The joys of an in house pharmacy

[AngieAsh]

This is just a bit of a moan really but I'm frustrated and it helps to get it out of my system.

My GP's has an inhouse pharmacy which is great in that it saves me an extra 10 mile drive to another chemist but it can also be a pain when you can't just take whatever is their 'pet' brand of choice.

I stopped taking Teva levo because it was making my joints feel arthritic and it has been hit and miss when I go to get my prescription whether they read the notes and give me Activis or don't and give me their favourite Teva regardless. This has happened several times so I now open the bag before I leave the counter. Now my Endo has put my dose up from 50mcg to 75mcg they are in a tizzy again. They can't get Activis in 25mcg so would I take Teva instead? No I bloody won,t, it's on my record duh!. So I now eventually have 50mcg Activis and 25mcg Wokheart which I hope I am ok on.

Next I asked them could I please have a vegetarian brand of D3 because the GP named a brand on my prescription and it isn't veggie, oh the look I got for that one, priceless in 2017. (Yes I know I could buy them online but I don't work and the B vits, K2 and magnesium are already an expence I could really do without.) They said they have no idea when they order them if a drug is veggetarian or not so I would have to look it up myself and tell them what to order. I got home, looked it up and rang them back to ask for the only vegetarian brand I could find in the correct strength that was licenced as a drug in the UK. (Most are not) They said they do have it on their suppliers list but have to ask the Dr if she is willing to change the prescription before they order it. (Possibly costs more?).

Do any of the rest of you guys have this sort of fun when they get a new prescription?

[bantam12]

Get extra Actavis 50 and split for the 25 dose, that's what I do and ask the Pharmacist to note it on your computer records so they know not to give you different brands, simples 🤗

[Clutter]

AngieAsh,

Wockhardt has fewer ingredients than the other brands so you will hopefully be okay. If not, you will have to see your GP and ask to be prescribed Actavis 50mcg tablets to be taken 1.5 daily.

I buy my own D3 in olive oil softgel capsules. I imagine the capsule is gelatine but I haven't checked.

[AngieAsh in reply to Clutter]

It's the source as well as the capsule for D3 Clutter Some D3 is fish based, some is from sheep oil from the skin of slaughtered animals and some is from live fleece from sheared wool which I am ok with. Vegans I believe have to take D2.

[BeansMummy in reply to AngieAsh]

I am a strict vegetarian, and have a vegetarian vitamin D3 (with K2 – as that’s important) as drops. It was recommended by my private nutritionist. I can get my vitamin D on a repeat prescription from my GP, but they will only give me D2, not a high enough dose, and they think I’ve lost the plot when I mention taking K2, so I buy my own.

[Hidden]

Being inhouse or not, is no justification for being crap at your job and idle to boot! It's not the patient's responsibility to source suitable pharmaceuticals. "They have no idea when they order them, if a drug is ...." - so how can you, who presumably doesn't have a pharm. qualification, be expected to achieve what they can't? People doing their job badly are a particular bugbear of mine lol. If alternative accessible chemists are in short supply, have you considered finding another that CAN dispense what you want, and have it posted to you?

[AngieAsh in reply to Hidden]

I hadn't really thought about having them posted. I haven't been on repeats for anything until recently when my blood pressure went up and my Thyroid started to fail. I usually have just gotten meds straight away as they were prescribed or driven into town if my surgery couldn't fill the scrip.

Is that easy to do and easy to change when meds get increased/decreased?

[helvella in reply to AngieAsh]

Here is an NHS page about internet pharmacies:

nhs.uk/Service-Search/pharm...

Some accept electronic prescriptions.

I do not use one, so have no actual experience.

[AngieAsh in reply to helvella]

Thanks I will look into it. I would be surprised if my GP even knows how to do an electronic prescription though. I would probably have to research it and tell them how. 😏

[Spareribs]

Just asked my Vegan daughter what she takes...

'Terra Nova' D3 2000iu (veg celluose) capsules - D3 from Lichen

ingredients - Rice Bran, Shiitake, Coriander leaf, Spirulina, Pumpkin seed.

naturalcollection.com/shop/...

[AngieAsh in reply to Spareribs]

Ooh! thanks. Is it prescription?

[Spareribs in reply to AngieAsh]

no - she buys it, although I think it's more than the cost of a prescription.

GP's used to prescribe low dose Vit D with calcium (adcal) which is rubbish, IMHO. I hope that has changed.

[kalel]

Hi if it help you out at all I am vegan and I don't stick to just one brand of multi vitamin and normally buy supplements online but some of the brands I really like are solgar. Together vitamin but I don't take there vit d because it is made from sheeps wool. I love garden of life and kind vitamins, viridian, essentials organic etc. You can always pm me if you want to send you some links where I get my items from.

[Gcart]

I bought pill cutter and half my 50 levo for my 75 dose. Actavis

[Angel_of_the_North]

You can't get vegan D3 AFAIK as D2 (not very effective) is the veggie sort and D3 animal-based. But if you are OK with the fat from sheep's wool, that's what a lot of D3 is made from. I just give up and buy my own. Try doing a colonoscopy prep if you are vegan!!! It involves eating nothing but white rice for three days as that's the only vegan non-junk food on their list and the senna tablets they give you contain gelatine *sigh*.

[helvella in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

You can get vegetarian D3:

vitashine-d3.com/

No idea of cost, availability, quality or prescribability!

[AngieAsh in reply to helvella]

They are not on the prescription list yet but I will save the link for if I need to get my own, thanks.