Pharmacy unable to fulfil my Prednisolone prescription as unavailable....

[Telian]

Just a note to say that over the past month or so I've been unable to get some repeat medications for both myself and hubby. Those I can get have a different brand name and luckily we've had no ill effects from the changes. In the past I've reacted to different brand names. Pharmacy are doing all they can to fulfil our 'scripts.

Today it was my 1mg Prednisolone that was completely unavailable. Pharmacy have been trying for a week now with no luck. I have to say I was shocked and find it more than worrying. I do have some stock but I currently use a pack of 28 a week. What to do if it gets to crunch time - I wouldn't know.

[Rose54]

Hi

My Son has just come home from work and collected my Meds on his way to work .

I have had all my usual ones enough for 2 months plus 10 packs each of 1mg and 5mg Steroids.

I had not ordered Steroids as have a big bag full.

It was a Days pharmacy dont know if you have any near you

[Telian in reply to Rose54]

Thanks Rose, I do have a good stock at the moment but it shook me to think what it's coming to. We do have Days near us.

Think I'll ask for another script just for Pred and go to another pharmacy.

[piglette]

It is only the enteric coated 1mg that are unavailable the non coated should be OK. Which ones do you have? The manufacturers of the enteric ones have had some problems but hopefully they will have some soon.

[Telian in reply to piglette]

Interesting, mine aren't enteric coated.

I picked up a 'script for my neighbour last week and they couldn't fulfil that either. His pharmacy is Boots and mine is Morrisons.

[Lonsdalelass in reply to piglette]

Yes, I'm still waiting for my 1mg enteric coated pills! I'm having to take the uncoated ones in the meantime. The manufacturer, Alliance, has reassured me the issue has been resolved but the problem seems to be lying with the wholesaler. My pharmacy's supplier can't get them. Why? So annoying.

[piglette in reply to Lonsdalelass]

I think the manufacturer will have to do a run and then distribute them so that may take a while. Nice that they are continuing as it seemed they were going to pack in producing the coated ones.

[Telian in reply to Lonsdalelass]

It's the uncoated ones I can't get..

[Fireleigh]

Try 5mg +2mg making up the seven a day that you need. It might be easier to get the five size.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Both enteric coated and plain pred are available as 2.5mg tablets - using that, or half a 5mg, would reduce the amount of 1mg you need. Would that help?

[Hidden]

In the past 20 years with different meds there have often been certain brands or dosages that weren't available and I had to be "owed" them. Often it was a part filled script. Usually the meds came in before I ran out and I can't remember being stranded. I know the circumstances are a little unique at the moment but have a word with the pharmacist. I have asked them not to fill any of the page with missing meds....or I don't take them until I check timing for deliveries and ring round the pharmacies.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Or the GP might just as well write a separate script for each - if the substances are different doses you still pay the dispensing fee for each so it doesn't add any more to the cost.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry I forget I am exempt from payment. If its longer than I can wait I just take the page...usually 2 or 3 meds each page to a different pharmacy. Mind you these days everything comes in dribs and drabs because the cycles are off kilter so it might be 1 a page!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

It's the NHS that pays the pharmacy the dispensing fee - not us directly. It's a hidden cost to the NHS - that doctors increase by insisting on dispensing long term medications one month at a time. My cousin couldn't persuade her doctor to give her thyroid medication more than 4 weeks at a time - she'd have been dead without it so she wasn't going to stop it in a hurry. Same apples to pred of course ...

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry brain dead this morning. Yes I have wonder why my thyroid meds etc aren't just dispensed yearly. I am stable with thyroid so no need to change amount and blood test every 3 months. Maybe a 2 months "holiday" is on the cards. 😁

[Gary1310 in reply to Hidden]

I have Thyroid problems, too. Half Thyroid was removed half that is left has 7 Small nodules. No cancer.....and I am not on medication, seems that half still produces hormone. Wonder if there is a connection to PMR.

[Hidden in reply to Gary1310]

It could be one factor among many. Not everyone here has thyroid issues but obviously some have. It obviously has a genetic factor in relation to the "Viking" gene, but then it may take multiple stressors for some to develop autoimmune conditions like PMR. I may have 3 stressors the same you but we might only be 2 of 100 with those stressors. Then we may have to control for gender, age, region, occupation and other factors to determine causation. Having read hundreds of accounts of what people think caused their PMR GCA I go with the idea it is multiple stressors, but one breaks the camel's back.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gary1310]

Poor thyroid function can cause similar symptoms - should be part of a differential diagnosis.