Problem getting Prednisolone medication

[cool4bob]

My prednisolone prescription has been removed from my Patient Access App.

I don’t have enough to get through a week.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Ring your GP and if you can't get through to them use 111 because this MUST be sorted out BEFORE you run out as it could cause an adrenal crisis if you stop suddenly. Which would mean hospital admission - which no-one wants at present,

What dose are you on currently? How does your practice work - have they maybe got an in-house pharmacist checking the prescriptions? It isn't common for patients to be on long term pred and they may have missed the history.

[cool4bob in reply to PMRpro]

I’m on 25mg and was going to taper to 20mg tomorrow. I will call GP early tomorrow I don’t know why it’s gone from my med list

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cool4bob]

If you get no sense from them - use 111 who can authorise a script from a designated pharmacy in an emergency. But at that dose - don't run out!

[borednow in reply to cool4bob]

I have never been able to order prednisolone online - GP said "it's not allowed".

[Rugger in reply to borednow]

I ALWAYS order my pred online - as much as I want / need! "Jobsworth GP", is what I'd call yours! It makes my life and theirs so much easier, especially now.

Take care.

[borednow in reply to Rugger]

Thank you Rugger - it seems I've been guilty of the "well if that's what the Doctor says, it must be right" syndrome. He needs to be afraid, when this is all over!!!

[kalimche in reply to borednow]

My GP practice will not allow me to request Pred via the online Patient Access (which I use for my other meds). I was told it was an "acute medication" and I have to put in a written request to the doctor (we are not allowed to make repeat prescription requests via the telephone either). This I do, and then collect from my nominated pharmacy a couple of days later.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Can you not do a custom request for Pred.

Our surgery has changed from PA Apps, but there is usually a facility for that on whatever system you use.

[cool4bob in reply to DorsetLady]

No custom request available I have a new message on the app:

As per Government guidelines we are only giving 28 days supply of medication until further notice.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cool4bob]

That is one thing - but since it is taking that long for some people to get a script filled they have to organise long term meds properly.

[Hidden in reply to cool4bob]

Do you have it delivered to the pharmacy usually? It could be waited. My surgery immediately transferred prescription of everything. Even things I have another week to wait to order. I hope you have someone who can do the running around for you.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Can they pick them all up at the same time?

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

From the conversation yes. They ordered everything but the sharps box...so hopefully everything will be there, but time will tell!!

I think everything was due by the 11th but on different dates.

[scats in reply to cool4bob]

That's insane how many extra journeys by delivery men who are over worked already.

My GP doesn't know my dose, I'm left to reduce as I can, how can they know what I use in a month?

[Hidden in reply to scats]

Mine still have reducing by 1mg a month on mine despite me telling them several times that I am not reducing in such a simplistic manner and rheumi knows.

[scats in reply to Hidden]

Let's hope they can be flexable to some extent or there will be even more sick people to sort out, not what they need.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to scats]

Well yes, that's my concern too.

[Rugger in reply to scats]

Exactly the same with me. They trust us to order what we need and not over-stock too much! However, it would cause more problems to risk running out in these difficult times.

[Mstiles]

Hope you get your prescription soon, stressful and we don’t need that right now. ❤️

[Mstiles]

Don’t know if this should be a separate post, but has anyone had problems getting early refills of pred in the US?

I’m on 9mg and have enough 5. For 30 days, but being an anxious person I asked my rheumy for an early refill and she refused, saying there would be no shortage of pred since it isn’t used to treat Covid.

[Hidden in reply to Mstiles]

It's fine here... hopefully you will be ok. Your Dr is right, the research from China said that steroids were not a suitable treatment once the pneumonia starts. I can't remember but it was higher than doses we use. So there shouldn't be a drain on pred....unless people start hoarding like loo rolls!

[Mstiles in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

One less thing to worry about. Toilet paper is more crucial at this point!

[Hidden in reply to Mstiles]

🤣😂🤣 indeed. 😱

[Raven1955 in reply to Mstiles]

It's actually gotten better in our region for getting refills of pred and most other medications. I am friends with our pharmacist and she tells me that insurance companies have loosened up on some of the quantity and refill timing requirements because of the current chaos. I've personally noticed that a couple refill requests that usually take me 2 days to get approved by the doctor now get approved in 1-2 hours because it's so slow at the clinic. One doctor at our local clinic is staying home and taking 2 weeks off because business is so slow. She's seen 5 patients in 2 weeks.

[Mstiles in reply to Raven1955]

That’s encouraging. Are you in the US?

It was my rheumatologist who did my want to refill it.

[Raven1955 in reply to Mstiles]

Yes, I'm in Minnesota. I've reminded both my GP and rheumy that I'm not going to be off prednisone anytime soon and my having extra on hand is worth a lot for my peace of mind, no matter that prednisone is readily available. Hopefully that'll get your rheumy to say okay. If he still says no, ask if it's okay for you to call every day when you're stressed out thinking about not having the extra pred on hand. He just might change his mind then lol.

[Thelmarina]

Just checked my Patient Access account and nothing has been removed which suggests it’s not an NHS or general action. Contact your practice, also check their website for instructions as to how to get through, then there’s 111 and 999 as back up. It may be a blip but you must have your medication. Do let us know what happens - sending a hug.

[Hidden in reply to Thelmarina]

They are pushing some new software on my surgery site. I have given it a miss until I can establish what, where, when and how the prescriptions would be managed. 🙄😊

[Thelmarina in reply to Hidden]

Very wise! We have an online form to fill in, and then we will have answers to our queries within the next working day. But my PA account works separately. Fingers crossed it keeps that way! 🤞😀

[Hidden in reply to Thelmarina]

I have just rung the pharmacy to ask how long it would take to get it delivered.....no guarantees of a day....very busy..sort of when it gets here, it'll get here. And that's "top priority" at the top of every lists for meds and food person...supposedly.

I said leave it I will get a neighbour to do it if possible. 🙄

[Thelmarina in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the heads up. Thank goodness for ‘good neighbours’ !

[Floridafan]

I can order Prednisolone on Patient Access, Ask my GP or send an email. I phoned the GP and told him I was low on my medications and he said as a one off they could double up the prescription. The prescription was sent automatically to my designated pharmacy (Well Pharmacy) and in just over a week I received a text to say it was in the vending machine which gives me 24/7 access. It’s a brilliant system as you can still pick up your medication when the pharmacy is closed.