(Ongoing) Difficulties obtaining my Levothyroxine Prescription

[HKAnne]

Hi,

Does anyone else have this problem? My GP surgery has set up a 6 month rolling prescripton system with my preferred local Pharmacy, however, I can only collect 28 days supply at a time. Every six months (this has been going on for about 4 years) the Pharmacy say the GP has not sent the request through, when I 'phone the GP Surgery, they say they have sent it through and that the fault is with the Pharmacy.

This month (start of the 6 month rolling prescription palaver) I have had to ask the Surgery three times to put the request through, the last time being this morning. Four telephone calls later this morning, the Pharmacist has very kindly taken up the matter with the GP surgery and has agreed to let me have an emergency prescription tomorrow morning (I have told them that I only have enough Levothyroxine to last until Sunday).

I find this situation exasperating, especially as I am now a full time carer for my 93 year old, recently widowed Mother who keeps my Husband and I up half the night and also having to deal with numerous builders all day who are refurbishing her house.

As you all know, we will have to take Levothyroxine for the rest of our lives, so where is the "clever part" of only letting you have a six month rolling prescription? From my point of view it is just wasting everyones time.

Grateful for any advice.

Thanks.

Anne

[SlowDragon Administrator]

GP could do a full years worth of prescriptions at a time. Renewed after annual review.

These are sent electronically to pharmacy of your choice. You should then be able to collect every 2 months

Ideally specify brand of levothyroxine you need too if different brands affect you

[HKAnne in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks Slow Dragon. The GP Surgery say that this is the only option. I don't want to change GP Surgeries because they have been supplying my B12 ampoules without any problems for the last couple of years, I self inject every other day, so I don't want to rock the boat there.

I am reviewed every 8 months by a private endocrinologist. I can only use Wockardt and the Pharmacy always goes out of their way to make sure they get that brand for me.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

HKAnne

It seems different areas or surgeries have different ways of dealing with prescriptions.

For donkeys years my surgery has only allowed 28 days of Levo (and all medication) at a time. The last two times my prescription has been issued it has been for 56 days so it's getting a bit better. No way is my surgery going to issue 6 or 12 months prescriptions, they don't do these rolling prescriptions or send them electronically to the one and only pharmacy we have here.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi

My surgery only prescribes every 28 days and I've been n several of my medications for years. I wish they'd change over to 2 or 3 monthly prescribing.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

I don't know if this is an experiment due to issues at the pharmacy. We don't have a permanent pharmacist, haven't for about 2 years, so they rely on locums who tend to have to travel a couple of hours or more to get here. From time to time we are without a pharmacist until lunchtime which makes it impossible for patients who have been issued with prescriptions that morning, or who want to pick up their meds or even buy OTC items that a pharmacist has to approve.

Anyway, it's a bit better than it was but I've never understood why, for those of us on long term meds, we are restricted so much.

[HKAnne in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Yes, Sparklingsunshine, 28 days supply is rubbish, it's not even a month's supply, unless it happens to be February and not including a leap year!

[HKAnne in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SeasideSusie,

Yes, it seems that GP surgeries have different systems/methods. I find it really difficult to get more than 28 days supply at a time, which is difficult when I am going on holiday. I have had to pay privately for an extra three months Levothyroxine, so that I can actually to go on holiday!

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

It makes sense from an admin viewpoint, I must admit I'm quite lucky with my surgery. I order online and its usually processed the same day and I've not often had issues over it, but as I said I've been on several of my medications for years, I've had reviews and they've been approved for reissue.

From an efficiency point of view surely its less admin to dispense long term medications every 2 or 3 months, or even 6 monthly, than having to issue prescriptions every 28 days. time.

[App1]

I was so stressed and freaked out re the will they/won’t they have my meds that I explained this to surgery which then increased my script to a few more than the required tabs each 4 weeks so I have reserves.....and peace of mind.

[HKAnne in reply to App1]

I'm glad you now have reserves App1, as you say, it is very stressful waiting to see if you will get your prescription on time.