Problems with Prescriptions for 1mg gastro resistent Pred

[Marilyn1959]

Is anyone else struggling to get 1mg gastro resistant pred prescriptions fulfilled? I put in a prescription two weeks ago and my chemist is still struggling to get them. Have now run out and having to take 7.5mgs instead of 7mgs as I only have gastro resistent 5mgs and 2.5mgs. I need gastro resistent since I had major stomach bleed at Christmas. The cause of which was put down to either Mallory Weiss tear or response to drug regime.

[SnazzyD]

Yes, a number of people including me are having problems. I’m just hoping that uncoated 1mg or less isn’t going to be a problem for my stomach so I’m mixing both, taking the coated earlier and the uncoated bits with breakfast a couple of hours later. So far so good.

[Hidden]

There’s been a lot of discussion over the last week but think you were still away.

How’s the tooth?

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Marilyn1959 in reply to Hidden]

Went to emergency dentist. He showed me xrays and explained extraction would be very difficult since tooth had double root. One of which seemed to have extra ball of root at the bottom. He didn't want to start, abort in the middle of it and have me carted away by ambulance. The risks were too high apparently. So he said he would ring Guys Teaching Hospital and follow up my referral from two weeks ago in the hope of bumping me up the list. This is a different dentist to the one who referred me, so hopefully I might be seen sooner. Meanwhile I am hoping the 5 day antibiotics do their job. I am more comfortable than I was before though. Thanks for asking. X

[Hidden in reply to Marilyn1959]

Take Care 🌷 Keep us in the loop with how you get on.

Don’t worry too much about being on 7.5mg rather 7mg at the moment, it might be to your advantage while your tooth is playing up & hopefully 1mg tablets will be available again soon.

Best Wishes

Angela 🌷

[piglette]

I understand that the manufacturer has had problems manufacturing 1mg tablets. However they now seem to be saying that things should be back to normal. It will mean that they will have to manufacture a run of 1mg tablets and then these will need to be distributed to the various hub warehouses, which will then distribute to the pharmacies. This could take a little while. People do seem to mix enteric coated and uncoated with no problems, so you can still carry on taking the 2.5mg and 5mg with the uncoated 1mg. You can always ask for a PPI if you have stomach problems or buy Zantac over the counter.

[Ronnie101 in reply to piglette]

I've seen a number of references to Zantac being withdrawn until they can sort out an ingredient which is linked to cancer... what next?!!

There is an alternative which is ok. I'll see if I can find the name.

[Ronnie101 in reply to Ronnie101]

Apparently the safe alternative to Zantac is famotidine.

[Hidden in reply to piglette]

Unfortunately in Marilyn1959 case, she needs the Gastro Resistant Pred due to the serious issues she had at Christmas.

[piglette in reply to Hidden]

If there is no gastro resistant 1mg she will need to get something else rather than the oral ones. That needs to be sorted out by her doctor.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

All comes at once doesn't it!

[Skodadet]

Yes. My surgery hasn't been able to get them for two months so I contacted the drug company, Alliance, and asked them why.. they said there had been a supply chain problem which was now resolved and to try again. They also gave me a phone number for the surgery to ring them if they had further problems. I'm about to go to the surgery to tell them this.

[Lonsdalelass in reply to Skodadet]

I've done that already, rung Alliance twice in fact, made no difference whatsoever! My pharmacy use a different supplier, apparently!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lonsdalelass]

How? I understand Alliance are the manufacturer effectively.

[Lonsdalelass in reply to PMRpro]

Me too. The pharmacist told me yesterday that their supplier is waiting for dates of availability from the manufacturer. Yet the manufacturer, Alliance, told me two weeks ago that the issue had been resolved and they should now be able to get them. Maybe the problem lies with the wholesaler in the middle? I don't know. All I do know is that it is a shambles!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lonsdalelass]

Nothing new there in the last few years ...

[maria40]

I phoned in my repeat prescription this morning and the pharmacist told me that she still couldn't get my 1mg e.c. Pred. but would call the suppliers again. I still having an owing slip from last month. I have a supply but they won't last forever. I need 4 a day at the moment to make up to 6,5 with one 2.5 . Hopefully I can get to 6 before my supply runs out.

[Marilyn1959 in reply to maria40]

Hi Maria. There is not a shortage on ec 2.5mgs or 5 mgs. If situation doesn't resolve soon enough for you would it be worth considering making up your 6.5mgs with 1 x 5mgs or 2x 2.5mgs, 1 mg ec and 0.5mg of uncoated pred, in the interim. Though from what others have said hopefully situation will resolve shortly.

[Lee1945 in reply to maria40]

Or 2.5 x 2 = 5+ 1 to make your 6

[maria40]

The only uncoated 1mg I have are seriously out of date as I've had coated for over two years.

But I read recently that pred can still be effective for up to 15 ( yes, fifteen) years so that might work in an extreme case.

[Hidden in reply to maria40]

Please don’t use Out of Date Pred, ask GP for a New Prescription.

It’s appears that there will be 1mg Coated Pred available shortly.

[maria40 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I don't think it will come to that as I do have quite a few coated and it would only have been 0.5mg. I want to avoid uncoated as I had bad stomach cramps about an hour after taking them each morning. Neither do I want to have to take a PPI so just hope Allied come up with the goods soon.

[Hidden in reply to maria40]

I think/hope it will be resolved soon, l’m just googling to see if l can find out anymore up to date info 🤞🏻

[Sheilamac]

I dont think 1mg tabs are made in gastro resistant form

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sheilamac]

Yes they are:

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...