a bit of a sigh and 'we'll have to try and order them for you if you really want'.......er, yes I do actually). Sometimes it takes a while so you need to persevere and also have a small stash to get you through the wait.

Omanain profile image
Omanain in reply toHighlandtiger

Our Boots is a pain in the proverbial!! The nearest Superdrug is a complicated journey away, but it is interesting that they will get them for you.

Highlandtiger profile image
Highlandtiger in reply toOmanain

I felt that Boots were very naughty. They generally didn’t say anything at all so it was only when I got home with my big sealed bag of meds that I’d find they’d given me the uncoated ones. That’s why I moved to Superdrug which luckily is quite near my work. They at least always tell you if there’s a problem and if they can’t provide the coated ones immediately. On occasion I’ve had to keep going back in every couple of days for about a fortnight and make a bit of a nuisance of myself and there were some attempts along the way to persuade me just to accept uncoated (I did have to earlier in the year when I was aware no one could get them) but otherwise they’ve always got them eventually except once when I caved in under pressure (and need as my home stash of 1s was running out). They’re not without fault as once they didn’t give me my 5mg ones and denied that they’d been on my prescription when clearly they had been but they’ve been significantly better than Boots in my experience. Obviously it may depend on individual branches and it would be more difficult for you if it’s a complicated journey. I don’t have any independent pharmacies near me.

in reply toHighlandtiger

Independent Pharmacy’s seem few & far between these days.

I had a good relationship with the Team when we lived in Wales & they always strove to get whatever l required.

No issues to-date at my New Pharmacy, which is attached to the Surgery so fingers crossed. I take uncoated in all strengths & so far, so good.

Hope you get sorted soon.

MrsN

maria40 profile image
maria40 in reply toHighlandtiger

I know my local Superdrug are trying as I was there when the pharmacist called the supplier - without success

Highlandtiger profile image
Highlandtiger in reply tomaria40

Things may have got worse again in the last three/four weeks since this thread. I’ve not had to get a prescription for them since then but I will have to soon.

Sigh! Sadly I can’t see it getting better anytime soon either........

Omanain profile image
Omanain in reply toHighlandtiger

Me neither!!

Daffodilia profile image
Daffodilia

I have 1 mg but not gastroresistant

Pipalina profile image
Pipalina

I haven't had too many problems so far and as I am hoping to start tapering soon I have GR 5mg, 2.5mg & 1mg. The only issue so far is that the 1mg GR tablets don't seem to have a very long expiry date. I alternate between Boot's & Morrison's pharmacy although Morrison's seem to put themselves about a bit more if they need to be ordered. Good luck to you!

Highlandtiger profile image
Highlandtiger in reply toPipalina

Oddly it's my GR 1mgs which have the longest expiry date and by some distance! They're from a different manufacturer than the GR 5s and 2.5s that I get. You do wonder what's going on in the supply chain don't you.....?

Omanain profile image
Omanain in reply toPipalina

Does your Boots actually get 1mg GR pred? Mine told me they were unobtainable!

Pipalina profile image
Pipalina in reply toOmanain

Hello - yes, I have had 1mg GR from Boots in the past but I found their expiry date wasn't very long. I'm not aware of there being a supply problem.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toOmanain

They are lying through their teeth!!!! It is actually the same company that now owns Boots that supply the enteric coated 1mg tablets - but the most likely pharmacy to claim they don't exist is Boots! It isn't the first time.

Floridafan profile image
Floridafan

I have just collected 4 boxes of 1mg gastro resistant from my local chemist (Well Pharmacy). I’d suggest phoning around to see if any other chemists have them in stock.

Jackoh profile image
Jackoh

I have found that Lloyds chemist were never much good. Also the pharmacy attached to my GP practice. If they couldn’t get things from normal supplier then that was it. I have built up quite a good relationship with Tesco who always ring round and do their utmost to get what I need.

Omanain profile image
Omanain in reply toJackoh

I will ask my doctor for a printed prescription (ours go electronically to the local Boots) and take it to Tesco. It is quite a long way but I can probably persuade my doctor to prescribe quite a large amount.

Jackoh profile image
Jackoh in reply toOmanain

Try ringing them first Omanain,explaining your dilemma and can they help. All the very best.

in reply toOmanain

Good advice from Jackoh phoning is a lot less tiring on us.

I’ve been doing some research this morning using Gov Websites but nothing to report as yet......

I’ll have a chat with my Pharmacist later in the week & l’m with the Rheumatology Nurses on Thursday so will see what they have to say re Shortages.

Rugger profile image
Rugger

I always use a local, independent pharmacy and although we all had a 'blip' earlier this year, they always manage to get me the 1mg G-R tablets - as well as 5s and 2.5s.

West Yorkshire! Good Luck!

Skodadet profile image
Skodadet

My surgery in West Sussex phoned me this morning to say they couldn't get them but they'd keep trying.

maria40 profile image
maria40

I had a problem earlier this year but have since got them up until now. Next prescription is due in a couple of weeks so I hope Superdrug will be as helpful as they usually are.

Sallyaches profile image
Sallyaches

I haven’t tried it myself but the pharmacies that advertise on T.V. to post your prescription may be worth a try. I know we try to use local chemists to keep them open but if they are not providing the service.....

RolyB profile image
RolyB

I've not come across 1mg coated, just 2.5, 5 and10mg. However, uncoated Prednisolone has never caused me any stomach problems as I'm taking the prescribed Lansoprazole as stomach protection. I also take Adcal-D3 for bone protection.

BonnyQuine profile image
BonnyQuine

I use gastro-resistant pred in all strengths - 5mg, 2.5mg and 1 mg, The 1mg are a different brand to the others.

I get them from a 'Well' pharmacy near my GP surgery (in Rochdale), and have been getting them ok up to a couple of weeks ago.

Bit apprehensive about the Brexit effect.

Next prescription due for collection tomorrow - fingers crossed.

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