Drug Shortage

[piglette]

Is everyone getting their enteric coated 1mg pred OK now? There is a programme on BBC Radio 4 at 12.15pm today on drug shortages.

[Highlandtiger]

Nope. I’ve not been able to get it for a few weeks now.

[Highlandtiger]

Have just listened to it. Some of the calls were heartbreaking and make my lack of gastro enteric 1mgs pale into insignificance.....

[scats in reply to Highlandtiger]

I listened too and felt the same. I would liked a little more explanation as to what's happening, it seemed to be world wide.

[piglette in reply to scats]

There is something on Radio 4 this evening, File on Four I think explaining what is happening.

[scats in reply to piglette]

just checked, it's 8'o clock thanks.

[Highlandtiger in reply to piglette]

By chance I happened to catch some of this File on Four programme yesterday late afternoon/early evening when it was repeated. It was very interesting. The reasons for the shortages are complex and multifactorial - far too complex to summarise here but they do include the usual suspects.......

There was also information about whether pharmacists can/cannot swap e.g. giving people 2 x 2.5mgs of something when there were no 5mgs available which might be of interest.

I think it is worth a listen.

[piglette in reply to Highlandtiger]

I missed the programme but will try and listen to it. Some people are really having problems.

[HeronNS]

Do you know, there's a shortage of tamoxifen in Canada as we speak. There are thousands of women having a devil of a time getting even one month's supply. Shortage not expected to end until January. I gather this is an international problem. 😨

[piglette in reply to HeronNS]

The programme gave the impression that it was a world wide problem and the whole drug manufacturing and distribution set up was very tenuous which is a bit worrying.

[HeronNS in reply to piglette]

Of course I didn't see the program but I've heard that there are literally hundreds of shortages in Canada every year. Of course we only hear when it's a widely used drug which actually saves lives. Like the insulin shortage....

[PMRpro Ambassador]

sciencebasedmedicine.org/dr...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

We should be OK in UK if Labour get in, they are introducing ‘Medicines for the Many’, a radical programme of reforms to make life-changing drugs available at affordable prices!!! They will create a publicly owned pharmaceutical company to manufacture generic drugs and medicines to sell to the NHS at affordable prices and on top of that we will have free broadband too.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Yeah ...

Suppose it makes a change from owning shares in the companies and expecting dividends ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I am not sure I would let our Labour government lose with it though!

[Tonch in reply to PMRpro]

It is immoral to profit from the suffering of others. There should be no profiting from suppling essentials of life as those buying are often poor, vulnerable to exploitation & often have no choice. Eg basic food items, rented housing, healthcare/pharma, heating, power, and water/sewage, education. All these things should be publically owned and controlled democratically by all.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tonch]

Unfortunately, reality dictates that big business has to be involved in drug development as it is an extremely expensive process...

[Rugger]

I've missed the programmes, but my GP has recently prescribed me 120 x 1mg gastro-resistant pred tablets and they were dispensed without any problem. (West Yorks) Sometimes I have to wait a few days for the Pharmacy to get them.

[piglette in reply to Rugger]

That is interesting.

[Highlandtiger in reply to Rugger]

Is it an independent or chain pharmacy?

I’ve had an 'owe slip' for about 5 weeks now, checking every week, but not this week as yet. My stash is just about done so if they don’t have them tomorrow I’ll get the uncoated ones instead.

[Rugger in reply to Highlandtiger]

It's an independent pharmacy.

Good luck for today!

[Highlandtiger in reply to Rugger]

No independents near me sadly. One large chain has been much better than the other in my experience. But still no luck with them today so I gave in and took the uncoated 1s instead. I have Ranitidine and I love Greek yogurt so it will be ok I’m sure, and like I said earlier, of minimal significance compared to some people’s stories on the programme. Oddly there is a wide variation of expiry dates, with one packet being a mixture of three different 'cut off' bits all with different expiry dates but you have to look very closely to see them on the foil packet.

[piglette in reply to Highlandtiger]

Did the pharmacy just give you the non coated instead? My pharmacy said that they would need a new prescription from the surgery.

[Highlandtiger in reply to piglette]

Yes they have said each time I’ve been in that they could give me uncoated if I wanted or I could wait to see if they could get the gastro resistant ones. On previous occasions I’ve always managed to hold out until they’ve got them for me but this prescription was issued on 10 October and I’m pretty much out of 1s now so I just agreed to take the uncoated ones today. Previously a different High Street chain just gave me the uncoated ones without saying anything and I only found out when I got home! But no, I didn’t need a new prescription.

[piglette in reply to Highlandtiger]

My pharmacist must be being fussy!

[maria40]

Mine have been coming regularly again.