I’m just back from a review of my medication for PMR and high blood pressure with the surgery pharmacist. He was great and to me had a better understanding of this condition than any of the gp’s I’ve spoken to on the phone. He did admit that they don’t always understand the interactions of the drugs they dispense. Whereas the last gp I spoke to said I should not reduce my dosage down from 3 to 2 1/2 but should go straight to 2, he has said that he knows you have to leave it to the patient to decide at this low a dose and agreed that this was the best way to avoid a flare. There would be no problem with me getting prescriptions at this low dose for as long as I need. What a relief. I questioned him about the need for me to be on Alendronic acid. He agreed that as I haven’t had any breakages for the last 15 years and never had a dexa scan that it’s questionable. He is therefore arranging for me to have a dexa scan. Yippee. I wouldn’t have known about this without reading so much on this group! I told him I should have seen him at the beginning of diagnosis not after a year.
An added plus is that he has sorted my prescription so that I can order all at once instead of different times. For once happy with service from NHS.
Written by
MrsPractical
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Yes, Pharmacists are good one of the Tips and Tricks (3 pages of A4) we wrote in a little book called 'Living with PMR & GCA, years ago was:
2. TAKING PRESCRIBED MEDICATION.
Golden Rule: When issued with a new prescription for different medication, buying over the counter remedies or homeopathic remedies, check with the Pharmacist for compatibility with what you are already taking before buying or using. Pharmacists know more about drugs than any other medic.
a ) Very important to get Vitamin D checked, as amongst many other things, low Vitamin D will reduce your ability to absorb calcium. (Vitamin D check should be done before you are diagnosed with PMR, it is an exclusion test).
Vitamin D & Calcium supplements should be taken with food or drink with at least a tiny amount of fat - e.g. milk in tea or coffee as Vitamin D needs a bit of fat to be absorbed.
Rule is: Early am – Prednisolone with food
Mid am - 1st PPI (on empty stomach & hour before food)
Lunch time - 1st Calcichew (with food)
Do not take iron supplements or multivitamins containing iron within 2 hours of calcium as iron affects calcium absorption.
b) Taking your Prednisolone.
If possible, when you wake up, take your prednisolone with a cuppa and something to eat. Then snuggle down for an hour or so and give it time to work.
A good pharmacist is invaluable especially if they are attached to the Surgery & are happy to arrange that all your Meds can be ordered at the same time each month - it’s more efficient for them as well. (I have mine two monthly)
Yes mine now arranged like that. It’s win win. Less work for surgery less work for pharmacy, less packaging, less petrol and time for me collecting prescriptions.
If only they were all so efficient. Our local pharmacist is brilliant. Updates social media in vaccinations etc. very knowledgable and did a brilliant job over Covid supporting the village.
How wonderful. Often I have consulted with a pharmacist and there is no doubt they know more about the meds that the MDs. He seems to have sorted everything out for you~!!💞
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Alendronic Acid or not?
Visit to Rheumatologist 
Alendronic Acid - needed or not?
Dexa scan numbers with pred dose added.
