Medication Sorting and Delivery Service

[HealthStarDust]

pilltime.co.uk/?msclkid=9bd...

Could be useful for many.

[Star13]

Their reviews are not that good and if you need multiple medications some of which may or are likely to have stock issues they will just expect you to go back to your GP and get another prescription and source it locally!

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Star13]

I used an online pharmacy for a while, they were great to begin with and having medication delivered by mail was a real bonus. But the ever present threat of stock issues began in earnest and their communication was poor, trying to speak to someone was next to impossible.

They kept sending me incomplete orders which was so frustrating. This was in my pre hypo days,as I have a named brand of Levo I can only imagine what they would have sent instead. I use a local, independent pharmacy now who are excellent.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Exactly this ^

[HealthStarDust]

Incidentally, may anyone advise what one is supposed to do when the pharmacies say they can’t fulfil an order due to stock shortages when the there are no SSPs ( Serious Shortage Protocols) or Dispensing & Supply notification for the medication?

[helvella Administrator in reply to HealthStarDust]

I've had that issue for over a year. No recognition that the medicine is unavailable in the UK.

Last available April 2022. Only one product - and manufacturer repeatedly confirms it will be available in a few months, then delays by more months,

Recently, it was mentioning on NHS sites. But their answer was to get an equivalent prepared as a special formulation.

When I spoke to GP surgery pharmacist a little while ago (about another issue) it was me informing him it was not available. He had just written two prescriptions for it that day!

An earlier attempt to get an answer suggested using a completely different medicine that is not approved for the purpose and likely doesn't work.

However, unlike most medicines, this one is prescription-only in the UK, but over the counter in Germany. So I have been able to buy an equivalent product without difficulty - other than cost!

All you can do is follow whatever routes are available - surgery, pharmacy, ICB/ICS, manufacturer/importer, etc.

[HealthStarDust in reply to helvella]

Thank you! It seems we are in or have been in similar boats.

Mine is manufactured in mainly France Europe, but I have no clue how to purchase it myself. I’ve contacted the supplier who confirms it’s due in stock in August (who knows is that date will also get pushed). Pretty sure the medication (fluoxetine is only available on prescription).

My current stock is running low and I am very worried about it now.

Shall we just all moved to Europe? Night mate.

[HealthStarDust in reply to HealthStarDust]

Also, very envious you found a way to source it yourself. Well done!

[helvella Administrator in reply to HealthStarDust]

I thought there were loads of fluoxetine (Prozac) products?

Or is it some specific form/dosage?

This lists all UK licensed products:

products.mhra.gov.uk/search...

Capsaicin cream (Axsain) is a godsend to me but, in real terms, much less important than many other medicines.

[HealthStarDust in reply to helvella]

Aye, it’s an oral solution of a specific brand, however I’ve previously gathered there are issues with generics of it too for some time too.

Prozac oral solution was wonderful until the UK decided to move away from it.

What we need is a manufacturing and supplying chain that is patient lead. Maybe then we’ll see a difference.

I am a bit confused why this is useful:

“This lists all UK licensed products:products.mhra.gov.uk/search...” ?

I usually just check the BNF pages of what can be prescribed.

My father used to swear by Capsaicin cream (Axsain) too.

[helvella Administrator in reply to HealthStarDust]

The BNF pages list the suppliers of products. Not the manufacturers. It is a source of much confusion.

For example, 50 microgram levothyroxine includes the following:

Levothyroxine sodium 50microgram tablets Accord Healthcare Ltd

Levothyroxine sodium 50microgram tablets Alliance Healthcare (Distribution) Ltd

Levothyroxine sodium 50microgram tablets Almus Pharmaceuticals Ltd

bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/levot...

A pharmacy could in principle order tablets from any of these three companies.

Now, Almus product will actually be made by Accord but with Almus branding on the card outer. (Although the make supplied under Almus branding could change, this has not actually happened since they started supplying levothyroxine.)

Accord will obviously supply Accord product.

But Alliance could supply Accord as Accord, Accord as Almus, or any other licensed levothyroxine (e.g. Mercury Pharma or Teva).

Nothing in the BNF tells you this. Which is all from the point of view of a pharmacist decided which companies they can order from.

And there is only a single licensed Levothyroxine sodium 12.5microgram tablets product - made by Teva.

But it is shown as if A A H Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Alliance Healthcare (Distribution) Ltd, DE Pharmaceuticals, Medihealth (Northern) Ltd and Teva UK Ltd are actually different products!

A number of months ago, I had to explain this to my GP who insisted there were several makes.

The BNF gets its data from DM+D - services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/dmd-...

The only reason I don't point there is that it isn't easy to understand and use.

The link I supplied earlier is licensing information from the MHRA.

It is beyond obvious that the product licence numbers should be on DM+D. And, if a licence is added or terminated, that should immediately get shown in DM+D. They are tightening up, but we are not there yet. And the confusion among manufacturers, importers and distributors continues to run deep.

[HealthStarDust in reply to helvella]

helvella this is slightly over my head but I’ll have a good look at it again when the heat wave subsides. But, I think the key thing must be “The BNF pages list the suppliers of products. Not the manufacturers.“ which based on my experience makes much sense. Ahhh the pieces of the puzzle! Thank you!

[helvella Administrator in reply to HealthStarDust]

Absolutely. That is the core message.

Everything else tries to explain what happens, why, and how bloomin' useless it is.

[HealthStarDust in reply to helvella]

You are a star! Thank you so much!

[helvella Administrator]

I have been told by Pilltime that their service is strictly England only.